General Information

Invitation to the Conference

We invite you to attend the National Training Conference on Employment of Federal Employees who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing being held at the National Institutes of Health, Natcher Conference Center in Bethesda, Maryland. This year ’s conference theme is "Diversity and Unity: Keys to Opportunities.” This 3-day conference, free of charge, focuses on the employment, advancement, retention, and culture of employees who are deaf or hard of hearing. It provides an opportunity to hear nationally recognized speakers and trainers discuss current realities and future trends, and the assessment and use of information technology. Our goal is to increase the participants’ awareness of issues that challenge federal employees who are deaf or hard of hearing and their hearing co-workers.

The Conference Mission Statement

The mission of the National Training Conference is to provide training and resources on issues affecting Federal employees who are deaf or hard of hearing. The conference will highlight the similarities, and bridge the gap of perceived and real differences between Federal employees who are deaf or hard of hearing and their hearing colleagues. The focus will be on developing methods of working together effectively, improving communication skills, and the use of technology, which can be used to support and advance the goals of agencies within the Federal government.

The Conference is for:

• Deaf or Hard of Hearing Federal Employees
• Managers, Supervisors, and Co-workers of Deaf or Hard of Hearing Persons
• Human Resources or Personnel Officers and Staff
• Selective Placement Program Managers or Coordinators
• EEO Managers and Specialists
• Disability Employment Program Managers or Coordinators
• Diversity and Multicultural Program Managers or Coordinators
• Government Staff Interpreters

Conference Speakers and Workshops

Six different keynote speakers and a variety of workshops will be offered during the 3-day conference. The conference offers training in technology, communication skills, career planning, personal growth, management and leadership skills, and equal employment opportunity. Some workshops will be repeated so that the participants can attend the sessions of their choice. Communication access, including sign language and voice interpreting services, and assertive listening devices will be available throughout the conference. Real-time captioning services will be provided for the keynote speeches only.