Stronger Together: 2022 State Leadership Conference with the National Deaf Center

The long-term impacts of post-COVID19 in our society shifted wellness and norms in education, the workplace, and everyday life. This keynote will enhance our ability to have more intentional conversations about reconnecting, relearning, and reestablishing essential ways to connect. We will also be having dialogues about creating opportunities to transform our workplace and education systems into a positive and healthy climate for everyone, starting with ourselves.

While efforts to increase access to education and training opportunities have resulted in some change, true equity for deaf people requires a different approach. This session will ask participants to recognize that equity work requires a willingness to transform the systems which we navigate. A systems perspective encourages us to examine our structures, relationships, and attitudes to identify systemic changes that can be sustainable over longer periods of time.

It takes a team to develop transition activities, programs, and services to prepare deaf youth for plans after high school. Working in teams can increase collaborations, produce more traction, and improve call-to-action opportunities. This session will offer an overview of building a cross-agency state team, establishing realistic and achievable goals, and recognizing ways teams can leverage local and state resources.

In this session participants will get a first-look at NDC’s new data dashboard. The dashboard is an interactive online tool with the most current data on employment and education trends for deaf people. You will get hands-on experience using the data dashboard, and we will review ways that collaborators have used this data to understand state-level issues and secure funding.

Centering deaf people in decision-making and systemic change lead to meaningful impact on educational and employment opportunities. This session is part of NDC’s work on diversity, equity, and inclusion, discussing the importance of working on self and how we can push for more deaf people in representation, decision-making, and engagement. Without their experiences and knowledge, we cannot do our best!

During this session participants will learn about the importance of partnerships, you will see several state model partnership programs spotlighted, and finally state partnership opportunities going forward will be presented.

The goal of this session is to meet new people, have conversations, and build strong connections.  Discussing your work with new and former connections offers a unique perspective!

There will be two groups you can choose from to participate: 

1. First Time Participants

2. Bridging Professional Gaps

We encourage state teams to use this time to meet and develop some action items for the next few months.  If your team needs support with access or a virtual meeting space, contact Jennifer@nationaldeafcenter.org

If your state team would like to meet with NDC staff for support with your state goals (e.g., you need assistance with data for a document, feedback on draft plans, strategies to implement action items), contact Jennifer@nationaldeafcenter.org.  Please provide meeting participants' names and email addresses and a brief description of what kind of support you are seeking. We will schedule your state team for a 20-minute Zoom session with NDC staff, first come-first serve, submit your email request now!

Reconnect with members, meet new members, and network with everyone in these designated cohort groups! Participants will have the opportunity to engage, share information, and discuss current topics of interest with other job alike professionals.

State Education Professionals:

Intended Participants: State Educational Leaders.

Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals:

Intended Participants: Vocational Rehabilitation Supervisors/Leads.

National Association of State Agencies of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NASADHH) Professionals:

Intended Participants: Directors with state agencies serving deaf and hard-of-hearing people.