2026 LOFT Application

Leadership Opportunities For Teens (LOFT) 2026

Program Application
AG Bell typically receives more applications than can be accommodated. Notification regarding program acceptance is done no later than April 17, 2026. Payment for program registration is due by May 29, 2026.

The LOFT Program has helped hundreds of teens learn to advocate for themselves, set a plan for personal growth, meet role models who understand the challenges of being deaf and hard of hearing and have succeeded in becoming leaders, and join other teens who are deaf and hard of hearing in developing strong leadership skills. We look forward to welcoming you to the program.

LOFT 2026 dates: July 28 - Aug 1, 2026

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

The LOFT Program welcomes applications from teens who have completed at least one year of High School (9th Grade/Freshman). The program includes high school students up to those who are graduating from high school in 2026 (12th Grade/Seniors).

To qualify, applicants must have a pre-lingual bilateral hearing loss in the mild to profound range or a pre-lingual unilateral hearing loss in the moderate to profound range (degrees of hearing loss: Moderate: 41 to 55 dB; Moderately severe: 56 to 70 dB; Severe: 71 to 90 dB; Profound: 91+ dB). Applicants must also use Listening and Spoken Language your primary method of communication.

APPLICATION SUBMISSION VERIFICATION (IMPORTANT)

You must fill your email into the email validator field of the application. After you've submitted your email, you will receive a confirmation email from jotform. If you do not receive this confirmation, it means your application is not complete. You can contact AG Bell at LOFT@agbell.org if you do not receive a confirmation email from jotform.

Completed Applications must be received by AG Bell by March 22, 2026.

Please complete your application online by using this form. You will be able to upload required files and additional documents.

The applications are reviewed by a committee and teens who are admitted to the program are notified by April 17, 2026.

Payment for students ($989) who are accepted into the program is due to AG Bell by May 29, 2026. If cost is the only reason your teen is NOT applying to attend LOFT, please submit a separate scholarship application as well as this LOFT application.

LOFT Scholarship Application: https://www.jotform.com/form/252805633422150

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please email us at LOFT@agbell.org
Contact Information

All Information is required.
Applicant / Teen Name

First NameLast Name
Gender

Other
Preferred Pronouns
Ethnicity
Race

Other
Date of Birth

MonthDayYear
Year in School
This should be the grade you are currently in during the 2025-2026 academic year.
Applicant / Teen E-mail

Confirmation EmailPlease provide a personal email address, NOT a school email address, as the emails do not always go through due to being blocked or are considered spam.
Applicant / Teen Cell Phone Number

Area CodePhone Number
How did you hear about LOFT?
How did you hear about LOFT?

Other
AG Bell is excited to launch a new pilot program in 2026: the Bridging Futures Mentoring Program! Through this program, selected LOFTees and LEAP participants (AG Bell's virtual middle school program) will be matched with a mentor from AG Bell’s Young Leaders Network—adults ages 18–40 with hearing loss who use Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) to communicate. Mentoring pairs will connect virtually via Zoom once a month for six months. Together, they’ll build a meaningful mentoring relationship while developing self-advocacy and leadership skills, and increasing college awareness and readiness. If you’re interested in participating, please indicate below, and a member of the AG Bell team will reach out with more details!
Parent / Guardian Information
Parent / Guardian Name

First NameLast Name
Relationship to Teen:
Parent / Guardian Cell Phone Number

Area CodePhone Number
Home Phone Number

Area CodePhone Number
We will communicate with you using E-mail – a valid e-mail address is required for sharing time-sensitive information and helping you prepare for the program. Please be sure to add LOFT@agbell.org to your e-mail address book. You will ONLY receive emails pertinent to LOFT.
Parent / Guardian E-mail
Email Verification - you will receive a confirmation from jot form after submitting the email verification.
Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip CodeCountry
One session of LOFT that consists of two groups is being planned. Each group can accommodate 20 teens. The first group will be Freshman/Sophomores and the second group will be Junior/Seniors.

When a teen is accepted into the program, that teen will be assigned to a specific group based on information provided in the application regarding their age and grade.
LOFT 2025 Session Dates:
Tell Us About Your Teen's Hearing Loss

Be sure to also include an unaided audiogram performed within the past two years. You may upload it by clicking the button at the end of this section.
Age when hearing loss was diagnosed?
Type of hearing loss:
My teen's hearing loss is:

Indicate the amplification device(s) used by the teen:

Rows	Left Ear	Right Ear
Hearing Aid(s):
BAHA (s):
Cochlear Implant (s):

What brand of hearing device(s) do you use (I.E. MED-EL, Phonak, Oticon, Advanced Bionics, etc.) ?
Age at which the teen first received hearing aids:
If this does not apply to your teen, please write N/A.
If applicable, age at which your teen received their first cochlear implant:
If this does not apply to your teen, please write N/A.
Please upload audiogram information here.

