National Association of the Deaf

The National Association of the Deaf is pleased to announce that Dr. I. King Jordan, president of Gallaudet University, will give the Opening Ceremonies Keynote Address for the 48th Biennial NAD Conference, June 29-July 3, 2006 in Palm Desert, California.

The 2006 NAD Conference will be the culmination of more than a year-long celebration of 125 years of NAD advocacy success. The theme of the conference, "Change Today for Tomorrow," calls attention to present-day concerns facing the national deaf and hard of hearing community, with the future in mind as we build a better tomorrow.

"We are pleased that Dr. Jordan will be our featured keynote speaker at the 2006 Conference. He has been an inspiration for deaf and hard of hearing people and will leave a legacy to emulate. Dr. Jordan has made Gallaudet an internationally-renowned University, bringing in millions of dollars of support, while raising the standards of education. He is truly a remarkable individual who has proven that deaf people 'can do anything except hear,'" said NAD President Andrew J. Lange.

Dr. I. King Jordan made history in 1988 when he became the first deaf president of Gallaudet University, thanks to the Deaf President Now movement with the involvement of the NAD. In that capacity, Dr. Jordan serves as an international spokesperson for deaf and hard of hearing people as well as an advocate for all persons with disabilities. He will retire in December 2006, after 18 years as the head of Gallaudet University.

Rotated annually among the four regions of the United States, Biennial NAD Conferences, held in the even numbered years, traditionally bring together more than 2,000 deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, deaf-blind and hearing consumers, parents, youth, professionals, educators, organizational and corporate representatives for five days of professional development, enrichment, training, networking, governance meetings, receptions and related evening events.

"I am honored that the NAD invited me to be the keynote speaker at the NAD Conference. The NAD and Gallaudet have had a long and productive relationship to improve the lives of deaf and hard of hearing people. Without the NAD, we would not enjoy the rights we have today," said Gallaudet President I. King Jordan.