"Making a Difference with Your Future" is designed to help facilitate the transition of deaf and hard of hearing youth from high school to post secondary education or work. The purpose is to help both the student and parent begin thinking about life after high school, options that are available to them and how to prepare for those options. Deaf Initiatives, Inc. will use this biennial transition weekend to give deaf and hard of hearing youth, and their families, access to career guidance, job path planning and higher education options. The transition weekend is designed to offer a creative, fun and productive environment for students and parents who want to plan for the future.   Registration Application Deadline Extended to August 15th Criteria: Please use the following criteria to decide if you qualify for participation in the workshop. Grade Level of Student Entering grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 in September Parental/Guardian Participation At least one parent/guardian must attend Resident of the State of Ohio Participation in the workshop Student and parent(s)/guardian must attend entire workshop, including Friday and Saturday night stay over at the hotel Date of Pre-Registration Registration form must be returned by August 15th. Contact Deaf Initiatives for an application. All meals, hotel accommodations, and any fees are FREE for participants. Certain criteria apply for selection into the workshop. The workshop is scheduled for September 24-26, 2010. For more information, please contact Anna Naumann at TheDEAFund@aol.com

Career Fair	Self Awareness Activities
Developing a Plan for the Future	D.E.A.F. Awards
Technology Fair
Group Activities
Establishing life-long friendships Meredith Crane with mentors 7 mentors participated in our 6th 'Making a Difference with Your Future' workshop. These mentors were graduates of our 'Making a Difference with Your Future' or 'On Road to Your Future' programs or both. All mentors were either employed full-time or pursuing their dreams of a college education. Their role as mentor included: *promoting high self esteem *support academic achievement *supporting and encouraging healthy choices *listening to the students and parents This mentorship opportunity was truly a highlight for the students, parents and mentors and will be repeated for the September 24-26, 2010 workshop.

Biennial conference helps teens, parents learn what it takes to make a difference In photos (clockwise from top left), college students present on the importance of education and their own journey toward careers; high school participants discuss their goals and next step; RSC counselors touch base between sessions;parents listen to a presentation on accessing resources. Deaf Initiatives welcomed 37 students and their parents/guardians from all over Ohio to "Making a Difference with Your Future," a weekend event to help youth who are deaf and hard of hearing transition from high school to post secondary education or work. The fifth biennial workshop occurred Sept. 22-24 at the Columbus Marriott Northwest, and guidance shared ranged from interviewing techniques and proper work ethics to simply advising students to eat right and get some sleep while at college. Workshops invited students to begin career planning and connected them to resources in a fun and productive environment. The keynote speaker was Dr. Gerry Buckely from the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID). Participating mentors included young adults who are pursuing their dreams, and vocational preparation experts from the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission, the Ohio Department of Education and NTID. More than 65 percent of the families who attended are from rural areas. Many didn't know any other deaf or hard of hearing people, so it was an opportunity to meet with other students and parents experiencing similar life issues. For more information about future workshops, contact Meredith Crane at 614-238-3323, 1-800-985-3323 v/TTY, theDEAFund@aol.com or visit www.deafinitiatives.org.

The September 2008 transition weekend attracted 58 students, and parents, and guardians from around Ohio. To date over 175 families have participated in this weekend event. In order for DI to offer this weekend to families, individuals and corporations purchased scholarships sponsoring a family. We want to thank the many individuals that have generously donated to our scholarship program. Without their support, many families throughout Ohio would not be able to participate.

Comments from Participants:
          "My name is Jennifer Woodburn and my daughter was a participant of your making a difference conference in 2004.I wanted you to know this conference was extremely helpful to Jenna. Jenna was the winner of your future award and she is really getting a wonderful start to her future. Jenna is a freshman at Gallaudet University. She is having a remarkable year also. I always worried about her leaving me for college because of how close Jenna and I are. Jenna went to Zanesville High School for her education in that districts hearing impaired program. Jenna mainstreamed out for everything but she remained in that program even though it was a 40-mile trip one way everyday, mainly because she needed the socialization. Our situation was unique again because of the fact that I was the one who interpreted for Jenna in her high school years. I worked hard at encouraging her independence and with Jenna’s maturity level she never complained about the fact that she had to see her mother in her high school classes.
          The main reason I am writing you is to let you know that while at your conference Henna got to see the Gallaudet Dancers perform and last fall upon entering Gally Jenna tried out for the dance team. Jenna was accepted to the team and this is only one of her many successes at Gallaudet.
          I want to thank you very much for the difference you have made in Jenna's life. I am encouraging all of our Zanesville students to attend the 2006 conference. Again Thank-you."
- Parent

"This workshop allowed me to believe totally in the notion that deaf people can do anything a hearing person can, moreover I now have the resources and contacts to make this a reality. I am just so grateful I had the opportunity to be a part of it."
- Guardian

"I really enjoyed being here. I had so much fun and looking forward to come back."
- Student

"All the information and the contact resources! I look forward to take this book back to our school and sharing with others."
-Student

"I learned many things - there are many resoucres out there that people don't even know about. It helped to reinforce the information I learned at the last workshop."
-Student

"The workshop was wonderful! My daughter and I spent some quality time together and learned so much and met some wonderful parents with the same concerns as myself. Thank you to all involved for the wonderful workshop."
- Parent

We would like to especially thank the individuals and corporations who support the 2008 Making a Difference with your Future. The Steering Committee included representatives from:

	• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •	Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Cardinal Health Columbus City Schools Columbus Hearing Impaired Program Columbus Speech and Hearing Center Columbus State Community College Crane Group Co. Deaf Initiatives, Inc. Deaf Services Center Franklin County Education Service Center L.A.Venneri, Inc. Ohio Alliance of Community Centers for the Deaf Ohio Association of the Deaf Ohio Department of Education Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission Ohio School for the Deaf St. Vincent’s Family Center
Lead Sponsor:
	•	Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission
Program Partners:
	• • •	National Technical Institute for the Deaf The Ohio Department of Education Gallaudet University
Key Sponsors:
	• • • • • • • • •	Advocates for Kids Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation Beth Crane & Richard McKee Meredith & Jay Crane Crane Group Co. The Dorothy E. Ann Fund of The Columbus Foundation Huntington Bank Viable, Inc. Worthington Industries

In addition to the corporate donations, we want to thank the many individuals that have generously donated to our scholarship sponsor program. Without their support, many families throughout Ohio would not be able to participate.
Click here to see complete list of sponsors and in kind donations for all our initiatives.

© 2010 Deaf Initiatives