OPTION Categories of Engagement

SECTION 1: Regular Membership

Regular Member Definition

·         Regular Members must be a listening and spoken language program for children who are deaf/hard of hearing.

·         Regular Members must have provided services for a minimum of three years.

Application Process

·         To apply for Regular Membership an Application Packet must be submitted to the OPTION Executive Board. The packet must include: 

o   Completed Regular Membership Application

o   A minimum of two letters of support from current Regular Members

o   A minimum of two letters of support from families.  One letter should be from a family currently served by the applying program and one letter should be from an alumni family

o   Review of the OPTION Standards Document evidenced by it being co-signed by one of the supporting Regular Members and the applying program

o   A copy of the applying program’s mission statement

o   Description of services being provided by the program

o   A letter of verification confirming that the program’s board or governing body supports membership in OPTION

o   A signed letter of commitment to participate in the Listening and Spoken Language-Data Repository (LSL-DR)

·         Applying program must be approved by a majority vote of OPTION Regular Members

·         Regular Member dues will be invoiced upon approval of application

Benefits of Regular Membership:

·         Voting privileges

·         Eligible to apply for LSL-DR grants and other OPTION grants when available

·         Serve on the Executive Board

·         Participate on committees

·         Receive eNewsletter

·         Be part of a network of like-minded professionals

·         Slack Channel participation

·         Can write letters of support for potential new members

·         Receive Foundation Directory Online at a discounted rate when applicable

To Maintain Regular Member in Good Standing Status

Member Programs must:

·         Be represented at the Annual Meeting at least three of every five years

·         Have at least one representative actively serving on the OPTION board or on a committee, three of every five years.  Active participation is defined as being responsive to the Committee Chair’s communication and participating in scheduled committee meetings.

·         Pay assigned annual dues in accordance with the established deadlines

·         Participate in the Listening and Spoken Language-Data Repository (LSL-DR) 

SECTION 2: Provisional Membership

Provisional Member Definition

·         Provisional Members must be a listening and spoken language program for children who are deaf/hard of hearing

·         Provisional Members are programs which have been open less than three years.  A program can apply for Provisional Membership anytime during their first 3 years

·         Provisional Members can maintain this classification for three years

Application Process

·         To apply for Provisional Membership an Application Packet must be submitted to the OPTION Executive Board. The packet must include: 

o   Completed Provisional Membership Application

o   A minimum of two letters of support from current Regular Members

o   Review of the OPTION Standards Document evidenced by it being co-signed by one of the supporting Regular Members and the applying program

o   A copy of the applying program’s mission statement

o   Description of services being provided by the program

o   A letter of verification confirming that the program’s board or governing body supports membership in OPTION

o   A signed letter of commitment to participate in the Listening and Spoken Language-Data Repository (LSL-DR)

·         Provisional Member candidate must be approved by a majority vote of OPTION Regular Members

·         Provisional Member dues will be invoiced upon approval of application at 50% of the Regular Member rate

Benefits of Provisional Membership

·         Participate in the Listening and Spoken Language-Data Repository (LSL-DR)

·         Eligible for LSL-DR grants and other OPTION grants when available

·         Participate on committees

·         Attend Annual Meeting at the Regular Member rate

·         Attend the Annual Business Meeting (not eligible to vote)

·         Receive eNewsletter

·         Be part of a network of like-minded professionals

·         Slack Channel participation

To maintain Provisional Membership and be considered for Regular Membership

Provisional Member Program must:

·         Be represented at the Annual Meeting at least two out of three meetings

·         Have at least one representative actively serving on a committee two out of three years.  Active participation is defined as being responsive to the Committee Chair’s communication and participating in scheduled committee meetings.

·         Pay assigned Provisional Member dues (50% of the Regular Member rate) in accordance with the established deadlines

SECTION 3: Individual Associate Membership

Individual Associate Member Definition

·         Must be an individual

·         An individual is defined as a person not representing a program, university, hospital, non-profit clinic, or advocacy program

·         Must support the OPTION mission of advancing excellence in listening and spoken language education for children who are deaf and hard of hearing

Application Process

·         To apply for Individual Associate Membership an Application Packet must be submitted to the OPTION Executive Board. The packet must include: 

o   Completed Individual Associate Membership Application

o   Letter of support from one current OPTION Regular Member

·         The application will be subject to a 15 day period of comment from the OPTION Regular Membership

·         Following the 15 day comment period the Individual Associate Member must be approved by a majority vote of OPTION Executive Board Members

·         Associate Member dues of $100 will be invoiced upon approval of application

Benefits of Individual Associate Membership

·         Attend Annual Meeting at Member rate

·         Participate on committees

·         Receive eNewsletter

·         Be part of a network of like-minded professionals

·         Slack Channel participation

To maintain Individual Associate Membership

·         Pay assigned Individual Associate Member dues of $100 in accordance with the established deadlines

SECTION 4: Partners

Partner Definition

·         May be a department within a university or hospital, a non-profit clinic, or an advocacy program

·         Must support the OPTION mission of advancing excellence in listening and spoken language education for children who are deaf/hard of hearing

Application Process

·         To apply for Partner Membership an Application Packet must be submitted to the OPTION Executive Board. The packet must include: 

o   A completed Partner Membership Application

o   Letter of support from an OPTION Regular Member

·         The application will be subject to a 15 day period of comment from the OPTION Regular Membership

·         Following the 15 day comment period the Partner must be approved by a majority vote of OPTION Executive Board Members

·         Partner dues of $500 will be invoiced upon approval of application

To maintain Partner Membership

·         Pay assigned Partner dues of $500 in accordance with the established deadlines

Benefits of Partner status

·         Attend Annual Meeting at Member rate

·         In collaboration with an OPTION Regular Member a Partner is eligible to co-author articles including LSL-DR aggregate data. Requests are subject to review by the OPTION Research Committee and must follow the established review protocol

·         Receive eNewsletter

·         Participate on committees

·         Access to programs serving children with hearing loss to gain a network for practicum placements