The mission of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is to preserve, protect, and promote the civil, human, and linguistic rights of Deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America and U.S. territories.

The vision of the NAD is that the language, culture, and heritage of deaf and hard of hearing Americans will be acknowledged and respected in the pursuit of life, liberty, and equality.

Core Values

• Language. We value the acquisition, usage, and preservation of American Sign Language (ASL).
• Culture. We value the right of Deaf and hard of hearing Americans to share similar beliefs, sense of belonging, and experiences as a signing community.

Legal Values

• Civil Rights. We believe in equality, dignity, and justice for all Deaf and hard of hearing Americans.
• Human Rights. We believe that acquisition and use of ASL is an essential human right.
• Linguistic Rights. We believe that ASL must be preserved, protected, and promoted.

Community Values

• People. We value advocates and allies as the builders of the American Deaf and hard of hearing community.

• Diversity. We value Deaf and hard of hearing Americans with diverse perspectives, experiences, and abilities. We are committed to the elimination of audism, linguicism, racism, and other forms of discrimination.

The NAD is committed to fairness, diverse perspectives, and a strong sense of belonging as part of its mission. We embrace a broad range of experiences, backgrounds, and identities, and is dedicated to providing accessible tools and resources that support each person’s individual needs.

We are dedicated to fostering an environment where differences in opinions, beliefs, and values are respected and welcomed. Through this inclusive approach, we encourage active participation from across the Deaf and hard of hearing community in the United States.

Further, we understand that fairness must be shown through action. We are committed to regularly reviewing and improving our policies and practices to meet the highest standards. The NAD also works closely with its state and organizational affiliates to advance this commitment across all levels of the community.