Delegates representing state association affiliates, eligible nonprofit organization affiliates and other groups voted on top priorities for 2012-2014 during the 51st Biennial NAD Conference in Louisville, KY. Most are tied to the Vision 2020 Strategic Plan; the NAD Board of Directors is responsible for follow up action. Periodic reports on progress will be posted here. Click on the upper right link for 2012-2014 Resolutions.
The Official 2012-2014 Conference Top Priorities (5) are as follows:
- Priority Code: 2012-KY-PUB-002
2012-2014 Priority: Establishment of an Employment Task Force
NAD shall, through coordination or partnership with other organizations, take the lead in establishing an employment task force for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals in the United States, including a National Employment Resource Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Vision 2020: Objective 3.2; Objective 3.3; Objective 4.4. - Priority Code: 2012-KY-DEV-001
2012-2014 Priority: National Leadership Training Program
NAD shall work with Bummy Leadership Institute (BLI) and California State University, Northridge to resume leadership training following the model of National Leadership Training Program at CSUN and College of Professional Studies and Outreach (CPSO) at Gallaudet University.
Vision 2020: Objective 3.2; Objective 3.4; Objective 4.4. - Priority Code: 2012 KY-PUB-014
2012-2014 Priority: Mental Health Services
NAD shall research and develop a tool kit for state associations, affiliates, and allies as well as place a call to action for full-time Mental Health Services Coordinators for the Deaf/Hard of hearing in each state.
Vision 2020: Objective 1.3. - Priority Code: 2012-KY-PUB-001
2012-2014 Priority: Legislative Training
NAD shall make it a priority to institute a training program in the legislative process, legislative priorities and legislative relationship building for state associations and members.
Vision 2020: Objective 3.2; Objective 3.4; Objective 4.4. - Priority Code: 2012-KY-GOV-002
2012-2014 Priority: Restore State Association Coordinator
NAD shall restore State Association Coordinator at HQ at any cost.
Vision 2020: Objective 3.4; Objective 3.3; Objective 4.1; Objective 4.3.
The priorities listed below are the next highest; referred to NAD committees or HQ; and ongoing priorities from past conferences:
- Priority Proposal: Expand Captioning Access
NAD shall work to expand captioning access including Internet videos, video games, phone applications, and other future mediums where captioning access may be needed that have voiced dialogue, lyrical music and sound effects.
Vision 2020: Objective 1.3.
Outcome: Ongoing. 2010 Priority #3 Federal Legislation on Visual Technologies - Priority Proposal: Education/EHDI
NAD shall make it a priority to focus on strengthening and ensuring access to appropriate placements under the IDEA law with parts C and B and ensuring that deaf schools are protected as the LRE and as part of the continuum of educational placements.
Vision 2020: Objective 1.1; Objective 1.2.
Outcome: Ongoing. 2010 Priority #1 Protect Schools for the Deaf - Priority Proposal: Functional Equality
NAD shall ensure that all services in the United States be equally accessible to all Deaf people as well as to hearing people about moving displays such as used in gas stations, department stores, fast food services, etc. that the Deaf cannot easily see.
Vision 2020: Objective 1.3; Objective 2.2.
Outcome: Ongoing. 2010 Priority #3 Federal Legislation on Visual Technologies - Priority Proposal: National ASL Content Standards
NAD shall inspire and coordinate with community stakeholders, state associations and legal staff to lobby and work with their respective state legislature and department of education to adopt the national ASL standards to improve ASL instruction in Deaf Education and foster deaf student achievement.
Vision 2020: Objective 1.2; Objective 1.3; Objective 1.4; Objective 2.1; Objective 3.2; Objective 3.4.
Outcome: Ongoing. 2010 Priority #2 ASL-English Bilingualism - Priority Proposal: Parental Sign Language Instruction Programs
NAD shall ensure that parents of deaf children receive instruction in American Sign Language by developing lesson plans and materials for language instruction specialists and maintaining a directory of approved ASL instructional programs.
