The NAD is excited to announce significant staff updates within the NAD Law and Advocacy Center and Policy Institute. These changes reflect our unwavering commitment to advancing the rights of the Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, and Late Deafened communities through comprehensive legal and policy advocacy.
Anna Bitencourt, after nine years of dedicated service with us, will now become the Director of Legal Services. In this new role, Anna will oversee the litigation team, bringing her extensive experience and passion to lead our legal efforts. “I am honored to step into this role and look forward to continuing our work in advocating for the legal rights of our communities. Together, we will strive to ensure equal access, representation, and opportunities for all.”
Drake Darrah, who initially joined the NAD as a Skadden Fellow, will transition to a full-time attorney role as his fellowship concludes. “By joining the NAD, I’m championing a future where accessibility is recognized and upheld as a fundamental right. My commitment is to forge a more equitable world in which the communities we serve enjoy equal access to opportunities and justice. The NAD provides the ideal platform for this vital mission, allowing me to leverage my legal expertise in service of lasting, positive change.”
Marla Hatrak joins our team as our Educational Policy Consultant, “I feel honored and privileged to work at the NAD, especially with my expertise in advocacy and policy. I look forward to working with like-minded advocates at the NAD.”
“As we embark on these pivotal staff transitions at the NAD Law and Advocacy Center and Policy Institute, we reaffirm our steadfast dedication to serving our communities. The NAD has much work to do and these changes will raise the bar high for the NAD and our communities,” Bobbie Beth Scoggins, Interim CEO.
These new appointments emphasize the NAD’s commitment to fostering inclusive policies and equitable opportunities for all.
About the NAD:
The National Association of the Deaf is the nation’s premier civil rights organization of, by, and for Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, and Late Deafened people in the United States. The NAD represents the estimated 48 million Americans of these communities, and is based in Silver Spring, Maryland.