National Association of the Deaf

Best wishes for a wonderful July 4th Independence Day holiday weekend - we forward to an influx of participants at the 50th Biennial NAD Conference with arrivals starting tomorrow!

Not Yet Registered? Register On-Site
Interested persons wishing to register at the last minute for the 50th Biennial NAD Conference can purchase Non-Combo basic registration and optional event tickets at the registration desk. Those who pre-registered can also purchase optional event tickets onsite; click here for details.

Welcome Ceremony Keynoters
Join us for a conference kick off at the Welcome Ceremony, starting at 9:00 am on Wednesday, July 7 with keynote presenters Claudia Gordon and MJ Bienvenu, with video greeting by Marlee Matlin. Register in advance so you don’t miss this!

FINAL CALL for Youth Luncheon and Closing Banquet
If you want to attend either or both optional events, the deadline for ticket purchases is Thursday, July 8 at 12:00 noon.

Exciting Silent and Live Auction Items
For the first time ever, truly classy items are up for grabs! Attendees can bid on silent auction items that are displayed in the Exhibit Hall – click here to view these. On Saturday evening July 10 at 8:00 pm doors will open to the public for the Live Auction, emceed by Ed Waterstreet and Julie Rems-Smario for an exciting close to the conference week! Click here to view live auction items.

Hand Waves to Recognition Awards Recipients
Click here to learn more about biennial NAD awards and deserving individuals and corporations who will receive special recognition during the conference week.

CEO Finalist Presentations
Mark your schedules to watch each of the four CEO Finalists give their presentations starting at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, July 7 after the General Forum.

Follow @NADtweets and @NADConf
Use Twitter to keep up with 50th Biennial NAD Conference activities – follow @NADtweets and @NADConf, and use #NAD10 as a trending topic.

Explore Philly: In ASL!
Click on the title link to view two vlogs, by Jon Kovacs and “Explore Philly: in ASL!” by Philadelphia deaf leaders and advocates, highlighting the many reasons why you must attend the 50th Biennial NAD Conference! Located in the heart of the business district, surrounded by restaurants and the Reading Terminal Market, the Philadelphia Marriott-Downtown is the perfect place to stay for the 50th Biennial NAD Conference, with everything happening within the hotel! To learn about low-cost parking near the hotel, click here.

More About Conference Events
Learn more about major conference events – click on the title link to view a vlog by Kirsten Poston, Appointed Member of the NAD Board of Directors, which is also summarized below. All conference events are accessible in ASL and English (CART).

