The NAD wishes to recognize Cathy Corrado as this month’s #NADhandwave recipient for her time and energy investing in the deaf and hard of hearing youth. Thanks to her efforts, the annual “Biztown” event which is part of the Junior Achievement program, has helped give many local deaf and hard of hearing students an opportunity to learn about business, economics, finances and life-skills.
Biztown, originally for hearing 4-6th graders, gives students a hands-on experience; they take on a role as a business owner, employee, taxpayer and consumer. This incredible program fosters the idea of learning outside the classroom. Cathy recognized the need for deaf and hard of hearing mainstream students between 5th and 12th grades to participate in this beneficial opportunity. As a result, Biztown has given a positive impact for over 200 deaf and hard of hearing students! With Biztown, students are able to engage with each other, make new friends, discover a career, and share their goals with each other. Prior to the one-day event, itinerant teachers and mainstream programs teachers spend about 6-10 weeks training their students on business-based and financial literacy-focused curriculum. Deaf and hard of hearing community members including vocational rehabilitation counselors, Starbucks employees, Boeing employees, and more are always invited to Biztown, as well.
Cathy is a trainer and consultant for Washington State’s Center for Childhood Deafness and Hearing Loss (CDHL). Her area of focus is literacy including reading, writing, and content areas. Her responsibilities also include classroom assessment that helps guide instruction in the classroom. Before arriving at CDHL, Cathy taught in a self-contained deaf and hard of hearing classroom for 28 years at the elementary level for Tacoma Public Schools. She was also an itinerant teacher for 2 years where she worked with deaf and hard of hearing students who did not attend the self-contained program.
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) gives monthly #NADHandwavesto people in our community. This is great opportunity for the NAD to recognize exemplary people for the work they do. With such great people, the world continues to progress. If you know someone who deserves a #NADHandwave, submit your suggestion online!
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The NAD was established in 1880 by deaf leaders who believed in the right of the American deaf community to use sign language, to congregate on issues important to them, and to have its interests represented at the national level. As a nonprofit federation, the mission of the NAD is to preserve, protect, and promote the civil, human, and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing people in the United States. The advocacy scope of the NAD is broad, covering the breadth of a lifetime and impacting future generations in the areas of early intervention, education, employment, health care, technology, telecommunications, youth leadership, and more.