The first-ever PEN-International Summer Leadership Institute, a multinational week-long program for postsecondary deaf and hard of hearing students, took place 5-12 August, 2006, at Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England.

A total of 20 students, 16 sign language interpreters and voice language translators, four faculty members, and speakers from the National Technical Institute for the Deaf and each of PEN-International's major partner programs in Japan, China, Russia, and the Philippines participated in the program. There were also two guest speakers representing Wolverhampton University and the deaf community of England. The goals of the Institute were to promote development of leadership skills among postsecondary student leaders; to focus on self-advocacy skills in the areas of support services in postsecondary education, community access and employment; and to engage in learning about Deaf Culture and awareness. This was accomplished through ice-breaking activities, presentations by faculty and students, cultural performances and demonstrations, exercises and games, and social hours in the pub on the Castle grounds. In addition, there was a daylong field trip to Brighton and the White Cliffs area of southern England.

From the very start, it was clear that the Summer Leadership Institute was a resounding success. Students immediately bonded, and the cultural exchanges and exposure was a wonderful experience for everyone involved.

To view the students' leadership powerpoint presentations, cultural night presentations, media coverage, photos, journals and testimonials, please check below.

Table of Contents

1. For NTID Students
2. Summer Institute Faculty
3. Participating Institutions
4. Information packet for faculty and students
5. Resources on leadership training
6. Summer Institute schedule
7. Photos
8. Student Presentations
9. Student Testimonials and Journals
10. Student Projects
11. Media Coverage
12. PEN-International Summer Institute organizers

Contact information

Denise Kavin, Ed.D., Senior Project Associate
Postsecondary Education Network-International
National Technical Institute for the Deaf
Rochester Institute of Technology
52 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY 14623-5604
585-475-4661 tty
585-475-2939 voice
585-475-2790 fax
dkavin@mail.rit.edu

*This Summer Institute is being conducted by PEN-International, a program funded by grants from The Nippon Foundation of Japan. Additional generous funding was received from Dr. Alfred Bader.*