Sheli Barber: So many of us share the common experience of cultural and language deprivation, audism and identity trauma. This all begins in the hospital. On the day we were born, our parents held us and looked at us with loving gazes. Then the doctor entered the room and announced, “I am sorry, your baby is Deaf.”

A referral to the audiologist followed. The audiologist conducted a test and confirmed, “Yes, your baby is definitely Deaf. I am sorry.” Next was the referral to the cochlear implant surgeon, who said, “Yes, your baby is Deaf. To ensure the best chance in this world for a normal life, I strongly recommend a cochlear implant or a hearing aid. I recommend using speech and simultaneous communication. I recommend your child is mainstreamed with other Deaf students, or alone. Your child needs to interact with hearing peers and hearing family members. Then your child will grow up to be normal.”

The parents believe the doctor knows what is best, so they place the child in a hearing school. The child is wearing tiny new hearing aids or implants, which many of us disliked and insisted on removing. We dreaded and rebelled against having to go to endless and pointless speech therapy sessions. We received praise at school only if we succeeded in passing and behaving exactly like hearing people. If we behaved like we were Deaf, we were criticized harshly. As Deaf children, we learned that it was better to act like we were hearing and do our best to fit into that world. We struggled many times in different social situations, outdoor recess, lunchtime, in classrooms, with our families, at Thanksgiving. We always felt left out and uncomfortable.

It was not until we became adults, that we were finally exposed for the first time to the Deaf community, ASL and Deaf culture, perhaps through college, or the community or work. We were thrilled and excited to meet other Deaf people and finally discover our identity. At the same time, we experienced feelings of resentment about all the years of audism we had experienced.

Many of us went to counseling to unpack the effects of audism, to reclaim and heal ourselves, so we could feel whole again as Deaf adults. Now, with Early Healthy Deaf Identity, we can transform the process by which medical providers approach parents at the hospital. We should celebrate the life of each child. Remember that moment when parents are holding their newborn for the first time? The doctor should come in and say, “Congratulations! Your child is healthy and Deaf! Here are all the information and resources that will help your child grow up to lead a very healthy life as a Deaf person.”

Please know that for more information, you can contact Deaf Counseling Center: www.deafcounseling.com.

The post Early Healthy Deaf Identity vs. Early Hearing Detection & Intervention appeared first on Deaf Counseling Center.

Tuesday April 21

Pre-conferences

9 00 to 4 00

-Vocational Communication Assessment Steve Sligar

Wednesday  April 22

9:00 – 10 30

-Opening Session
-Keynote Presentation Claudia Gordon

10 45 – 11 30 ADARA Business/General Membership Meeting

1 00 – 2 30

-Executive Functioning Skills: The Impact for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and the Transition from School to Career and Independent Living Linda Kaskel
-Use of Art with Deaf Survivors: Art as a Healing Tool and Art Therapy Kelsey Wall and Aimee Whyte
-ABC of Deaf Blind Communication Joan Blake and Jeri Cooper
-Deaf and Hearing Siblings in Conversation Judy Jonas and Marla Berkowitz
-Development of a Signed Outcome Survey: A Linguistically and Culturally Sensitive Outcomes Measure for Deaf and Hard of Hearing College Students Anne Steider and Susan Chapel

3 00 – 4 30

-Executive Functioning Skills: The Impact for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and the Transition from School to Career and Independent Living Linda Kaskel (continued)
-Use of Art with Deaf Survivors: Art as a Healing Tool and Art Therapy Kelsey Wall and Aimee Whyte (continued)
-The Networking, Mentoring and Career Pathways experiences of Deaf/JJ Women Faculty in Postsecondary Settings Denise Kavin
-Welcome to My World Jeri Cooper and Joan Blake
-Deaf Interpreters (DI) – How do ASL-fluent (both deaf and hearing) benefit from using one? Denise Thew, Sharon Haynes, and William Hayes

5:00 – 6:00

-Special Interest Section Meetings
-Poster Session and Reception

Thursday April 23

830 to 10 00

-What is Deaf Mental Health Care? Neil Glickman
-Systemic Change: Collaboration as a Key Element in Transition Deb Guthmann and Theresa Johnson
-Mindfulness as a Community Paradigm Rachel Postovoit
-Map It! What Comes Next? Self-determination for students who are deaf or hard of hearing Della Thomas and Sara Carmichael
-Domestic Violence/Sexual Abuse Carolyn Jaedecke

10 30 to 12 00

-What is Deaf Mental Health Care? Neil Glickman (continued)
-Career Assessment without Tests Steve Sligar  Bridging Race and Deafness: Understanding Black Deaf Students’ First-year Experiences at a Predominately White Hearing Colege Mary Karol Matchett
-Steps to Building and Sustaining Collaborative Relationships during Transition Planning Marcia Kolvitz -Oppressive Experiences Among Deaf Diverse Senior Citizens Audrey Frank

