National Association of the Deaf

Submitted by Bobbie Beth.Scoggins on Wed, 11/23/2011 - 12:40

We give thanks to all of our supporters for helping us take giant steps toward a future of true equality for deaf and hard of hearing Americans in 2011.

This was a special year as we bid farewell to one of our great leaders, Nancy J. Bloch, who passionately served as our Chief Executive Officer for 19 years and welcomed new NAD CEO Howard A. Rosenblum in April. Howard hit the ground running in his new role, traveling extensively throughout the United States to countless events, including many State Association Conferences.

In this challenging year, we upheld our mission of preserving, protecting and promoting the civil, human and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing people. 

* NAD defended schools for the deaf through legal support, communication with legislators, appeal via media outlets, rallies, and mobilization of the community via our communication channels and social media outlets. While NAD efforts have yielded some results, the threat persists and we must continue the fight.

* NAD worked hard to expand the right of deaf and hard of hearing people to drive to include Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDL), and the Department of Transportation is strongly considering making this possible through exemptions.

* NAD vigorously defended the rights of deaf and hard of hearing professionals and consumers in several court cases. The NAD filed a landmark lawsuit against Netflix under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the first of its kind, alleging that its content delivered over the Internet must be captioned.

* NAD filed other important legal actions to ensure that: consumers can now connect to banks such as Wells Fargo, BB&T, and Chase via Video Relay Service; spectators can now access information on public address systems during sporting events at the Washington Redskins stadium; and consumers in various cases have improved communication access in hospitals and universities. With an eye towards the future, the NAD has taken legal action to make many aspects of American life accessible including a movie theater, a family resort, and the Boy Scouts.

* NAD worked with political groups to build support for U.S.A ratification of the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPRD), an important human rights treaty which states that sign language is a human right and that education includes full acquisition of language, academic, practical and social knowledge.

* NAD proudly represented the U.S.A. at the XVI World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) in South Africa. The WFD is a global human rights organization with 130 country affiliates. We published The World Federation of the Deaf: A History by Jack R. Gannon which was an instant hit. If you would like to order your copy, please visit www.nad.org/wfdbook.

* NAD was intensely involved in advocating for the strongest regulations possible to mandate full compliance with the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act. This new federal law makes it possible for us participate in the Internet age through captioned television programs on the Internet. The Federal Communications Commission will issue rules in early 2012 based on our advocacy efforts this year. 

* Our successful advocacy activities includes community leaders on the local, state, and national level to carry out their outstanding work. NAD continued to build a strong network of advocates, train future leaders, and communicate current issues and advocacy strategies to consumers at the 2011 National Leadership Training Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

* NAD continued its proud tradition of developing young leaders of the future through its revered Youth Leadership Camp (YLC) and Jr. NAD programs. The quality of the students that attended the YLC in Stayton, Oregon and Jr. NAD conference at the California School for the Deaf - Riverside this year gave us great hope for our community.

* We also made significant changes to the NAD Conference so that the event we host in 2012 will reflect a new vision and strategy for the NAD for the years to come. The 2012 NAD Conference will incorporate visual and cultural artists, who express the experiences and values of our community through their beautiful work. Further, we have enhanced the Conference's appeal for everyone including diverse groups, youth, and families. Please join us in Louisville, KY for the 51st Biennial NAD Conference from July 3-7, 2012! Visit http://nad.org/louisville for details and registration. 

We're proud of what we've been able to do and we could not have done it without you. You invest in the NAD in many ways: 

* As a volunteer.
* As a donor.
* As a committee member.
* As a sponsor.
* As a supporter.
* And by telling others, "I support the NAD."

All of these efforts are investments in our mission and cause to achieve true equality for everyone. Thank you for all that you do for the NAD.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, it is our hope is that you will continue to support NAD through your tax-deductible gift at www.nad.org/donatenow so that we can keep on making the world a better place for deaf and hard of hearing people. 

On behalf of the board and staff, my warmest wishes to you for the holiday season,

Bobbie Beth Scoggins
President