SERID History In November of 1967, a national conference was held in Las Cruces, New Mexico involving representatives from state special education agencies, vocational rehabilitation agencies and state associations of the deaf. The focus of that conference was on building cooperative relationships among special educators, rehabilitation specialists and deaf consumer groups to improve service delivery to people with "hearing impairments". More than 200 professionals from throughout the United States attended this national conference. The enthusiasm generated among the participants was so great that the speaker who presented the conference summary encouraged the establishment of regional and state conferences. In 1971 Alabama initiated the first Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Region IV Conference including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. In 1972 the University of Tennessee (through an RSA short term training grant) hosted the second conference in Knoxville. The 1973 conference was held in St. Augustine, Florida. In the mid 1970's, the University of Tennessee Region IV Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program (RRCEP) provided some financial support for the conference and as a result the focus of the conference turned toward training for professionals. Through RRCEP, the conference became a regional training "Institute." Nationally known experts in the field of deafness conducted workshops and seminars to provide additional training to educators and rehabilitation specialists who serve persons with "hearing impairments". These Institutes on Deafness have continued because of the efforts of dedicated professionals and consumers within each of eight southeastern states. Institutes have been held in Greensboro, North Carolina (1974); Columbia, South Carolina (1975); Atlanta, Georgia (1976); Biloxi, Mississippi (1977); Lexington, Kentucky (1978); Birmingham, Alabama (1979); Nashville, Tennessee (1980); St. Petersburg, Florida (1981); Asheville, North Carolina (1982); Charleston, South Carolina (1983); Atlanta, Georgia (1984); Biloxi, Mississippi (1985); Lexington, Kentucky (1986); and Huntsville, Alabama (1987) and continue today. Historically each state's Rehabilitation Agency has assumed leadership by coordinating resources within the state toward planning and conducting the Institute. Some of the groups traditionally involved in the Institute are: State Departments of Education State Residential School(s) for the Deaf Mental Health Agencies Local Education Agencies Postsecondary Education Programs State Rehabilitation Agencies State Rehabilitation Agencies for the Blind Community Rehabilitation Programs Independent Living Centers Speech and Hearing Centers State Agencies & Associations for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Interpreter's Organizations State Councils/Commissions on Deafness Community Interpreter Referral Centers In essence, SERID is seen as a way to energize professionals in the field of "hearing loss": to provide information to consumers; and to bring innovations to the attention of all that participate. In 2000, Georgia Department of Rehabilitation Services spearheaded and financed the move to incorporate SERID and establish it with an IRS - 501©(3) status. This move will protect the conference planners from personal liability and will allow SERID to solicit funds from other entities, which had not been possible in the past. The official corporation is named the Southeast Regional Institute on Deafness, Inc. The purpose of the corporation shall be to hold an annual conference by State Coordinators for the Deaf in the Southeastern United States ("the Institute"), for health professionals, employers, consumers, educators, and other persons interested in issues affecting individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, and/or late-deafened; and to further knowledge concerning these issues through publications, studies, and educational programs. PURPOSE This Institute provides educational and professional development for individuals who work with consumers who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, and late-deafened. The goal of this conference is to promote collaboration between service providers and communities serving these consumers within the region. It also provides an avenue for recruiting new staff for vacant positions as well as a way for rewarding current staff for the good work they are doing. SERID Inc. Bylaws This is a .pdf document and requires Adobe Reader to open. SERID State Roatation This is an MS Word document. Conference Timeline This is an MS Word document. SERID Brochure This is a .pdf document and requires Adobe Reader to open. SERID Committee Responsibilities This is an MS Word document. SERID Committees This is an MS Word document. National SCD Presentation 2006 This is a Power Point document.