National Association of the Deaf

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) presented Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) with a Jefferson Cup Award to recognize his tireless efforts on behalf of over 28 million deaf and hard of hearing Americans. The Jefferson Cup was a favorite symbol of the late Justin Dart, the “Father of the ADA” which symbolizes his charge to the disability rights movement: "Lead on!" The ceremony took place in Boston, Massachusetts on July 26, 2004 at an event marking the 14th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Louis Rivas (left),president of the Massachusetts State
Association of the Deaf and Kelby Brick (right), NAD director of
Law and Advocacy pose with Ted Kennedy, Jr.(middle).

"Senator Kennedy has been at the forefront on issues important to the NAD for many years and more than deserves this award from the NAD," said Nancy J. Bloch, NAD Chief Executive Officer.

The NAD, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), and 15 other national organizational sponsors celebrated the anniversary with a special "Salute to Leaders" event, held in conjunction with the beginning of the Democratic National Convention held in the same city. A parallel event will be held September 1, 2004 during the Republican National Convention in New York. Kennedy consistently demonstrated his leadership on civil rights issues dating back to his election to the United States Senate in 1962. His accomplishments cannot adequately be summarized in a brief statement. He was a key player in the historic 1973 Rehabilitation Act, which continues to support rehabilitation and independent living for people who are deaf and hard of hearing and also contains the pivotal Section 504 that has proven so important in securing interpreters at public events and in employment interviews.

Kennedy was the key Senate leader on passage of the historic ADA. He also played a pivotal role in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which requires captioning of broadcast and cablecast programming. Recently, Senator Kennedy supported the NAD advocacy for captioning of television programming and spoke against restrictive proposals that would censor captioned offerings.

Presenting the award, NAD Director of Law and Advocacy Kelby N. Brick said, “There are very few members of Congress who have done more to advance the civil rights and accessibility of deaf and hard of hearing Americans than Senator Kennedy.” Louis Rivas, president of the Massachusetts State Association of the Deaf, assisted with the award presentation.