Live Panel December 8: The Power of Community: Centering Deaf People in Decision Making

Published on November 24, 2020

This image is divided into 4 quadrants. The top left section has a green background with some hovering text which reads " NDC LIVE PANEL. For Deaf People, By Deaf People: Centering Deaf People in system change. December 8 - 3 pm CT. The top right section has an image of a bald man in a formal black jacket with a blue shirt inside and black studs in his ears. The bottom right section has the image of a man wearing a cap and mirrored reflecting sunglasses, He also has a brown french mustache and in the background, there is water with some paddle boats. The Bottom left section has an image of a woman with brown curly hair wearing a black jacket with a maroon top inside.

The lived experience and knowledge of deaf community members must guide policy changes, strategic planning, and programs that are designed to reduce barriers and increase opportunities for deaf people in the United States. In reality, however, this is seldom the case. Decisions are made for, and on behalf of, deaf people without involving them every day.

The National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes (NDC), through the Engage for Change | local (EFC) project, has been working hard to get to the core of what strategies can increase the success of deaf people by hosting community- and deaf-led dialogs across the nation. Key findings from these community conversations led to Leading the Way: Eight Strategies for Deaf Communities to Enact System Change, a new resource. 

Learn from Deaf Experts in Live Panel

This upcoming live event panel is an opportunity to learn directly from the EFC community members who contributed to creating these strategies, as well as gain an understanding of the importance of including deaf people in decision making and key elements of deaf-led community projects.

Participants will be provided with strategies for enhancing the lives of deaf people in their area — how to listen to community members, strengthen community connections, and ultimately let deaf lead the way to create positive systemic change.

For Deaf People, By Deaf People: Centering Deaf People in Systems Change, will be hosted on Zoom by the NDC on Tuesday, December 8, at 3-4pm CT.

Panelists

  • Julie Stewart, Ohio: An American Sign Language Specialist at the Ohio School for the Deaf, Julie has dedicated her career as an educator and consultant in the field of deaf education. She holds a Masters degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology, New York.

  • Dominic Gordine, Pennsylvania: Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dominic currently advocates for the deaf and hard of hearing community. Focusing on mentorship, Dominic aims to help shape a positive future for deaf youth leaders across the country.

  • Kyle Rosenberg, Pennsylvania: Based on the east coast, Kyle’s career focuses on communication access, social justice, and exploring new and innovative ways to bring the summer camp experience to a wide variety of people and groups. An avid lover of the outdoors, Kyle believes in utilizing what nature provides us as a foundation for everything we do in life.

Event Details

This online event will take place on Zoom. To attend, register here. A Zoom calendar invitation will be emailed to you closer to the day of the panel. The room will open 5 minutes prior to the event start time. American Sign Language interpreters and real-time captioning will be provided for the panel. For additional access requests please email: help@nationaldeafcenter.org at least 3 business days prior to the event.

In order to attend this event you will need to:

  1. Register for the panel: For Deaf People, By Deaf People: Centering Deaf People in Systems Change, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 3 p.m. CST

  2. Download or update Zoom on your computer to the latest version.

  3. Sign in with a Zoom account. (The webinar link alone will not give you access to the live event, you must sign in to Zoom using a personal or work account. You can sign up for free at zoom.us)

Live Event FAQ: https://www.nationaldeafcenter.org/live-event-faq

Tips for Zoom Access

  • Download or update Zoom on your computer to the latest version.

  • If you have not used Zoom successfully in the past, check with your IT department to grant access to Zoom.

  • Use a laptop or desktop computer to optimize your view of the live panel. If you do not have a computer, a tablet is preferable to a smartphone.

  • If you use captions, a link will be provided to view captions on a separate window or device.

  • If you are unable to access the live panel video, you may call in via video phone or telephone. Phone numbers, Webinar ID and Participant ID will be provided in the registration confirmation email.

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