National Association of the Deaf

Dear Conference Attendee:

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) extends to you a warm invitation to attend the 50th Biennial NAD Conference in Philadelphia, PA, the city of brotherly love from July 6-10, 2010.

This year’s conference theme is “Celebrate Our Heritage. Invest in Our Future.”  Join us for a special celebration of the 130th anniversary of the founding of the NAD, as well as the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), in the birthplace of liberty.

The NAD was established in 1880 by deaf leaders who believed in the right of the American deaf community to use sign language, to congregate on issues important to them, and to have its interests represented at the national level. These beliefs remain true to this day, with American Sign Language as a core value. As a nonprofit federation, the mission of the NAD is to preserve, protect, and promote the civil, human, and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America.

You may wish to use the information below to justify and receive support from your workplace (government, nonprofit and private sectors) for coverage of 50th Biennial NAD Conference registration and travel expenses. Click here for a sample employer justification letter.

We are offering a wealth of workshops at this summer’s conference which will benefit your professional and personal development, such as:

• Accommodations and Accessibility - Best Practices (Panel) - Moderator: Seth Bravin
• Accommodation Opportunities - Real Solutions for You! - Presenter: Jeffrey Dallos & Michelle Sherbondy
• Creating Opportunities in Your Workplace - Presenter: Daniel J. Schreiner
• Disability Disclosure - When, Why, and How? - Presenter: Adrienne Thal
• New Developments on Telecommunications Relay Service from the FCC - Presenter: Greg Hlibok
• Speed Networking: Advancing Your Career - Presenter: Kathy Dollinger-Meyer
• Social Security: Applying Online for Disability/Retirement Benefits - Presenter: Billy Bowman
• Successfully Navigating your Employment Options with the Federal Government - Presenter: Kirsten Poston & Jennifer Croft
• Toward a Virtual World – Presenter: Darlene Zangara & Robert Cooper
• Utilizing Federal Resources for Establishing Economic Independence - Presenter: Adrienne Thal
• Video Remote Interpreting: What/When/Where/How? - Presenter: Josh Mendelsohn & Robert Mather

As a conference attendee, you will receive the following benefits:

• Receive training geared for professionals
• Increase knowledge and understanding of multicultural issues in the workplace and beyond
• Share expertise, knowledge, and ideas
• Learn about the newest gadgets, products, and services
• Become an informed consumer
• Improve interpersonal and communication skills
• Pick up tips on management and supervisory techniques
• Improve leadership skills
• Learn to empower yourself and others
• Network with colleagues and professionals

In addition to the employment-related training workshops above, we will also have training presentations on personal financial management, interpreter issues in the workplace, recent improvements in accommodations, emergency preparedness, civil and human rights, changes in telecommunications and technology, empowerment and advocacy, grassroots networking, and more.

We look forward to giving you a warm welcome at the 50th Biennial NAD Conference in Philadelphia!

Bobbie Beth Scoggins
President