Vision 2020: Objective 1.1 - Priority Proposal: Lobby to Change EHDI Oversight to U.S. Department of Education
NAD shall lobby to move Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) oversight from the Centers for Disease Control to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS).
Vision 2020: Objective 3.1; Objective 3.3.
Outcome: Ongoing. 2010 Priority #8 Federal EHDI Oversight - Priority Proposal: National Early Intervention Strategy Team
NAD shall establish a National Early Intervention Strategy Team, which would be composed of up to 10 members composing of up to two NAD board members and one American Society of Deaf Children (ASDC) representative along with community members that are experts in the early intervention (and language acquisition) field. This task force would be responsible for analyzing the current landscape (politics, legal, and financial) of the early intervention field and developing working plans for strategic mobilization.
Outcome: Ongoing. 2010 Priority #4B Early Intervention - Priority Proposal: National Education Strategy Team
NAD shall establish a National Education Strategy Team, which would be composed of up to 10 diverse members composing of up to two NAD board members and one CEASD representative along with community members that are known experts in the education field. This task force would be responsible for analyzing the current landscape (politics, legal, and financial) of the education field and developing working plans for strategic mobilization.
Vision 2020: Objective 3.1; Objective 3.3.
Outcome: Ongoing. 2010 Priority #1 Protect Schools for the Deaf - Priority Proposal: Vocational Rehabilitation
NAD shall work with Vocational Rehabilitation to ensure that deaf individuals have the right to choose VR support from within their state, rather than be forced to travel long distance to receive services.
Vision 2020: Objective 2.2; Objective 2.3.
Outcome: Ongoing. 2010 Priority #12 RSA-Funded Deaf Services Center - Priority Proposal: NAD Partnering with CAID / State Deaf Associations to Save Deaf Schools
NAD shall partner with state associations and with teacher organizations such as the Convention of American Instructors of the Deaf (CAID) to act as strong advocates to save the deaf schools.
Vision 2020: Objective 1.2.
Outcome: Ongoing. 2010 Priority #1 Protect Schools for the Deaf - Priority Proposal: Civil Rights Coalition
NAD shall establish National civil rights coalition with other National Deaf associations.
Vision 2020: Objective 1.3; Objective 3.1.
Outcome: Ongoing. 2010 Priority #4A Human Rights - Priority Proposal: Shared Action Alert System for State Associations
NAD shall work with state associations to develop Action alerts system so that the community is more directly involved and aware of legislative efforts affecting the deaf community. Electronic Action Alerts are a great way for NAD and State the SA’s through electronic links to a shared web site system.
Vision 2020: Objective 3.1; Objective 3.4; Objective 4.1; Objective 4.2.
Outcome: Ongoing. 2010 Priority #9 One Stop Resource & Action Center - Priority Proposal: Promotion of ASL Standardization and Usage in Pre-K to 12 Educational Programs
NAD shall establish a task force that will better evaluate school performance of Deaf students who are using ASL in all educational programs in the country. NAD needs to focus primarily on the issue of children who are either overlooked or forced into a speaking and hearing based system that is effective for a small minority of students. If the school programs cannot effectively provide ASL to children, NAD should assist in creating a model that will help improve ASL education in a bilingual way to ensure that all children receive effective communication in their educational programs.
Vision 2020: Objective 1.1; Objective 2.3; Objective 3.1; Objective 2.1.
Outcome: Ongoing. 2010 Priority #2 ASL-English Bilingualism - Priority Proposal: Removal of Deaf Truck Drivers’ Licensing Barriers
NAD shall work with the US Department of Transportation to remove the following regulations from USDOT/ FMCSA: 391.11(2), 391.41(b)(11), and 391.43(EARS) from all Class A drivers.
Vision 2020: Objective 2.2; Objective 2.3.
Outcome: Ongoing. (10+years). - Priority Proposal: Advocacy Committee: Bioethical Rights
The permanent advocacy committees shall be added to the structure of NAD. Each advocacy committee in their area of expertise can concentrate on the specialized issues that are vital to the Deaf community.
