ADARA 2021 Virtual Conference via Zoom
March 12, 2021, 1:00 to 5:30 PM - Eastern Standard Time (3 Hours CEUs offered)
(10 AM PST; 11 AM MST; 12 PM CST)

Culturally Responsive Services: Creating Meaningful Working Relationships
Dr. Alesia Allen
1.5 hour CEUs
Workshop Description:
Culturally-responsive approaches to teaching and providing services are important. In education, culturally responsive teachers can make learning experiences more personal and meaningful. Service providers that practice cultural humility allow for greater understanding and recognize each individual's unique cultural experiences. This will be further expanded by reviewing intersectionality concepts, reviewing multicultural orientation framework, and reviewing skills to practice cultural humility to provide better services.
Workshop Objectives:
1. Participants will be able to define what it means to be culturally-responsive in their respective fields and frameworks associated with culturally responsive approaches.
2. Participants will define intersectionality and understand the impacts of how multiple types of overlapping discrimination can occur based on race, gender, age, ethnicity, physical abilities, class, or other characteristics that place them in a minority group.
3. Participants will distinguish the difference between practicing cultural humility and cultural competence, the benefits, and the barriers to providing culturally responsive work.
Dr. Alesia Allen
1.5 hour CEUs
Workshop Description:
Culturally-responsive approaches to teaching and providing services are important. In education, culturally responsive teachers can make learning experiences more personal and meaningful. Service providers that practice cultural humility allow for greater understanding and recognize each individual's unique cultural experiences. This will be further expanded by reviewing intersectionality concepts, reviewing multicultural orientation framework, and reviewing skills to practice cultural humility to provide better services.
Workshop Objectives:
1. Participants will be able to define what it means to be culturally-responsive in their respective fields and frameworks associated with culturally responsive approaches.
2. Participants will define intersectionality and understand the impacts of how multiple types of overlapping discrimination can occur based on race, gender, age, ethnicity, physical abilities, class, or other characteristics that place them in a minority group.
3. Participants will distinguish the difference between practicing cultural humility and cultural competence, the benefits, and the barriers to providing culturally responsive work.

Trauma Therapy in the Time of COVID-19
Dr. Melissa Anderson
1.5 hour CEUs
Workshop Description:
COVID-19 has impacted everyone's life and has made an impact on the Deaf community. A shift has had to be made from in-person contact to working in a remote setting. Changing to a remote setting when providing clinical services has involved a paradigm change that includes both positive and negative challenges. This workshop will discuss the use of trauma therapy with Deaf trauma survivors and how that process has shifted from pre-COVID times to the present time.
Workshop Objectives:
1. Participants will list at least three COVID-related challenges that uniquely affect Deaf trauma survivors and the process of trauma therapy with Deaf sign language users.
2. Participants will identify at least one way in which the content of trauma therapy may shift from pre-COVID times to the present time.
3. Participants will identify at least one way in which the process of trauma therapy may shift from pre-COVID times to the present time.
Dr. Melissa Anderson
1.5 hour CEUs
Workshop Description:
COVID-19 has impacted everyone's life and has made an impact on the Deaf community. A shift has had to be made from in-person contact to working in a remote setting. Changing to a remote setting when providing clinical services has involved a paradigm change that includes both positive and negative challenges. This workshop will discuss the use of trauma therapy with Deaf trauma survivors and how that process has shifted from pre-COVID times to the present time.
Workshop Objectives:
1. Participants will list at least three COVID-related challenges that uniquely affect Deaf trauma survivors and the process of trauma therapy with Deaf sign language users.
2. Participants will identify at least one way in which the content of trauma therapy may shift from pre-COVID times to the present time.
3. Participants will identify at least one way in which the process of trauma therapy may shift from pre-COVID times to the present time.
Presenter Biographies:
Alesia Allen, Ph.D., is Assistant Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion at National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). In this role, she monitors diversity, inclusion, equal opportunity, and access regulations and issues in higher education and advises the president and other NTID administrators on matters related to diversity and inclusion. She also ensures accessibility and inclusive collaboration while bridging gaps between NTID and university-wide initiatives at RIT. Dr. Allen has more than 15 years of professional, clinical, and teaching experience, and she worked on several initiatives to promote system changes that impact deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who come from diverse backgrounds. Her career consisted of several roles that include providing therapy and assessments to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, clinical consultations, teaching, and advocating for better mental health services for this population. She most recently served as a visiting assistant professor in NTID's Department of Liberal Studies. She taught various psychology courses and engaged in scholarship, mentoring students, and serving on several committees. Dr. Allen holds a doctoral and a master's degree in clinical psychology from Gallaudet University and a bachelor's in psychology from RIT.
Melissa Anderson, Ph.D., is a Gallaudet University-trained psychologist and clinical researcher who strives to provide accessible behavioral healthcare to members of the U.S. Deaf community. Melissa is Director of the DeafYES! Center for Deaf Empowerment and Recovery, housed within UMass Medical School's Implementation Science & Practice Advances Research Center (iSPARC). The clinical mission of DeafYES! is to provide culturally-affirmative, linguistically-accessible behavioral health services to Deaf clients, while their NIAAA-, NCATS-, and NIDCD-funded programs of research revolve around developing innovative, evidence-based behavioral health interventions and research methodologies. Melissa's career within the Deaf community has only been successful because of the participatory action nature of her work. Her team's clinical services and research studies are co-led by Deaf professionals and Deaf laypersons, ensuring that the work they do is relevant and accessible. In addition to this community co-leadership model, Melissa's team continuously infuses Deaf community members' voices into their work via ongoing qualitative interviews, focus groups, and community forums.
