Address
 Email: TheDEAFund@aol.com
  Deaf Initiatives, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
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Mission
To provide initiatives that strengthen the potential of young adults who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Vision
To ensure that all Ohio youth who are deaf or hard of hearing, and their families, have access to resources, professionals and activities that will help guide them into becoming successful and contributing members of our society.

Educating the parents. In an annual series of workshops, DI equips parents of young deaf and hard of hearing children with information regarding educational rights and strategies. This also provides a unique opportunity for parents to network with other families. The next workshop is scheduled for November 7, 2009. More than 300 parents have participated since 2002.

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Equipping the teens with tools needed to become successful young adults. A transition weekend for high school students who are deaf or hard of hearing and their parents/ guardians. The purpose is to help both the students and parents begin thinking about life after high school, options that are available to them and how to prepare for those options. The next workshop will be scheduled for September 2010.

Employing teenagers and adults who are Deaf. KTQ is our Social Enterprise Business. Young Employees gain confidence and build a resume packed with small business experience; while making beautiful, functional quilts from anyone's personal collection of t-shirts. This is a vibrant, productive, and inclusive work environment, where sign language is used by all. More than 20 student interns have been hired to date, along with a current staff of 10 skilled seamstresses. 1,450 quilts have been made since 1998.

Exposing college students from the National Technical Institute for the Deaf to 10 week cooperative work experiences with central Ohio Businesses. These meaningful internships provide an important step to becoming successful and contributing members to our society. 3 students have already been placed this summer.

On the
Road to
Your Future

Encouraging college attendance. An extension of the "Making a Difference with Your Future" transition weekend. The purpose of this biennial bus trip is to expose high school students and their parents/guardian to two of the most prominent post secondary institutions in the country for the deaf and hard of hearing populations: NTID and GU. The next bus trip is scheduled for Spring of 2011.

Board of Directors
Deaf Initiatives is governed by a Board of Directors. These individuals volunteer their time and resources to support Deaf Initiatives and Keepsake Theme Quilts. The Board of Directors includes professionals, educators, parents and members of the Deaf Community.

Current Board members include:
Janelle Adler -- Ohio School for the Deaf, retired
John Byrnes -- Cordinal Health, Inc
Meredith Crane -- Deaf Initiatives, Inc., Director
Bruce Greenfield -- Capital University, Professor
Meredith Knueve --Brickler Eckler, Lawyer, Advocate/ Parent Representative
Richard Larson -- Community Representative
Sally Larrimer -- Community Representative
Paige Metersky -- Board Chair, Advocate/ Parent Representative
Lisette Tedeschi -- FCE


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© 2009 Deaf Initiatives


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