1 15 to 2 45

-The Cascade Effect: Language Deprivation and its Impact on Trauma and Addiction Wyatte Hall, Melissa Anderson and Marlene Elliott
-Developing Consumer and System Level Readiness for Effective Self-Advocacy: Perspectives from Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors Working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals Sarah Schoffstall and Jenna Beacom
-Keys to Marketability and Sustainability for Deaf Employees Pamela Wright Moers and Mary Morrison
-Deaf Community Accountability Aimee Whyte and Kelsey Wall
-Deaf Weight Wise Intervention Lori DeWindt, Erika Sutter and Kelly Matthew

3 00 – 4 30
-The Cascade Effect: Language Deprivation and its Impact on Trauma and Addiction Wyatte Hall, Melissa Anderson and Marlene Elliott (continued)
-Deaf Professionals Resilience: A Qualitative Study Kim Kurz, Jason Listman and Peter Hauser
-When we were young and not prepared to die Kent Schafer
-Deafened Adults: Addressing Personal and Employment Adjustments Steve Larew
-Meeting a Certified Peer Support Specialist: Advancing Peer Support in Deaf Mental Health Care John Gournaris and Jeff Lindstrom

4 30 – 4 45

Buses depart to NTID

5 00 – 9 00

Reception at NTID Student Performance of “Hairspray”

Friday April 24

8 30 to 10 00

-Results of a Study on Intimate Partner Violence Affecting the Deaf Community: What We Know about Perpetrators Denise Thew and Amanda OHearn
-Development of Online Suite for VR Assessments to Enhance Employment of Individuals who are Deaf Deb Guthmann and Josephine Wilson
-E-Learning: An Innovative Way to Serve Clients John Gournaris
-Parent-Child Interactive Therapy: An Evidence Based Approach for Deaf Individuals Danielle Previ and Lori Day

10 30 to 12 00
-Establishing a Team to Achieve Gold: Advocates and Providers Training Together Kim Mathos, Steven Barnett, Sarah Landsberger, David Diaz, and Ian DeAndrea- Lazarus
-Maximizing the ROI: For Institutions, Families and D/HH Individuals Mary Morrison and Pamela Wright Moers
-How to Balance Stress Management at Work and at Home Sharon Haynes and Lori DeWindt
-Deaf Mental Health Respite: A New Program Model Dara Baril, Jena Kahashi, and Neil Glickman

12 00 – 1 30 Lunch on your own

1 30 to 3 00
-Finding the Golden Thread in Trauma Treatment with Children and Families Jamie Monson and Rebecca Goffman
-Everyday Mindfulness: Cultivating Your Practice Amanda OHearn and Lori DeWindt  Deaf Schools Private mental Health David Geeslin and Charlene Sculley
-Counselor Self Care Aimee Whyte

3 30 to 5 00
-Forensic Consultation Regarding Deaf Adults: Challenges and Strategies Robert Pollard
-Tribal VR Directors Perspectives on Service to Deaf and Hard of Hearing Native Americans Damara Paris and Gabrie l”Tony” Martin
-Promoting Peer Support Lucille Traina
-Writing for JADARA Caroline Kobek Pezzarossi

6:30 – 9 00

ADARA Awards Banquet

Saturday April 25

9:00 to 1015

-Plenary Session Leveraging Federal Disability Employment Initiatives for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Clients Andy Imparato, Director Association of University Center on Disabilities

10 30 to 11 45

Closing Plenary Talila Lewis, President and Founder HEARD (Helping Educate to Advance Rights of the Deaf

11 45 to 12 00

-Bellflasher Award
-Closing Remarks

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May 29 – June 1, 2013

Hilton Minneapolis/Airport/Mall of America
3800 American Boulevard East
Bloomington, Minnesota 55425

Goal of the Conference

The American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association (ADARA) is pleased to announce the 2013 ADARA Conference, a national conference to be hosted in Minnesota. Our conference theme is “Blazing New Trails” which refers to “doing something different,” “doing early or pioneering work that others will follow up on,” and “doing something that no one has done before, especially something important for other people.”

This conference seeks to provide training and networking opportunities for mental health professionals, vocational rehabilitation counselors, independent living service providers, educators, interpreters, transition specialists, community-based rehabilitation providers, and any support staff in the helping professions.

Presentation Proposals

Presentation proposals for concurrent sessions, pre-conference sessions, or poster session should address effective or innovative practices used in working with deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing consumers in the settings of mental health, rehabilitation, school, independent living, transition, group homes, etc.

