Based on the feedback from the NAD Deaf Culture and History Section (DCHS) and various stakeholders, including from organizations that represent marginalized communities within the Deaf Community, the NAD Board has chosen April 1-30 as the National Deaf History Month (NDHM). This decision is partly based on a mandate from our delegates that the NAD engage in efforts to dismantle racism within our community, and this requires ensuring that our historical lens must include the experiences of BIPOC Deaf People. The efforts of NDHM must celebrate and recognize all Deaf People in the U.S., especially BIPOC Deaf People.
ENGLISH TRANSCRIPT
MELISSA: This video is to address dates for National Deaf History Month (NDHM). A motion at the 2020 NAD Council of Representatives meeting requires the NAD Board to review and decide between two competing proposals for NDHM. The first and original proposed that NDHM happen annually on March 13 – April 15. The second proposed that NDHM happen annually on April 1 – April 30. Both sets of dates were previously approved by previous NAD Council of Representatives in different years, which led to a need to resolve this dispute. The NAD consulted with its Deaf Culture and History Section (DCHS) as well as various stakeholders regarding the dates of NDHM to determine the merits of each proposal. The proposal for NDHM to occur on March 13 to April 15 was designed to recognize specific dates such as: March 13th represents the date in 1988 when I. King Jordan became the first Deaf President of Gallaudet University; April 8th represents the date in 1864 when Gallaudet University was officially founded; and April 15th represents the date in 1817 (not 1816 as signed) when American School for the Deaf was opened. The proposal for NDHM to occur April 1-30 was designed to simplify and incorporate the celebration in one month and also to focus on overall celebration of American Deaf history from all parts of the Deaf Community rather than focusing heavily on the schools. Based on the feedback from DCHS and various stakeholders, including from organizations that represent marginalized communities within the Deaf Community, the NAD Board has chosen April 1-30 as the National Deaf History Month. This decision is partly based on a mandate from our delegates that the NAD engage in efforts to dismantle racism within our community, and this requires ensuring that our historical lens must include the experiences of BIPOC Deaf People. The efforts of NDHM must celebrate and recognize all Deaf People in the U.S., especially BIPOC Deaf People.