Vision 2020: Objective 2.3; Objective 1.1; Objective 1.2; Objective 1.3
Outcome: Ongoing. This committee exists under the Public Policy committee. - Priority Proposal: Freedom of Information on CI
NAD shall work on gathering information and stats regarding Cochlear Implants from the medical profession, including stats on success and failures of those implanted.
Vision 2020: Objective 1.1; Objective 1.2; Objective 3.
Outcome: Ongoing. 2010 Priority #7 National Data Resource Center - Priority Proposal: D/HH Mainstreaming School Programs
NAD shall make it a priority to ensure that all mainstreaming school programs hire Deaf/HH qualified applicants who teach D/HH pupils in the mainstreaming school programs. Hiring Deaf/HH teachers will improve pupils’ education and communication.
Vision 2020: Objective 1.2.
Outcome: Ongoing. 2010 Priority #2 ASL-English Bilingualism - Priority Proposal: VRS
NAD shall establish “watchdog” to ensure VRS providers to have all VRS interpreters that are qualified and they are met eligibility requirements for quality interpreting on TV screen.
Vision 2020: Objective 1.3; Objective 2.1.
Outcome: Referred to NAD HQ operations. - Priority Proposal: Spanish Language in NAD website
NAD shall add written Spanish translation to all website content.
Vision 2020: Objective 2.2; Objective 4.2.
Outcome: Referred to NAD HQ operations. - Priority Proposal: 40-Hour Privilege Training for NAD Board and Staff
NAD board members and staff need to take an 40-hour privilege training after the NAD conference to become allies of marginalized people in the Deaf community.
Vision 2020: Objective 2.2; Objective 4.5.
Outcome: Referred to NAD HQ operations. - Priority Proposal: National Member Delegate
NAD shall have representatives for National Members on the Board and proportional representation of National Members as delegates at the NAD conference.
Vision 2020: Objective 2.2; Objective 4.2.
Outcome: Referred to Bylaws committee. - Priority Proposal: Proxy Vote during Elections
NAD shall provide proxy votes to all NAD members by email or mail. All NAD members who must be at least one year of NAD membership is qualified to vote.
Vision 2020: Objective 4.1; Objective 4.5.
Outcome: Referred to the Bylaws committee. - Priority Proposal: Election (Update the NAD’s Voting System)
NAD shall amend bylaws to allow NAD regular members to vote independently of their delegates.
Vision 2020: Objective 2.2; Objective 4.2; Objective 4.5.
Outcome: Referred to the Bylaws committee.
The Official 2012-2014 Conference Mandates (3) are as follows:
1. Priority Code: 2012-KY-PUB-005
2012-2014 Mandate: Educate Housing Urban Development on Cultural Acceptable Housing – ASL Inclusive
Mandate: Educate the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Culturally Acceptable Housing for Deaf People to be ASL Inclusive – NAD shall advocate for government agencies to allow Deaf people who use American Sign Language (ASL) to be considered a cultural and linguistic group that qualifies to live together with low-income housing and/or senior housing assistance.
Vision 2020: Objective1.3; Objective 2.3
2. Priority Code: 012-KY-PUB-025
2012-2014 Mandate: Informed Decision-making and Language Deprivation
Mandate: NAD shall set up a Headquarters Ad-Hoc Committee to develop model state and federal legislation to prevent language deprivation.
Vision 2020: Objective 1.1; Objective 1.2; Objective 1.3; Objective 2.1; Objective 3.2
3. Priority Code: 2012-KY GOV-005
2012-2014 Mandate: Accountability Task Force
Mandate: NAD shall establish a seven-member Accountability Task Force (five members from regions/affiliates and two members from the NAD Board, with each member appointed by the five regions/affiliates to define process and success and to develop a way of measuring the progress and completion of the NAD priorities.
Vision 2020: Objective 4.1; Objective 4.5.
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