Deaf Self-Advocacy Training
NEW!
The first-ever DeafBlind Self Advocacy Train the Trainers was offered in August 2013 in Michigan.
To read more about the training of trainers, read here.
Using adapted DSAT curriculum materials, entitled "Enhancing the DSAT Experience for DeafBlind Trainers and Consumers," ten DeafBlind leaders from around the country will come together for four days of education, to learn how to provide training to DeafBlind consumers. You can read more
here. The new adapted curriculum is now available for use.
Collaborative project of the NCIEC led by WRIEC
Available DSAT Resources
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Effective advocacy for interpreting services has been a long-time concern of Deaf Community leaders. With RSA funding support from 2005-2010, the National Consortium of Interpreter Education Centers (NCIEC) developed a specialized curriculum devoted to teaching deaf individuals to self-advocate for effective interpreting services. The content of the curriculum includes concepts of self-esteem and self-determination, ethics of working with interpreters, preparing for self-advocacy, and how to effectively tap resources.
To determine the best way to teach Deaf self-advocacy, NCIEC spent three years determining effective practices for empowering individuals to self-advocate. From this information, the Deaf Self Advocacy curriculum was developed. For more information regarding curriculum development or to obtain a copy of The Case for Deaf Self Advocacy Training, please go the National Consortium of Interpreter Education Centers website and link to Deaf Self-Advocacy.
The curriculum was first unveiled in 2010. Thirty master trainers were prepared to teach from the curriculum. They, in turn, provided training to more than 600 deaf, hard of hearing and deaf-blind consumers. The evaluation of these trainings informed refinement of the curriculum and a new second edition curriculum designed. It is entitled Deaf Self-Advocacy Training, Curriculum Toolkit, Second Edition, 2012. The curriculum is described in detail at deafselfadvocacy.org.
Using the Curriculum
Based on the effective practices findings of Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD, the DSAT curriculum is designed as a peer-led training. In addition to this strong preference for Deaf, hard of hearing and Deaf-blind trainers, trainers must also have:
- Native level fluency in ASL
- A strong knowledge of and ongoing exposure to the Deaf community
- A working knowledge of the target audience’s needs
- In-depth knowledge of local, state and national resources
- Ability to translate written contents into communication modes and/or language choices appropriate for participants.
Consumer Deaf-Self Advocacy Training Opportunities
To ensure the best possible training experience, a number of trained DSAT Trainers are available to provide training to your local community.
The Directory of DSAT Trainers can be found at https://www.interpretereducation.org/dsat/find-a-trainer/. Many of these individuals are available to provide training upon request, which is often taught in a six to eight hour blocks of time or longer. While the Directory groups the trainers according to the NCIEC region in which they reside, they may be available to travel outside the region. Please contact them directly to learn of their availability and service fees (if any). Also, please note that those without contact information are not available for training.Or feel free to contact Pauline Annarino at deafselfadvocacy@gmail.com to locate a trainer or sponsor a DSAT consumer training.
Becoming a DSAT Trainer
DSAT is always looking for new consumer trainers. The project’s Master Trainers are available to conduct a Train-the-Trainer workshop in your community. They are also listed in the Directory of DSAT Trainers. .Please contact them directly to learn of their availability and service fees (if any).Or feel free to contact deafselfadvocacy@gmail.com to locate a Master Trainer or to sponsor a DSAT Train-the-Trainer workshop.
Obtaining a Copy of the Curriculum
That DSAT curriculum is free. To request a copy, please send your contact information, to deafselfadvocacy@gmail.com.While the curriculum is available to all, please recognize that the curriculum is designed as a Deaf peer to peer training.
Additional information regarding DSAT can be found at www.interpretereducation.org or contact Pauline Annarino at deafselfadvocacy@gmail.com.
DSAT Master Trainers (2011)
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