Karen L. Kritzer, Ph.D (Kent State); Larry Quinsland, Ph.D (NTID); Chad Smith, Ph.D (TWU); Chris Kurz, Ph.D. (NTID) ACE-DHH 2011, Fort Worth, Texas Connecting Future Deaf Education Professionals Through CAID: The How and Why Behind Establishing A Student Chapter at Your University

Outline  About CAID  Rationale for Student Chapters  Current Student Chapters and Activities  Kent State University  Texas Women’s University  National Technical Institute for the Deaf  Discussion

About CAID  Organization for teachers, administrators, educational interpreters, residential personnel, and other concerned professionals involved in education of the deaf  A resource for classroom teachers  A clearinghouse for information on deafness  A forum for sharing educational developments and research findings in the field

History of CAID  Established in 1850  First convention attended by 22 educators and 13 “honorary members”  Six schools represented  Set of officers chosen  Procedures established at this meeting held for 45 years

Rationale for Student Chapters  Opportunity to network/reduces isolation  Forum to disseminate professional information  Puts pre-service teachers in contact with experienced teachers- opportunity for collaboration across grade levels and disciplines  Allows students to be part of something bigger, beyond their own universities

Current Student Chapters  Kent State University  Texas Women’s University  National Technical Institute for the Deaf  California State University- Fresno

KSU Chapter  Membership in national organization required  Bi-weekly meetings (conducted voice-off)  Weekly social events (conducted voice-off)  Website/Facebook  Professional Events (multiple videoconferences)  Sponsor-a-Child  Fundraising Events (raising funds to attend 2011 conference)

TWU Chapter  Started in 2009  Includes local undergraduate and graduate students  Developing strategies for including distance education deaf education students  Activities center on:  building bridges between deaf & hearing students  building bridges between deaf & hearing students,  fundraising,  campus community involvement,  classroom prep activities  promoting an awareness of sign, and the need for professionals interested in working with children who are D/HH  Activities include See What I’m Saying, visits to the deaf nursing home, and family sign tutoring  Website/Facebook

NTID Chapter  Student initiated (est. 2009)  Multiple interactions with MSSE students in their classes (Quinsland & Mousley)  Set up Facebook page  Need for regularly scheduled events  Need to plan for continuity due to student leader turnover

Cal State- Fresno  Ad-hoc graduate student organization.  Already have 2 other university recognized student organizations in department of which they may be members (ASL Club and Interpreting Club)  Activities are funded through OSEP 325K Personnel preparation grant for retention and pre-professional development purposes  All graduate students are members of CAL-ED and thus also members of CAID  Attend CAL-ED conference annually, plan to attend CAID conference

Student Survey Outcomes QuestionScore My membership in CAID has been valuable for me. 4 I plan to continue my membership next semester/year. 4.5 I attended at least one videoconference during the semester. 3.4 Videoconferences held were useful for me.4.3 Social evens planned were useful for me.4.2 I use the organization website regularly.3.1 The organization website is clear and well- organized. 3.8 Score: 1-5 (5= Strongly agree) N=14

Student Survey Outcomes  Why did you want to join this organization? Has it met your expectations so far?  Themes:  Network with others in deafness-related majors  Practice signing  Get access to professional resources

Student Survey Outcomes  How could CAID better meet your needs?  Themes:  More involvement with the Deaf community  Opportunities to network with other student chapters  More videoconferences  More events

Benefits and Challenges Benefits  Students from different years and related majors get to know each other  Helps students to develop leadership skills  Forum to disseminate information  Opportunity to build signing skills Challenges  Fundraising  Developing leadership skills  Surviving Turn-over

Karen L. Kritzer, Ph.D. Chad E. Smith, Ph.D. Larry K. Quinsland, Ph.D. Chris Kurz, Ph.D.