National NAD Junior NAD Conference – A Success!

The National Junior National Association of the Deaf (Junior NAD) Conference was held November 4-9, 2003 on the Gallaudet University Campus in Washington, DC. The Junior NAD is a youth program of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD). Eighteen schools sent delegates to this conference hosted by the Model Secondary School for the Deaf. The theme of the conference was "Knowledge is Power, Know Yourself First."

Dan Brubaker, NAD Secretary and NAD Youth Liaison, said, "I'm glad that the Junior NAD conference was a success despite the challenges faced by schools in sending delegates and advisors. We need to continue believing in Jr. NAD and the purpose it serves for our future deaf leaders."

The conference program was filled with guest speakers, workshops and activities. In addition to learning more about the NAD, students learned team building, leadership and advocacy skills; had lectures on various topics, including, "The Power of Being Positive," "Reaching the Summit: Choosing the Right Route," "Nonprofit Management 101," and "Multi-Tasking Activities" to name a few. Each day, groups of students were responsible for creating the daily newspaper.

During a visit to NAD Headquarters in Silver Spring, MD, students broke up into two groups to discuss their top ten concerns about deaf rights. The number one concern of both groups was the lack of access to drive-in fast food restaurants for deaf and hard of hearing people.

Two students were elected to represent the Junior NAD at the 47th Biennial NAD Conference in Kansas City, MO, July 6-10, 2004 and two were chosen as Mr. and Miss Junior NAD.

The success of the National Junior ND Conference was due, in large part, to the support of Kathy Jankowski, Dean of Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center and Justen Burns, Chair of the conference. Recognition also goes to Gallaudet University and the National Technical Institute of the Deaf (NTID) for their lunch sponsorship.

Charles Reisinger, NAD Board member and Junior NAD advisor from Connecticut said, "The conference was productive and very successful! I look forward to seeing these students as tomorrow’s leaders."

Eighteen participating schools were Missouri School for the Deaf, The Learning Center, New Mexico School for the Deaf, Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, St. Mary’s School for the Deaf, Kentucky School for the Deaf, Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, Rochester School for the Deaf, Model Secondary School for the Deaf, American School for the Deaf, Indiana School for the Deaf, Kendall Demonstration Elementary School, Louisiana School for the Deaf, Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, Wisconsin School for the Deaf, Maryland School for the Deaf, Delaware School for the Deaf, Marie Katzenbach School for the Deaf, and Illinois School for the Deaf.