Categories of Engagement
OPTION Categories of Engagement
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
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