2010 Conference Priorities

Delegates representing state association affiliates, eligible nonprofit organization affiliates and other groups voted on top priorities for 2010-2012 during the 50th Biennial NAD Conference in Philadelphia, PA. Most are tied to the Vision 2020 Strategic Plan [1]; the NAD Board of Directors is responsible for follow up action. Periodic reports on progress will be posted here. Click on the upper right link for 2010-2012 Resolutions.

January 2011 Status Updates

Priority Code: 2010-PA-PUB-010
2010-2012 Priority: Protect Schools for the Deaf
NAD shall work to protect schools for the deaf, such as residential schools of the deaf, deaf day schools, and deaf charter schools, by establishing a task force focused on reaching the deaf community about the risks of deaf schools closing and lobbying to redefine how deaf and hard of hearing students are placed according to priorities set forth in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Ranking: 1 (95 votes)
Vision 2020: Objective 1.2
Board Assignment: Public Policy Committee
Status: In progress

Priority Code: 2010-PA-PUB-007
2010-2012 Priority: ASL-English Bilingualism
NAD shall make it a top priority to promote the practice and prioritization of American Sign Language-English bilingualism in all NAD and affiliated organization activities, including those that are political, social and educational in nature. NAD shall also work to ensure that parents of children with cochlear implants and other listening assistive technology receive exposure to Deaf Culture and American Sign Language.
Ranking: 2 (84 votes)
Vision 2020: Objective 1.2
Board Assignment: Public Policy Committee
Status: In progress

Priority Code: 2010-PA-PUB-019
2010-2012 Priority: Federal Legislation on Visual Technologies
NAD shall pursue federal legislation (e.g., Americans with Disabilities Act, HR 3101/S 3304, Rehabilitation Act, Telecommunications Act, etc) to include coverage for devices such as new communication technologies, pagers, videophones and videophone relay, internet relay, cell phones, high quality television captioning in all broadcast markets (local news and special programming), movie theatres and internet media outlets to be fully accessible to individuals who are deaf.
Ranking: 3 (81 votes)
Vision 2020: Objective 1.3
Board Assignment: Public Policy Committee
Status: In progress

Priority Code: 2010-PA-PUB-022
2010-2012 Priority: Human Rights
NAD shall inspire community stakeholders, legislators and legal staff to write a comprehensive bill detailing the human rights for all deaf individuals. The bill will include the right to American Sign Language (ASL) for all deaf people, including every deaf child, the right to ASL/English bilingual education, as well as other rights (e.g., Audism) mentioned in current laws. This could be modeled after the Human Rights Act.
Ranking: 4 (80 votes)
Vision 2020: Goal 1
Board Assignment: Public Policy Committee
Status: In progress

Priority Code: 2010-PA-PUB-014
2010-2012 Priority: Early Intervention
NAD shall commit to actively being involved in the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs nationally. This includes setting up training programs for deaf professional involvement and employment in early intervention services.
Ranking: 4 (80 votes)
Vision 2020: Objective 1.1
Board Assignment: Public Policy Committee & Headquarters (Law and Advocacy Center), working with American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC)
Status: In progress

Priority Code: 2010-PA-GOV-002
2010-2012 Priority: Junior NAD Chapters
NAD shall work to ensure that Jr. NAD Chapters are directly affiliated with their respective State Associations of the Deaf in order to enrich the relationships between two organizations.
Ranking: 5 (79 votes)
Vision 2020: Objective 3.4
Board Assignment: Youth Strategic Team & Headquarters (Youth Programs)
Status: In progress

Priority Code: 2010-PA-PUB-001
2010-2012 Priority: Deaf History Month
NAD shall research and identify Congressional members to sponsor a federal bill to proclaim March 13-April 15 as National Deaf History Month (NDHM), with an emphasis on American Sign Language.
Ranking: 6 (76 votes)
Vision 2020: Guiding Principles on Language and Attitude
Board Assignment: Deaf Culture and History Section
Status: In progress

Priority Code: 2010-PA-PUB-004
2010-2012 Priority: Deaf Olympic Athlete Equity
NAD shall work to amend the Ted Stevens Olympic Amateur Sports Act (ASA) to ensure that Deaf Olympic athletes have the same protection and support as other athletics for the Olympic and Para-Olympic Games.
Ranking: 6 (76 votes)
Vision 2020: Objective 3.1 through coalition leadership
Board Assignment: Public Policy Committee, working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumer Advocacy Network (DHHCAN) and other groups
Status: Not yet started