• Join loyal NAD supporters at the Order of Georges/Georgettes Breakfast on Tuesday, July 6 with emcee Kirsten Poston, keynote presenter Kelby Brick, and Golden Rose award presentation to Barbara Schmidt! (Ticket sales now closed)
• Watch your delegates in action as they discuss issues important to you and the American deaf community at the Council of Representatives meeting all day on Tuesday, July 6, with Robert M. Greenmun award presentation to Cynthia Weitzel.
• Become part of history with a memorable Welcome Ceremony on Wednesday morning, July 7. Celebrate the 50th biennial gathering of the NAD and its 130th anniversary, plus the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, with President Bobbie Beth Scoggins and keynoter presenters Claudia Gordon and MJ Bienvenu, with award presentations as follows: Accessibility - Google, NFL and CBS; Media Advocacy - Marlee Matlin, and Spirit of the NAD - Benjamin Soukup.
• Participate in the General Forum (open to all individual and organizational NAD members) with award presentations as follows: Frederick Schreiber Distinguished Service - Howard Rosenblum, Randall McClelland - Jamie Berke, and Youth - James Wilson III and Leah Katz-Hernandez on Wednesday afternoon, July 7.
• Meet the four CEO Finalists and watch their individual CEO Finalist Presentations on Wednesday afternoon, July 7 after the General Forum (click here to learn about the CEO search process).
• Catch up with old friends and make new ones at the Senior Citizen’s Luncheon on Friday, July 9 with emcee Gertie Galloway and keynote presenter Roz Rosen, with award presentations as follows: Andrew J. Foster Teaching Excellence - Robert Davila; Senior Citizens - Ronald Hirano and Virginia Luke! (Ticket sales now closed)
• Don’t miss the College Bowl Finals on Thursday, July 8, emceed by Paul Rutowski! Click here for photos and details on this year’s contestants and coaches – which team will bring home the trophy? Who will have the most spirited team support? How many questions will you be able to answer?
• Root for your favorite contestant at the Miss Deaf America Ambassador Finals on Friday, July 9 with emcees Evon Black and Frank Dattolo and outgoing Miss Deaf America Michelle Lapides! Click here for photos and details on this year’s contestants – will your favorite win the coveted title?
• Watch delegates in action at the Council of Representatives meeting on Saturday morning, July 10 where they will vote on priorities for 2010-2012, elect officers and regional representatives for the new term (click here for names of Official Candidates for Board Service, and here for Candidate Questions and Answers), with the following award presentations: Knights of the Flying Fingers - Tawny Holmes, Alexis Kashar, Melissa Malzkuhn, Sheila Conlon Mentkowski, Jeff Rosen and Louis Schwarz.
• Take part in the Youth Luncheon on Saturday, July 10 with emcee Lissette Molina and keynote presenters Alim Chandani and Jennifer Yost Ortiz and at the same time celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Youth Leadership Camp!
• End the week on Saturday evening, July 11 at the Closing Ceremonies & Banquet featuring the world acclaimed National Theatre of the Deaf and a tribute to outgoing CEO Nancy Bloch, with special award presentations by Bloch and NAD President Bobbie Beth Scoggins
• And that’s not all! The ballroom doors will open at 8 pm on Saturday evening, July 11 for a Live Auction (open to the public!) with emcees Julie Rems-Smario and Ed Waterstreet!

Expand Your Horizons with Workshops and Commissions
The 50th Biennial NAD Conference is the place to go for skills development and advancement strategies as well as opportunities to attend and provide feedback at issues-oriented sessions. Seventy workshops and commissions will be offered with topics ranging from Video Captioning on You Tube, Interacting with Law Enforcement, Speed Networking: Advancing Your Career, Grassroots Advocacy Strategies, ASL Poetry, Deaf Self Advocacy, What Your Interpreter Wished You Knew, Disability Disclosure and so much more! Click on the link above for workshop/commission schedule with presenter names, titles and descriptions. For more information on presenter bios, click here.

Our Gratitude to Conference Sponsors for their Support
Our appreciation goes to the Conference sponsors listed below for their generous support of the work of the NAD – please click on live links on the main page to learn more about each sponsor.

  "Founder" Level

• Sorenson
• ZVRS

  "Heritage" Level

• Access Interpreting
• CSD
• Purple

  "Liberty" Level

• AT&T
• Gallaudet University
• Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• RIT/NTID

  "Independence" Level

• AOL
• Verizon

  "Constitution" Level

• Blackberry
• CaptionFirst
• Deaf Access Solutions
• DeafVision
• Liberty Resources
• New Mexico Commission for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• Ultratec

  "Justice" Level

• Dash Carrier Services
• DHCC
• NCIEC
• TracFone

  "Stars and Stripes" Level

• Amtrak
• ASLTA
• Brilliant Echo
• Deaf Politics
• Kansas Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Five Things You Must Do in Philadelphia

• Stroll America’s most historic square mile
• Soak in arts and culture
• Network at night
• Explore the outdoors
• Shop 'til you drop

Philadelphia, Here I Come!

• Getting Here – http://www.visitphilly.com/getting-here
• Getting Around Town – http://www.visitphilly.com/getting-around
• Going to Museums and Attractions – http://www.visitphilly.com/museums-attractions

Onwards to a Wonderful Gathering in Philadelphia
We look forward to your being with us for a productive, enriching and fun-filled celebration in the City of Brotherly Love!