The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is pleased to announce that the 23rd Biennial Junior National Association of the Deaf (Jr. NAD) Conference will be held at the California School for the Deaf-Riverside on November 18-22, 2011. The Conference brings together Jr. NAD delegates, observers, and advisors to facilitate an open dialogue on leadership and advocacy. In addition, the Conference will provide Jr. NAD members opportunities to learn citizenship skills and meet and interact with delegates from other schools and states. The Conference provides a variety of workshops, hands-on activities, guest speakers, and special projects such as the Frederick C. Schreiber Roundtable Discussion/Action Plan Project, ASL Entertainment Project, the George W. Veditz Video Project, Mr. and Miss Jr. NAD competition, and other community service projects.
The Jr. NAD is a program within NAD Youth Leadership Programs established for deaf and hard of hearing youth to develop interest and leadership among young deaf students in state associations, schools, and/or organizations of the deaf and to provide meaningful group activities. Jr. NAD focuses on advocacy, awareness, commitment, friendship, idea-sharing, leadership skills, cooperation, and positive attitude. Through its chapters and the national Conference, Jr. NAD members develop awareness to promote integrated and total community involvement and pursue the principles of Scholarship, Leadership, and Citizenship (SLC).
Deaf and hard of hearing students can participate in Jr. NAD by joining a chapter set up by their school for the deaf or mainstream program. For more information on how to become a Jr. NAD Chapter, please click here. Please stay tuned for further information about the Conference.