Priority Code: 2010-PA-GOV-007
2010-2012 Priority: National Data Resource Center
NAD shall establish a central National Data Resource Center to collect data and statistics to document, support and make data driven decisions that will focus in the areas of civil, human and linguistic rights of Deaf Americans.
Ranking: 7 (74 votes)
Vision 2020: Objective 3.3
Board Assignment: Headquarters (Law and Advocacy Center)
Status: Not yet started

Priority Code: 2010-PA-PUB-013
2010-2012 Priority: Federal EHDI Oversight
NAD shall advocate for legislative changes to Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) oversight from the Centers for Disease Control so that it is instead under the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS).
Ranking: 8 (72 votes)
Vision 2020: Objective 1.1
Board Assignment: Public Policy Committee
Status: In progress

Priority Code: 2010-PA-GOV-004
2010-2012 Priority: One Stop Resource & Action Center
NAD shall create a “one stop” location on its website for State Associations to share their success stories, disseminate advocacy related information and “calls to action”.
Ranking: 9 (65 votes)
Vision 2020: Objective 3.4
Board Assignment: Governance Committee
Status: In progress

Priority Code: 2010-PA-PUB-017
2010-2012 Priority: Self-Employment and Entrepreneurship
NAD shall form a task force to study and make recommendations on approaches to support self-employment and entrepreneurship among deaf people
Ranking: 10 (62 votes)
Vision 2020: N/A
Board Assignment: Public Policy Committee (Employment Subcommittee)
Status: Not yet started

Priority Code: 2010-PA-PUB-020
2010-2012 Priority: Access to Medical Services
NAD shall continue to educate professionals within the medical field about making services accessible to deaf people.
Ranking: 10 (62 votes)
Vision 2020: Objective 1.3
Board Assignment: Public Policy Committee & Headquarters (Law and Advocacy Center)
Status: In progress

Priority Code: 2010-PA-PUB-011
2010-2012 Priority: Parental Sign Language Strategies
NAD shall form a task force with American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC) to study approaches taken by other countries to encourage parents of deaf children to learn sign language and make recommendations on strategies to pursue in the United States.
Ranking: 11 (61 votes)
Vision 2020: Objective 1.1
Board Assignment: Public Policy Committee & Headquarters (Law & Advocacy Center), working with American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC)
Status: Not yet started

Priority Code: 2010-PA-PUB-025
2010-2012 Priority: RSA-Funded Deaf Service Centers
NAD shall collaborate with the Rehabilitative Services Administration (within the U.S. Department of Education – Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services) to identify funding opportunities for the establishment of federally funded Deaf Service Centers.
Ranking: 12 (60 votes)
Vision 2020: N/A
Board Assignment: Public Policy Committee, working with Headquarters (Law and Advocacy Committee)
Status: Not yet started

Priority Code: 2010-PA-GOV-007
2010-2012 Priority: Political Action Committee
NAD shall spearhead research into establishing a National Association for the Deaf-Political Action Committee (NAD-PAC) organization. This research will focus on the advantages and disadvantages of having a new 501(c)(4) or 527 organization for political action purposes.
Ranking: 13 (59 votes)
Vision 2020: Objective 3.2
Board Assignment: Governance Committee & Headquarters
Status: Not yet started

Priority Code: 2010-PA-DEV-002
2010-2012 Priority: Increased Fundraising Efforts
NAD shall increase fundraising efforts by reviewing membership fees, increasing the number of individual donors, tapping into foundations, small/large businesses, earned income, government grants and contracts, and federated campaigns such as United Way, and other financial resources.
Ranking: 14 (58 votes)
Vision 2020: Objective 4.2
Board Assignment: Development and Membership Committees
Status: In progress

Priority Code: 2010-PA-PUB-024
2010-2012 Priority: Deaf Media Center
NAD shall research, gather community input and seek funding opportunities to expand the existing deaf media room into a deaf media center at NAD, and include a strategic media marketing plan for the center.
Ranking: 15 (57 votes)
Vision 2020: Objective 3.3 with future applicability towards multiple objectives
Board Assignment: Development and Membership Committees
Status: In progress

Priority Code: 2010-PA-GOV-006
2010-2012 Priority: Deaf Advocacy Day
NAD shall create a national system for which each State Association will participate in a yearly (or as needed) Deaf Advocacy Day in the nation’s Capitol around issues impacting the deaf and hard of hearing community.
Ranking: 16 (56 votes)
Vision 2020: Objective 3.4
Board Assignment: Governance Committee (State Association-Affiliate Committee)
Status: In progress

Priority Code: 2010-PA-GOV-001
2010-2012 Priority: Deaf Culture and History
NAD shall change the title heading of the Library Friends Section to a new heading called the Deaf Culture and History Section.
Ranking: 17 (55 votes)
Vision 2020: Guiding Principles on Language and Attitude
Board Assignment: N/A
Status: Completed

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