National Association of the Deaf

Submitted by Tayler Mayer on Thu, 07/08/2010 - 19:13 Blog:

• NAD Conference

Deaf Bilingual Coalition (DBC) feels that the term “intervention” is negative and implies that a “problem” is identified which needs to be fixed. Various minority organizations are led by the people themselves; for example, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) are led by black people only. Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI), which NAD supported the passage into law, does not have any Deaf stakeholders, or members representing Deaf people in the group.

Submitted by Jeannette Johnson on Thu, 07/08/2010 - 17:32

The official first day of the NAD conference was a busy one - workshops, the General Forum, the exhibit hall, Miss Deaf America Preliminaries, and of course, the CEO Finalist Presentations. Here's a quick run through the first day for those who could not attend. Hope you will be able to attend the next conference! 

Submitted by Jeannette Johnson on Thu, 07/08/2010 - 17:31 Blog:

• NAD Conference

On July 7, the Welcome Ceremony officially began the NAD 50th biennial conference.  Melissa Draganac-Hawk was the emcee, and MJ Bienvenu and Claudia Gordon were the keynote speakers.  The Accessibility Awards, Media Advocacy Award and Spirit of the NAD Award were handed out during the ceremony.  The attendees left the ceremony fired up for an exciting week at the conference! For an English version, please see Tayler Mayer's post here.

Submitted by Jeannette Johnson on Thu, 07/08/2010 - 17:30 Blog:

• NAD Conference

 Marlee Matlin gives her acceptance speech for the National Association of the Deaf's Media Advocacy Award during the Welcome Ceremony. During her speech, she said she was a proud member of NAD, and our struggle to make the internet accessible was still not over.  Marlee also thanked all of the NAD members and the deaf community for joining in the struggle for equal access.

Submitted by Jeannette Johnson on Thu, 07/08/2010 - 14:43 Blog:

• NAD Conference

Barbara Raimondo gave a commission on educational policy and deaf children today. The room was full of curious attendees who wanted to learn more about how government policy plays a role in deaf education. She opened the session by explaining that she got involved because of her two deaf children, and she is passionate about deaf education and law.

Submitted by Jeannette Johnson on Thu, 07/08/2010 - 13:12 Blog:

• NAD Conference

You could feel the excitement in the air last night as the three NAD CEO Finalists stepped onstage to make their presentations. Each Finalist had 15 minutes to present, and 15 minutes of Q&A. Shane H. Feldman went first, Darlene Goncz-Zangara second, and Howard A. Rosenblum last.

Submitted by Tayler Mayer on Wed, 07/07/2010 - 20:15 Blog:

• NAD Conference

The NAD 50th Biennial Conference Opening Ceremony began with Betsy Ross sewing the American flag while thinking about what was happening in the country -- to name one, the tax paid to England. Our founding forefathers decided it was time to gather round to discuss issues confronting the colonies. Together, they debated and drafted the Declaration of Independence, and on the Fourth of July, 1776, the Continental Congress announced its adoption and that the thirteen American colonies were now independent states.

 What do the vice-president of a large national non-profit communications service provider, a attorney specializing in fighting for accessibility, and the chief operating officer of a large non-profit advocacy organization share in common?    Besides a common desire to expand communication access for the nation's 36 million deaf and hard of hearing citizens, they're also working to become the National Association of the Deaf's next Chief Executive Officer.  

The candidates are: 

Submitted by Jeannette Johnson on Wed, 07/07/2010 - 07:13 Blog:

• NAD Conference

Everyone, especially the NAD delegates were extremely busy yesterday! Things kicked off with the Order of Georges and Georgettes Breakfast breakfast, where Barbara A. Schmidt received the Golden Rose Award, in recognition of her lifetime of volunteer service for the deaf community and being a great role model for the future generations. After the OGG breakfast, the central location was at the Grand ballroom, where the Council of Representatives [CoR] was held.

Working on another article for the NAD Conference blog in the lobby is an exercise in distraction. It seems every person walking through the lobby is a one-person high-school or college reunion for someone else in the lobby. The shrieks, the "OH - MY - GOD'S!", and the flying fingers trying to catch up on the excitement of the past years.