PSAD Leadership Training Program

What is PSAD Leadership Training Program?


Leadership is capacity or ability to lead. Training is a learning by doing process. The Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of the Deaf, Inc. (PSAD) believes that by offering the Leadership Training program, it helps the participants to explore beyond their limitations. Also, the PSAD LTP provides an opportunity for the participants to challenge themselves to the fullest range of their mental, physical, and spiritual abilities. The PSAD LTP has an unique program that helps participants to understand the rules of how to accomplish things in many ways along with the combination of skill, knowledge, emotion, and character. The PSAD LTP has two distinguishing programs, Leadership Training Program and Outdoor Leadership Educational Program. Worth noting, we maintain an accessible communication climate by having the deaf instructors who are well-trained to conduct the training program. Because of this, all instructors and participants can interact freely without language barriers to understanding.

Is a customized program available?

Yes, PSAD LTP is able to develop a customized program to fit an organization's needs such as: job-related training, parliamentary procedure training, Jr. NAD workshops, seminars, workshops with emphasis on skills or knowledge or structures.

More About the Leadership Training Program

The Leadership Training Program is an educational process that helps the participants develop their personal and professional skills to the higher heights of achievement. The curriculum is ever-changing and carefully designed to meet the current needs of growth. Simply put, "WE GIVE YOU TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE, THEN YOU UTILIZE THEM TO ACCOMPLISH". Under this program, LTP has 4 phases. Phase I is especially designed for first year participants. Phase II is for those attending for the second time. Phase III is for those who have completed the second level of training. Phase IV is for those who have completed the first 3 phases. In each phase, the participants experience "hands-on" development in the following areas: self-awareness, goal planning, quality management, self. empowerment, assessment/evaluation, smart legislative strategic planning, parliamentary procedures, listening skills, lobbying skills, fact-finding skills, self-sufficiency, organizing skills, and establishing networks. These training sessions take place in the meeting rooms or classrooms so all deaf instructors are able to use the overhead projectors, blackboards, bulletin boards, TV's, and flip charts as part of their total educational tools

Who can participate?

PSAD LTP is primarily designed for deaf and hard of hearing people who are already, or are planning to be involved in a local and/or state leadership position. Also, those who want to strengthen their performance in the workforce, nonprofit agencies, or private industries are also eligible for this program. Participants must be at least 21 years of age. Observers are not permitted unless they get a special permission from the LTP coordinator, in advance.

History of Leadership Training Program

Sol Schwartzmann, a retired teacher at Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, and actively involved with PSAD for many years, started what has become today's program. He saw the need for continuous leadership development within the Pennsylvania Deaf community. In 1987, he proposed sponsoring the Leadership Training in cooperation with Gallaudet University and the PSAD board approved it. In 1988, the Leadership Training Program was founded. Ms. Donalda Ammons and Dr. Mary Malzkuhn at WPSD conducted the training. At that time, there were only 19 participants and only one phase (level).

Ten years later (1997), we expanded to 4 phases and established the new program which we call the Outdoor Leadership Educational Program. The highest number of participants attended the Leadership Training program on a single weekend was 48 in 1997. According to Schwartzmann's comments in the NAD Broadcaster, "Back then, I just saw a need for this kind of workshop in our state but I never expected it to grow into such an outstanding program." The National Association of the Deaf has recognized this program as a great model.

The Key Highlights of PSAD LTP over the past 10 years are listed below:
  • The PSAD leadership-training program has trained more than 130 participants.
  • Because PSAD recognized the needs of continuous development training, LTP had expanded its program to a fourth and advanced phase in 1997.
  • The largest number ever attending a LTP were 48 participants in 1997 at West Chester University, West Chester, PA.
  • More than 10 of the participants were from outside of Pennsylvania. (PSAD LTP invited outsiders for the first time in 1997)
  • The PSAD LTP team provided the leadership workshops at the NAD's Junior NAD Conference at Alabama School for the Deaf in November 1997.
  • In 1998, LTP had its 10th annual retreat. This was a great milestone!
  • The Outdoor Leadership Educational Program was founded in 1996. It is seen as a mental and physical coordination challenge and of team effort regardless of the participant's weigh, height, or intelligent.
Past Site
  • May 20 to 22, 1988 at Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in Pittsburgh, PA. Hosted by Greater Pittsburgh Chapter.
  • May 19 to 21, 1989 at Messiah College in Grantham, PA. Hosted by Greater Harrisburg Chapter
  • June 8 to 10, 1990 at Albright College, Reading, PA. Hosted by Reading Chapter.
  • September 13 to 15, 1991 at Villa Maria College of Gannon University in Erie, PA. Hosted by Erie Chapter.
  • July 31 to August 2, 1992 at Lycoming College in Williamsport, PA. Hosted by North Central Chapter.
  • June 11 to 13, 1993 at Messiah College in Grantham, PA. Hosted by York Chapter.
  • June 17 to 19, 1994 at Kutztown University in Kutztown, PA. Hosted by Lehigh Valley Chapter.
  • June 16 to 18, 1995 at Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in Pittsburgh, PA. Hosted by Greater Pittsburgh Chapter.
  • June 20 to 22, 1997 at West Chester University in West Chester, PA. Hosted by Greater Philadelphia Chapter.
  • November 12 to 16, 1997 at Jr. NAD Eastern Region Conference. Hosted by Alabama School for the Deaf.
  • June 19 to 22, 1998 at Mercyhurst College in Northeast, PA. Hosted by Erie Chapter.
  • August 1998 at Ohio School for the Deaf in Columbus, Ohio. Hosted by Ohio School for the Deaf.
  • June 16 to 19, 2000 at Scranton State School for the Deaf in Scranton, PA. Hosted by Northeastern Pennsylvania Chapter
  • July 7 and 8, 2000 at NAD biennial Conference in Norfolk, Virginia. Hosted by PSAD LTP.
  • June 15 - 17, 2001 at Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in Pittsburgh, PA. Hosted by Greater Pittsburgh Chapter
  • June 7 - 9, 2002 at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, PA. Host by PSAD LTP.
  • June 11-13, 2004 at Scranton State School for the Deaf in Scranton, PA. Hosted by PSAD LTP.

Outdoor Leadership Education Program

Outdoor Leadership Education Program (OLEP) is a series of outdoors imitative tests that helps the individuals become effective group members while attempting to solve a group problem. They are designed so that each group must attempt to work out its own solution. This problem-oriented approach can be useful in developing each personÍs awareness of decision-making, leadership, and the obligations of each member within a group. Participants work on the problem in-groups in order to take advantage of the combined physical and mental strength of a team.

For more information on Leadership Training Programs, please contact:

Lynn Stroud - Chairperson
E-mail: PSADLynn@epix.net

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