Participants in Leadership Academy
for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing : TOP 10

How to make your LADHH experience a success!
(Spin-off from Partners in Policy-making)

1. SHOW UP -

  • After you would sign up the contract, you would make a commitment to attend every session. It is important you honor that commitment by attending every session. Each session is critical in your education. All sessions are equal in importance. There is a definite follow to the schedule of the sessions, they build on each other.
  • If you miss even ONE, you’ve missed a lot. There were a couple of people in my class that missed some sessions and, unfortunately, they weren’t able to graduate because of those absences. Unless you have an emergency medical situation, don’t miss one session. You need to be here every time, for the whole time.
  • (I missed the November session due to a very serious cold infection from sinus to chest that took a month to get rid of it with three types of prescription!) and… (One guy was excused twice due to his father’s death and the birth of his first child.)

2. BE ON TIME -

  • All the sessions run on a very tight schedule. Every weekend is packed with terrific speakers. They have valuable information to share with you in a limited amount of time. You need to hear every word of it.
  • Make sure you’re back to the meeting room on time and ready to go after a break or a meal. You don’t want to miss anything. Plus, it’s just good manners. You’re showing respect from yourself, other Participants, and your speakers.

3. BE PREPARED –

  • You’ve been given some materials today in your folder in the first session in September. Some may be for your next session. You’ll get the most out of LADHH if you do your homework. Read every word of all the materials you’re given. Don’t take them home and stick them under the bed until the next session!
  • You might have actual homework assigned to you – reading materials, visiting a site, writing letters, etc. – make sure you’re ready with it for the next session. Time spent on these activities will yield great rewards. You’ll be a better advocate for yourself, your family member, and others with hearing loss in your community.

4. TAKE NOTES –

  • Record the information you receive here anyway you can: writing, using YOUR laptop computer, additions to copies of power point and share notes with other Participants, whatever works best for you! This will help you learn while you’re here and the notes will be an invaluable part of your library after you’ve graduated. (I have expanded from one binder to three binders and possible the fourth one!!!)

5. RESPECT THE SPEAKER’S TIME –

  • There is something funny about most Participants…they really like to talk and share! And most of the time, that’s just fine. However, we sometimes need to curb our energy when we’re on the speaker’s time.
  • Most speakers allow time for questions at the end of their presentations and some will encourage you to ask questions during the presentation. However, make sure your questions are related to the topic and to the point.
  • Also, realize that speakers are not there to solve individual problems…they’re there to help ALL of you. Don’t put a speaker on the spot by expecting him/her to solve your issue during the presentation. Speak privately with him/her during break times, meal times, etc.
  • Save your “war stories” for those times outside of presentation times. Your life stories are valuable. They’re important. And you do need to share them with your Participants so you learn about each other. But during a speaker’s presentation, please ensure that your questions and statements are connected to the presentation and to everyone in general.

6.     RESPECT EACH OTHER –

  • In addition to respecting the speaker’s time, you want to respect each other, as well. You’ve all come together into this venture with different backgrounds, experiences, and ideas of how and what to do. LADHH is the best place to share these ideas and to learn from each other.
  • So respect the opinions of others and respect their time, too. When you’re telling your “war stories,” make sure you save enough time to hear the other person’s stories, too.
  • Also, do your part to help create an inclusive environment by allowing others of various communication methods to be used at their choices. It is critical for you to realize that if you can’t create an inclusive environment right in your own LADHH meeting room, you won’t able to create an inclusive environment in your community!

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