Submitted proposals should include learning objectives and references that will assist in applying for professional continuing education units for conference attendees. Proposals for concurrent sessions should be for 90 or 180 minutes long. Proposal topics are listed below, but are not limited to:

Possible Areas and Topics

• Interfacing education and mental health
• Working with trilingual families
• Testing demonstrations
• Olmstead, recovery, peer support
• Supporting community living options
• Drug/alcohol abuse treatment strategies
• Trauma informed care
• Working with low functioning/language dysfluent consumers
• Developing cultural competency
• Therapeutic techniques/theories & effective counseling techniques & strategies (e.g., EMDR, DBT)
• Mental health/chemical dependency interpreting • Deaf/Hard of Hearing cross-cultural conflicts
• Professional management
• Public policy
• Using technology in therapeutic settings
• Navigating the new health care environment
• Client-centered approaches/ Early interventions
• Career assessments
• Residential programming
• Levels of care: residential, outpatient, intensive, group homes
• Job coaching/Job placement
• Transition
• Autism
• Vocational evaluations
• Work adjustment

Process for Submitting Proposals

1) Complete the attached presentation proposal form.

2) Develop a brief abstract of the presentation, not to exceed 125 words. If accepted, this description will be included in the program book.

3) Briefly describe how your presentation ties into the conference theme.

4) Briefly describe experience, qualifications, or credentials which reflect your expertise for your intended presentation topic.

5) Submit a summary, not to exceed 500 words, of the proposed presentation for review by the planning committee. This summary should include a minimum of three (3) learning objectives.

6) Include a short biography (up to 125 words) for each presenter.

7) Workshop sessions will be 90 or 180 minutes long. Put all the above information in MS Word and e-mail with the application form attached to:

Mr. John Gournaris
2013 ADARA Conference Chair
John.Gournaris@state.mn.us

Selected presenters (two per presentation) will be provided free registration for the conference. Presenters will be responsible for their own travel, lodging, meals, and incidental expenses. Please plan to bring your own laptop computer for PowerPoint presentations.

Conference proceedings will be published and disseminated following the conference.

The deadline for submitting proposals is November 15, 2012.
ADARA
www.adara.org

The post Call for Presentation Proposals – 2013 ADARA Conference appeared first on Deaf Counseling Center.

celebrating April as Child Abuse Prevention Month

Child Abuse and Neglect – Prevention & Perspectives from the Deaf Community

Friday, April 27, 2012

1:00pm – 4:30pm

Healy Hall Auditorium

Presentations will include:

1:00 – 2:30 “The Deaf Perspective: Raising the Bar for Sexual Abuse Prevention” by Shannon Reese, MA, NCC, Deaf Services Coordinator from the Alabama Department of Mental Health – Office of Deaf Services. Shannon is a Deaf professional with extensive professional experience in the area of child abuse and neglect. She will share professional perspectives on prevention and the impact of child abuse and neglect for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

2:45 – 4:00 “Breaking the Silence” by Joyce Allan, R.N., a registered nurse and psychiatric clinical nurse specialist with 40 years of experience working with children, adolescents and adults. Joyce is also a child of Deaf adults (CODA) who will tell her empowering story as a survivor of sexual abuse, including the powerful positive impact of the Deaf community on her personal journey. Joyce shares her experiences in honor of her mother, Marjorie Forehand, who attended the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind.

4:00 – 4:30 “The VSDB Child Assault Prevention (CAP) Project” by the VSDB CAP Team. The VSDB CAP Team will share information about the primary prevention program available for elementary and middle school students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing in Virginia public schools. The CAP curriculum was developed by the International Center for Assault Prevention (ICAP). Information about requesting this program for specific public school or community-sponsored programs will be shared.

The post Child Assault Prevention Project for Deaf Children appeared first on Deaf Counseling Center.

Domestic Violence in the Deaf Community: ASADV continues to bring attention to the topic of domestic violence and abuse by sponsoring a one-day conference in Rochester, New York, next month. CyberSafety and CyberBullying are among the timely issues that will be covered. This is a great opportunity to learn more about how domestic violence impacts our community and what you can do about it. See below for more information.

Conference Announcement:

Hello Everyone,

I am happy to announce that Advocacy Services for Abused Deaf Victims (ASADV) will be having its first conference on Saturday, January 29th in Rochester, NY (on NTID campus).

We will be discussing issues of Domestic Violence/Abuse Prevention and 3 big C’s of today: Community Accountability, Collaboration & Research, and CyberSafety & CyberBullying. A community discussion as well as lunch will be included! Participants will also receive a Certificate of Participation. The cost is only $20.00 if you register before January 17th (after that the cost is $25). [Interpreters will be provided].

For more information, please visit: http://asadv.org/events-3/upcoming-events/ –> by clicking on this link you will find: conference invitation letter, conference flyer/registration form, and the conference schedule.

Please feel free to contact me (aimistar@gmail.com) or Erin Esposito (erin.esposito@asadv.org) for any questions or for more information. Please also share this event information with others.

Happy holidays,

Aimee

—
Aimee K. Whyte
Advocate/Counselor
Advocacy Services for Abused Deaf Victims (ASADV)

V/VP: 585/286-2713
F/TTY: 585/232-2854
Hotline: ASADVHope@gmail.com

P.O. Box 20023
Rochester, NY 14602

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