Student Development and Counselor Skills Training
By Robb Adams and Lee Twyman
Robb Adams, chairperson of Counseling Services at NTID and Associate Professor, NTID, and Lee Twyman, counselor and RIT Student Ombudsperson, RIT Student Problem Resolution Office, facilitated a workshop for approximately 60 parents of deaf and hard-of-hearing students enrolled at the College of St. Benilde in Manila.
The program was an open, interactive forum where parents and leaders shared the joys and concerns regarding parenting and educating deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Topics discussed included satisfaction with the academic program for deaf students at CSB, and praise for the professionals who teach and administer the program. Concern was expressed for their childrens' futures. Specifically, parents wanted to talk about future job outlooks, the ability of their children to earn money and support themselves, and the importance of family life. Many parents stood to express their thoughts and feelings, and interaction among parents was frequent. The strong response and positive interaction shown at this meeting demonstrated satisfaction with this workshop format, and the need and desire for more opportunities such as this for parents and school leaders.
