E. William Clymer, associate director of PEN-International, Patricia Billies, associate director of PEPNet-Northeast, Marcia Kolvitz, director of PEPNet-South, and Minoru Yoshida, technical specialist of PEN-International participated in the third annual PEPNet-Japan symposium held on the campus of National-Tsukuba University of Technology in Tsukuba, Japan.

Former PEN-International intern, Takuma Ota, and Minoru Yoshida presented at the concurrent session in “understanding the needs and empowerment of the students who are deaf and hard of hearing.” Mr. Ota provided his comprehensive review of his study in the United States and described how empowerment is actually utilized in both the United States and Japan, and new challenges both countries face. Mr. Yoshida introduced how students who are deaf and hard-of-hearing empower themselves at RIT/NTID and shared his own personal experience at RIT/NTID. Approximately 40 people attended the session, and both presentations were well received.

The highlight of the symposium was an interview session with the two keynote speakers: Patricia Billies and Marcia Kolvitz. They provided an overview of PEPNet in the United States, the roles of PEPNet/DSS coordinator, challenges the coordinators face, and how PEPNet provides support services for local universities and colleges across the United States. The speakers also shared some stories of how the role of coordinators have evolved. The interview session was moderated by Dr. Mayumi Shirasawa in a very eloquent manner, and the interview session was very well received.

Overall, the symposium was a very successful as a result, and the ongoing partnership with PEN-International/PEPNet was clearly evident.