Upload a File

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The LOFT Application requires proof of Hearing Loss by applicants providing an unaided audiogram performed in the last two years. If this is not possible, in place of an audiogram, please upload a recent CI Map, a letter from the child's Audiologist, an IEP or any document that has the child's name and information about their hearing loss (one or two CI's, hearing aid/s, degree of hearing loss, etc.).
Communication
What method(s) of communication does your teen use at home and in school? Check all that apply.
Which supports does your teen currently use at school? Check all that apply.
Tell us about YOU video. Please upload a 1 to 2 minute video in an MP4 or .mov format. In the video, tell us your name, where you are from, two things that are unique about you, and why you want to participate in LOFT.
Browse Files

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Tell us about one of your proudest life moments (Minimum of 100 words).
Many LOFT participants have little or no experience with other individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. If you have, please tell us briefly about your experiences; if none, please write N/A.
If you could spend a weekend any way you wanted, what would you do?
List a leadership quality you have or would like to develop.*
Please list up to five activities (athletic, music, extra-curricular, volunteer, etc.) in which you are active.
If there’s anything else you’d like the selection committee to know about you, please include it here.
Phone Usage During Programming Agreement
During LOFT, students are away from their devices for a significant period of time. It is our policy that cell phones are put away during daytime programming hours. Cell phone usage commences in the evenings. This allows everyone to remain fully immersed in the activities and contribute to the group. Additionally, we encourage socialization during LOFT as an opportunity to build connections, share ideas, and collaborate with one another. Are you able to abide by the policy of putting away cell phones during programming hours and actively participating in socialization during LOFT?
There may be a valid reason that someone may need their phone such as for medical reasons. Do you need an exception to this policy? If so, please explain below.
Parent / Guardian Essay or Letter of Recommendation Information:

#1. From your perspective, what are the two biggest goals for this teen?

#2. Tell us about three leadership skills this teen best demonstrates and how he or she uses these skills on a daily basis or in challenging situations.

#3. Describe one of this teen’s accomplishments of which you are most proud.

#4. Briefly describe this teen’s interaction with peers.

#5. Tell us what you feel this teen can learn from a leadership program.

#6. If you know (or had to guess!) a career path this teen would choose or that you would encourage, what would it be and why? Use examples that demonstrate this teen's abilities to move in that direction.

*If you choose to upload your essay or recommendation, please write "Uploaded" in the box below.
Parent / Guardian Essay or Letter of Recommendation:
Browse Files

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Please tell us any additional information about your child that may be helpful to know so we can best support them, as it is our desire that your child will function well while at LOFT.
Please detail if your teen has any dietary restrictions/special dietary needs so we can accommodate them for provided meals. While we do our best to offer a variety of options as most meals are catered buffet style, please note that we may not be able to accommodate very selective or severe picky eating preferences. We appreciate your understanding!
Non-Parent Letter of Recommendation

Please enter the name and email of the person you would like to send a letter of recommendation. Please choose someone not related to your family, such as a teacher, audiologist, mentor, etc. Jotform will automatically send a form to the contact you provide for them to fill out. **PLEASE NOTE**- It is the responsibility of the LOFT Applicant to make sure that the Non-Parent Recommendation letter is completed by the LOFT Application due date. Please be sure that the Recommender has the direct link below (copy and paste to send directly to them) and are aware that they need to complete the recommendation letter by March 22, 2026: https://form.jotform.com/233185309541152
Name of Recommender

First NameLast Name
Email of Recommender
example@example.com
Photo and Video Release

AG Bell's LOFT Program has a Photographer and Videographer on site during the program. Photos and Videos are shared with the LOFT group after LOFT is over as well as shared through AG Bell's social media channels, website and other AG Bell promotions.
I hereby grant permission to the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) to use the photograph(s) and video(s) of {applicant} for unlimited use in any AG Bell publications, periodicals, brochures, displays, booklets, website and in any of AG Bell’s public relations or fundraising activities. I give and grant to AG Bell and its designees, licensees, successors and assigns, the right to use, publish and copyright, my child’s name, voice, likeness, actions and biographical data, in whole or in part. I hereby waive any right that my child or I may have to inspect or approve the media, any materials that may be used in connection with the media, or the use to which it may be applied.
AGREEMENT: This is to certify that I am the parent/legal guardian of the aforementioned LOFT Applicant. I support my teen’s application for the AG Bell LOFT program planned for 2026 in Washington, DC. I understand that if my teen is selected to participate in one of the LOFT program session groups, I am responsible for the LOFT registration fee as well as the cost of transportation to and from the program. By signing my name below, I indicate that I have read, understand and accept the Terms and Conditions provided and the Agreement as stated above and affirm that all the information provided in this application is correct and complete to the best of my knowledge.
Be sure to include the following with your application:

*A copy of your unaided audiogram

*Your essay

*Your Parent /essay or Letter of Recommendation

*Your Non-Parent/Guardian essay or Letter of Recommendation
Signature of Agreement
Browse Files

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Should be Empty:

Leadership Opportunities For Teens (LOFT) 2026

Contact Information

Parent / Guardian Information

Tell Us About Your Teen's Hearing Loss

Communication

Tell us about YOU video. Please upload a 1 to 2 minute video in an MP4 or .mov format. In the video, tell us your name, where you are from, two things that are unique about you, and why you want to participate in LOFT.

Phone Usage During Programming Agreement

Non-Parent Letter of Recommendation

Photo and Video Release