World Deaf Leadership

Name: Jiayi  Zhou Country: China Field of Study: International Development for Persons with Disabilities

My name is Jiayi Zhou and I am from Shanghai, China. I received the WDL scholarship award in 2007 and began my undergraduate degree in Graphic Design.  I graduated with my Bachelor degree in May 2009.  Thanks to the Nippon Foundation I am now a graduate student at Gallaudet University and am pursuing a master’s degree in International Development for Persons with Disabilities. My dreams are to obtain a position in the field of Art with a specific interest in the training, service, and development of Deaf people and society.

My WDL goal is to establish a place in Shanghai, China to obtain accurate information, training and services about; (a) deaf leadership, (b) deaf education, (c) Chinese Sing Language, (d) entrepreneurship, (e) employment, (f) communication and (g) advocacy.  This place will be called the Dragon Deaf Leadership Training and Service Center.

In order to achieve my WDL goal; (1) data gathering and focus group (2) network and partnership development, (3) leadership training, community development and advocacy workshops, (4) internship with non-profit organization in Shanghai, China, (5) identify organizations, agencies, schools and universities for partnerships to promote Chinese Sign Language, interpreter training, and provide leadership opportunities/participation by deaf people, (6) recruitment and training the trainers, (7) the first Shanghai Deaf Leadership Conference for deaf leaders from all over China 2012 and (8) develop sister schools between USA and China deaf schools to promote exchanges.