Deaf Empowerment Symposium – FAQs
- Are meals provided at the “Empowerment Symposium?”
- Are MICS CEUs given to interpreters who attend the “Empowerment Symposium?”
- Are there any exhibit booths at the “Empowerment Symposium?”
- Do I have to register for the Missouri Interpreters Conference in order to attend the “Empowerment Symposium?”
- How are topics and themes selected for the “Empowerment Symposium?”
- How long does the “Empowerment Symposium” normally last?
- How much does it cost to attend the “Empowerment Symposium?”
- What are some themes from “Empowerment Symposia” that have been held in the past?
- What is the “Empowerment Symposium?”
- What is the history of the “Empowerment Symposium?”
- What is the purpose of the “Empowerment Symposium?”
- When is the “Empowerment Symposium” normally held?
- Where is the “Empowerment Symposium” normally held?
- Who can attend the “Empowerment Symposium?”
- Who do I contact if I have other questions about the “Empowerment Symposium?”
- Who has presented at the “Empowerment Symposium” in the past?
- Who sponsors the “Empowerment Symposium?”
- Why is the “Empowerment Symposium” normally held in conjunction with the Missouri Interpreters Conference?
Are meals provided at the “Empowerment Symposium?”
No, meals are not provided at the “Empowerment Symposium.” However, attendees are welcome to purchase tickets to attend the Saturday luncheon of the Missouri Interpreters Conference.
Are MICS CEUs given to interpreters who attend the “Empowerment Symposium?”
Yes, interpreters who attend the “Empowerment Symposium” are eligible to receive MICS CEUs. Specific instructions regarding how one can get CEUs for attending the “Empowerment Symposium” are normally included in the program book for the Missouri Interpreters Conference. Detailed instructions can also be obtained simply by contacting the MICS Coordinator at the MCDHH office.
Are there any exhibit booths at the “Empowerment Symposium?”
No, historically there have not been exhibit booths at the “Empowerment Symposium.” However, MCDHH is trying to encourage this practice for future symposium. For additional information concerning this matter, please contact the Deaf Community Advocate at the MCDHH office. In order to get CEUs for the “Empowerment Symposium”, one must be registered for the Missouri Interpreters Conference.
Do I have to register for the Missouri Interpreters Conference in order to attend the “Empowerment Symposium?”
Yes, a person does not have to register for the Missouri Interpreters Conference in order to attend the “Empowerment Symposium” if you are planning to get Continuing Educational Units (CEUs) for this. However, if you plan to attend the “Empowerment Symposium,” please send an e-mail to MCDHH@mcdhh.mo.gov with your full name (and the names of others attending with you) in order to RSVP.
How are topics and themes selected for the “Empowerment Symposium?”
The topics and themes for the “Empowerment Symposium” are selected by the MCDHH staff. Everyone is welcome to contact the Deaf Community Advocate at the MCDHH office at any time and suggest ideas for future symposia topics.
How long does the “Empowerment Symposium” normally last?
The length of the “Empowerment Symposium” has varied over the years, but most recently it has been either 4 hours long (all afternoon) or 6 hours long (all afternoon plus 2 hours in the late morning).
How much does it cost to attend the “Empowerment Symposium?”
There is no charge to attend the “Empowerment Symposium.” It is free for everyone! All expenses associated with the “Empowerment Symposium” are covered by MCDHH. However, if you are planning to obtain CEUs for this event, you must be registered to the Missouri Interpreters Conference.
What are some themes from “Empowerment Symposium” that have been held in the past?
Some themes from past symposium include “Advocacy: Why and How,” ”ASL and Missouri’s Future,” “Certification and Licensure of Missouri Interpreters.” “Deaf Child’s Bill of Rights,” “Diversity and Hearing Loss,” “Emergency Preparedness,” “Employment and People Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing,” “Legal Rights of Deaf and Hard of Hearing People,” “Money Matters,” and “Police and the Deaf Community.”
What is the “Empowerment Symposium?”
