Address Deaf Youth Well-Being
Problem to be addressed:
The mental health of Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and Hard of Hearing youth has taken a toll over the past several years including COVID-19 disrupting their lives. It is critical to uplift deaf youth’s self-esteem and confidence year-round through mentorship, skills training, and life coaching. This will help increase volunteerism within our community’s organizations. When people are in survival mode, they are less likely to volunteer for social causes. This means needing to create a safe space throughout the mentorship programs, events, and professional development.
Proposed Solution:
Conduct a nationwide online survey among Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and Hard of Hearing youth. The resulting data will aid in developing and designing an inclusive mental health mentorship program for peer-to-peer learning and advocacy. A program should be developed to encourage these youth to volunteer for 2-4 events hosted by an organization as part of their emotional intelligence development.
Rationale:
This focuses on the connection between young leaders in navigating an uncertain world. This allows them to build confidence as well as network to gain professional development.
Achieving Equity in Deaf Education
Problem to be addressed:
Where is the equity in education for BIPOC students who are Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled and Hard of Hearing? Achieving equity in education for BIPOC and DeafBlind children would have significant nationwide impact.
Proposed Solution:
Increase diversity in the resources provided in Deaf Education.
Rationale:
More efforts in securing equity in schools will help BIPOC deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing children get better education, given the need to address the existing deficit in their education.
ASL Resources for Deaf Babies
Problem to be addressed:
More than 90% of Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and Hard of Hearing babies are born to hearing parents and are often the first person the parents meet from the community. Parents often look to medical professionals for guidance and often get recommendations to “fix” the child. These recommendations can be and often are harmful to the child. Parents leave the hospital without meeting a Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, or Hard of Hearing adult and without getting appropriate resources and often have to wait until after their follow up appointment in 30 days to get any information. We believe that all parents should receive information on programs, services, and ASL resources upon getting screening results. ASL classes should be available to families as early as possible.
Proposed Solution:
All hospitals and birthing centers must ensure that a Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, or Hard of Hearing adult is present when a medical professional informs the family of the hearing screening result showing that their child is Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, or Hard of Hearing. That adult will be able to provide accurate resources and answer any questions that families may have.
Rationale:
It is urgent that each family receives appropriate information on language acquisition and on raising a Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, or Hard of Hearing child upon getting results from the screening. All information should include ASL and resources on learning ASL. This kind of immediate service is not currently required anywhere in the country, and because of this, the child is already at risk of language delays/language deprivation.
Deaf Seniors Issues
Problem to be addressed:
Continue efforts to achieve the “Eliminating Barriers To Quality Care for Senior Citizens” priority.
Proposed Solution:
Continue the ongoing work of the NAD/DSA Taskforce on Deaf Seniors Issues.
Rationale:
The situation that Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and Hard of Hearing seniors face everywhere trying to get accessibility to meet their needs is a sad fact. It happens everyday and all through our country. It’s time to fight for the rights of deaf seniors including by having accessibility through ASL at nursing homes, assisted Living homes, rehabilitation centers, centers for the aging, and caregivers at home.
Dismantling Racism in the Deaf Community
Problem to be addressed:
The previous priority on dismantling racism needs to be continued for the NAD and all of its State Associations and Affiliates to work towards actually dismantling racism, and expand the work to also dismantle ageism as well as oppression against LGBTQIA2S+ and DeafBlind.
Proposed Solution:
The previous priority on dismantling racism needs to continue to work towards restorative justice for BIPOC within the NAD as well as its State Associations and Affiliates.
Rationale:
Two years has not been enough, this should continue as a priority until the system has been transformed.