Alesia Allen, Ph.D., is Assistant Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion at National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). In this role, she monitors diversity, inclusion, equal opportunity, and access regulations and issues in higher education and advises the president and other NTID administrators on matters related to diversity and inclusion. She also ensures accessibility and inclusive collaboration while bridging gaps between NTID and university-wide initiatives at RIT. Dr. Allen has more than 15 years of professional, clinical, and teaching experience, and she worked on several initiatives to promote system changes that impact deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who come from diverse backgrounds. Her career consisted of several roles that include providing therapy and assessments to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, clinical consultations, teaching, and advocating for better mental health services for this population. She most recently served as a visiting assistant professor in NTID's Department of Liberal Studies. She taught various psychology courses and engaged in scholarship, mentoring students, and serving on several committees. Dr. Allen holds a doctoral and a master's degree in clinical psychology from Gallaudet University and a bachelor's in psychology from RIT.
Melissa Anderson, Ph.D., is a Gallaudet University-trained psychologist and clinical researcher who strives to provide accessible behavioral healthcare to members of the U.S. Deaf community. Melissa is Director of the DeafYES! Center for Deaf Empowerment and Recovery, housed within UMass Medical School's Implementation Science & Practice Advances Research Center (iSPARC). The clinical mission of DeafYES! is to provide culturally-affirmative, linguistically-accessible behavioral health services to Deaf clients, while their NIAAA-, NCATS-, and NIDCD-funded programs of research revolve around developing innovative, evidence-based behavioral health interventions and research methodologies. Melissa's career within the Deaf community has only been successful because of the participatory action nature of her work. Her team's clinical services and research studies are co-led by Deaf professionals and Deaf laypersons, ensuring that the work they do is relevant and accessible. In addition to this community co-leadership model, Melissa's team continuously infuses Deaf community members' voices into their work via ongoing qualitative interviews, focus groups, and community forums.
Virtual Conference Agenda
(All times are in Eastern Standard Time; Paid registrations are required for workshops)
March 12, 2021, 1:00 to 5:30 PM EST (10 AM PST; 11 AM MST; 12 PM CST)
1:00 - 1:15 PM:
President's Welcome
1:15 - 2:45 PM:
“Culturally Responsive Services: Creating Meaningful Working Relationships” by Dr. Alesia Allen
2:45 - 3:00 PM:
Break
3:00 - 4:30 PM:
“Trauma Therapy in the Time of COVID-19” by Dr. Melissa Anderson
4:30 – 5:30 PM:
Virtual Awards Ceremony
(Open to everyone - No registration required)
CEU Information:
The 2021 ADARA Virtual Conference is approved for 3-hour professional continuing education units (CEUs) by several professional disciplines:
The Alabama Department of Mental Health is an Approved Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) CMP Sponsor for Continuing Education Activities. This professional studies program is offered for 0.3 CEUs at the “some” content knowledge level (RID Activity Code 0263.0321.04 & 0263.0321.05).
The Alabama Department of Mental Health is an approved continuing education provider by the National Board of Certified Counselors, ACEP No. 6824 for 3 clock hours. ADMH Office of Deaf Services is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.
This program is approved by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval # 886568022-7718) for 3 continuing education contact hours.
This program is approved by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) (Approval # 60007933703) for 3 continuing education contact hours.
Accommodations
ASL Interpreters and CART Services will be provided.
(All times are in Eastern Standard Time; Paid registrations are required for workshops)
March 12, 2021, 1:00 to 5:30 PM EST (10 AM PST; 11 AM MST; 12 PM CST)
1:00 - 1:15 PM:
President's Welcome
1:15 - 2:45 PM:
“Culturally Responsive Services: Creating Meaningful Working Relationships” by Dr. Alesia Allen
2:45 - 3:00 PM:
Break
3:00 - 4:30 PM:
“Trauma Therapy in the Time of COVID-19” by Dr. Melissa Anderson
4:30 – 5:30 PM:
Virtual Awards Ceremony
(Open to everyone - No registration required)
- Boyce Williams Award
- Frederick C. Schreiber Award
- Eugene W. Petersen Award
- McCay Vernon Outstanding JADARA Article Award
- Legislative Award
- Boyce Williams Student Writing Award
- Martin Seligman Student Psychology Research Award
- ADARA Award for Outstanding Mental Health Services to Deaf People
CEU Information:
The 2021 ADARA Virtual Conference is approved for 3-hour professional continuing education units (CEUs) by several professional disciplines:
- National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
- National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
- Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC)
- Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID)
The Alabama Department of Mental Health is an Approved Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) CMP Sponsor for Continuing Education Activities. This professional studies program is offered for 0.3 CEUs at the “some” content knowledge level (RID Activity Code 0263.0321.04 & 0263.0321.05).
The Alabama Department of Mental Health is an approved continuing education provider by the National Board of Certified Counselors, ACEP No. 6824 for 3 clock hours. ADMH Office of Deaf Services is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.
This program is approved by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval # 886568022-7718) for 3 continuing education contact hours.
This program is approved by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) (Approval # 60007933703) for 3 continuing education contact hours.
Accommodations
ASL Interpreters and CART Services will be provided.