The “Empowerment Symposium” is an annual program hosted by MCDHH to provide a variety of information useful for the empowerment of persons with hearing loss.
What is the history of the “Empowerment Symposium?”
In 1997, what was then the Missouri Commission for the Deaf (MCD) hosted the first “Deaf Empowerment” program. It was held at Tan-Tar-A Resort and featured presentations by Jerry Covell and Joel Mankowski concerning certification and licensure of Missouri interpreters. The “Deaf Empowerment” program has been held annually ever since. The name of MCD was changed in 2002 with the passage of HB 1783 to the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH). In order to better reflect the broader constituency of the Commission, the name of the “Deaf Empowerment” program was also changed in 2002 to the “Empowerment Symposium.”
What is the purpose of the “Empowerment Symposium?”
The “Empowerment Symposium” has as its purpose the empowerment of deaf and hard of hearing people. That objective is pursued by having guest speakers present information concerning a variety of topics of possible use to people with hearing loss.
When is the “Empowerment Symposium” normally held?
The “Empowerment Symposium” is normally held on a Saturday during the fall.
Where is the “Empowerment Symposium” normally held?
The “Empowerment Symposium” is normally held in conjunction with the Missouri Interpreters Conference.
Who can attend the “Empowerment Symposium?”
Anyone and everyone can attend the “Empowerment Symposium,” including people who are deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing. Friends, family members, interpreters, and anyone interested in learning more about meeting the challenges presented to people with hearing loss are most welcome to attend. In order to get CEUs for the “Empowerment Symposium”, one must be registered for the Missouri Interpreters Conference.
Who do I contact if I have other questions about the “Empowerment Symposium?”
If you have any questions concerning the “Empowerment Symposium” you should contact the Deaf Community Advocate at the MCDHH office.
Who has presented at the “Empowerment Symposium” in the past?
Past symposium have included a wide variety of guest speakers from both within and outside of Missouri. During the past few years speakers from outside of Missouri have included:
- Dr. Steve Boone, Director of Research at the University of Arkansas Rehabilitation Research and Training Center for People Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (Little Rock, Arkansas)
- Patsy Bowman, Administrative Specialist for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at the Governor’s Office for Individuals with Disabilities (Baltimore, Maryland)
- Jeffrey Choate, School Improvement Facilitator at the Kansas School for the Deaf (Olathe, Kansas)
- Mary Clark, Past President of the Association of Late-Deafened Adults (Chicago, Illinois)
- Pamela Young-Holmes, Director of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs at Ultratec, Inc. (Madison, Wisconsin)
- George Kosovich, Vocational Rehabilitation Program Specialist in the Deafness and Communication Disorders Branch of the Rehabilitation Services Administration in the U.S. Department of Education (Washington, D.C.)
- Josh Mendelsohn, Supervisory Attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice (Washington, D.C.)
- Sergeant Larry Parks, Law Enforcement Officer in the Olathe Police Department (Olathe, Kansas)
- Howard A. Rosenblum, Founder of the Midwest Center for Law and the Deaf (Chicago, Illinois)
- Dr. Bobbie Beth Scoggins, Executive Director of the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (Frankfort, Kentucky)
- Claude L. Stout, Executive Director of Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. (Silver Spring, Maryland)
- Dr. Douglas Watson, Director of the University of Arkansas Rehabilitation Research and Training Center for People Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (Little Rock, Arkansas)
- Barbara Jean Wood, Executive Director of the Colorado Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (Denver, Colorado)
Who sponsors the “Empowerment Symposium?”
The “Empowerment Symposium” is hosted by MCDHH. Organizations and individuals who are interested in providing partial sponsorship for future symposium should contact the Executive Director of MCDHH.
Why is the “Empowerment Symposium” normally held in conjunction with the Missouri Interpreters Conference?
The “Empowerment Symposium” is normally held in conjunction with the Missouri Interpreters Conference in order to enable interpreters to attend symposium sessions if they so desire. Furthermore, this provides an additional opportunity for deaf and hard of hearing people to socialize with interpreters and further educate them concerning various aspects of Deaf culture and hearing loss.