A Model Approach to Networking Professionals in Your State

Cindy Camp Jacksonville State University, AL

Marcia Kolvitz Postsecondary Education Consortium, TN

The Postsecondary Education Programs Network (PEPNet)

Funded through an agreement with the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

Postsecondary Education ConsortiumJacksonville State University

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

St. Petersburg College

Georgia Perimeter College

Eastern Kentucky University

Louisiana State University A&M

Hinds Community College

Tulsa Community College

Central Piedmont Community College

North Harris College

Greenville Technical College

New River Community College

The University of Tennessee

SERID 2000 in Atlanta Falling Between the Cracks:What Happens When College Isn’t an Option?

The goal was to address the following issues:

What are some of the options and opportunities for young deaf adults who aren’t college-bound?

What types of referrals do college staff members make for students who are not successful in college courses?

How do you determine when a student just needs additional accommodations to be successful and when he/she just isn't making it in a college setting?

Region-wide Meetings: Benefits and Liabilities

What worked well:Post-conference format

Mix of participants

Flexibility about topics/discussion

Link to others with similar concerns

What was an issue:

Limited size of group

New participants; returning participants

Need for continuity

Uncertainty about ultimate purpose/goal

Region-wide Meetings: Years 2 – 4 and Beyond

Year 2Finding a purpose and direction

Year 3

Sharing successful ideas and practices

Year 4

Feedback regarding national service delivery plan

What happened next?

Falling Between the Cracks: State Workshops

Alabama 8Georgia 2Louisiana 1Mississippi 2North Carolina 1Oklahoma 2South Carolina 1Texas 1Tennessee 1West Virginia 1

Region wide 4

One size DOESN’T fit all!

Alabama has an open meeting twice a year.Georgia invites only those with a hearing loss.Oklahoma attaches their meeting to another statewide conference.What is right for you???

Who is your audience? by invitation only open to the public limited number of participants Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Hearing ….?

How will you Accommodate?When you have a mixed audience accommodations are very important!

InterpretingCaptioningALDs

Where will it be held?

At the hosting institution At a state agency College campus On neutral ground At a central location in the state

Who will moderate?

a staff member State VIP out of state person Deaf / Hearing

How is it funded?

Participants pay a small registration fee Hosting organization foots the bill State stakeholders contribute

What’s the bait?

Networking opportunitiesCEUsFree goodies / informational resourcesFree food

What’s the agenda? Brainstorming Informational presentation Open forum Announcements

Sample AgendaGripe Session

list the major problems facing young D/HH adults

Dream BigBrainstorm solutions to the problems as if you had no limits.

Get a GripLook at your big dreams and then look at practical ways to get started.

Fill in the Gaps

Start with introductionsAfter lunch is a good time to discuss upcoming workshops and advertise resources.End on a positive note.

Plan for the next meetingSet goals and ask participants to follow-up

What about the meeting itself?Now that you have your group together what do you do with them?

Here are some ideas for conducting your

meeting.

What do you hope to accomplish?

Statewide network Problem solving strategies Problem identification Workshop Opportunities Information dissemination Project work groups

What were the major concerns?

What is there after high school?Lack of resources in rural areasLack of transition servicesLack of communication among professionalsLack of training for professionals, not in deaf services, about deafnessLow reading comprehension in D/HH students

Where do we go from here?

Let the group decide:Do we meet again?How often?Where?What are our goals

Finish the meeting by scheduling the next one. People like closure.

What can be done?

Group ListservsProvide information on VR servicesDisseminate informational materialsDirectory of services

StatewideNational

Development of online Resources

Deaf CultureCommunication methodsLocal, Regional, National resourcesTips for overcoming job placement barriersWorking with an interpreterSSI informationEtc.

Do I really want to do this??!!Putting together this type meeting does take work but it is well worth it!Just remember that you can’t change the world in one day but you can start the ball rolling.