Creating Continuing Education Opportunities
By Michael A. Bower, ACC
Any
of you have residents who are hard of hearing? Stupid
question, right? Better to ask who doesn't have residents
who suffer from hearing loss!
So,
how many of you know that there is a national organization
for people who have hearing loss? It's called Self Help
for Hard of Hearing People, Inc. (SHHH). I found SHHH
because of a family member who has a severe hearing
impairment, and it is a wonderful organization. Not
only has it helped my family, but it has given me a
world of insight into hearing loss and its impact on
my residents!
Each
year this organization puts on an international convention
that is incredible. In 2002, that convention is in Seattle,
Washington, and, as a member of the Washington State
Association - SHHH Board of Trustees, I am also on the
Local Arrangements Committee (LAC). When asked what
committee I wanted, I jumped on the Workshop Volunteer
Coordinator position. Why? Because I saw a way to do
something I have always wanted to do - introduce Activity
Professionals to SHHH! As the Workshop Volunteer Coordinator,
I am in a position to see that all volunteers for sessions
can receive continuing education certificates for those
sessions - for free! I have applications out to all
of our Washington State Association of Activity Professionals
(WSAAP) chapters, and the response has been very positive.
This
is no small offering. For two days, June 22-23, there
are 7-8 sessions per hour for seven hours, and each
session requires three volunteers. The sessions conclude
with a 3-hour research symposium on the last day that
will need many volunteers. In addition, the convention
hosts a trade fair with hundreds of vendors. Every product
and service imaginable for people who are hearing impaired
is offered for inspection and trial. I am working with
the vendors to create an educational hour for those
wishing to explore and learn!
My
hope is that this will be just the beginning of a partnership
between Activity Professionals and SHHH. Next year,
the convention is in Atlanta, GA, and I will be working
with the Georgia LAC and the national SHHH Conference
Planners to see if what we are starting in Seattle can
become a partnership in every state! Every state has
local SHHH chapters and groups. I have been a guest
speaker at SHHH chapters on nursing homes; depression
and hearing loss; and Alzheimer's and other dementia's.
Think of the possibilities for earning CE hours that
way!
These
are opportunities for Activity Professionals and SHHH
to learn about each other and, in the process, better
the lives of our residents with hearing impairments.
Everyone is a winner!
(For
more information on SHHH, go to www.SHHH.org.
Chapters from every state can be located there.)
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