National Association of the Deaf

2024-2026 Priorities

Table of Contents

1. Address Deaf Youth Well-Being and Outreach Efforts

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Problem to be addressed: 

Given the time needed to establish the committee and raise awareness, the initial two-year timeframe has necessitated a renewal of the priority to sustain efforts towards achieving the ‘Address Deaf Youth Well-Being’ goal, which includes implementing ‘NAD Deaf Youth Well-Being First Aid’.

Proposed Solution: 

Renewing this priority for another two years will empower the committee to sustain their efforts, including ongoing data collection, enhancing community engagement with Deaf Youth Well-Being First Aid, creating a centralized webpage for deaf youth well-being resources, and participating in upcoming conferences and meetings.

Rationale:

The priority committee has dedicated the past two years to this endeavor, conducting one webinar, delivering three conference presentations, and engaging in numerous meetings with community members and organizations. To advance our efforts in promoting an inclusive mental health mentorship program for peer-to-peer learning and advocacy, we have initiated the development of a Deaf Youth Well-Being First Aid program, which is still in its early stages and thus requires renewal. This is particularly crucial for the NAD to focus on during the period of 2024-2026, given the stagnant or declining involvement of deaf youth with organizations, which is essential for the future health of our community.

2. Deaf Seniors Issues

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Problem to be addressed: 

Deaf Seniors experience barriers and isolation in the facility and staff do not know Deaf Culture or ASL.

Proposed Solution:

NAD continues the work of the NAD/DSA Taskforce on Deaf Seniors Issues and to include rentals (assisted living, and nursing homes).

Rationale: 

Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, and Late-Deafened seniors face difficulties in obtaining accessibility to meet their needs. This issue is prevalent across the country and occurs every day.  It’s time to acknowledge this problem and take action to fight for the rights of Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, and Late-Deafened seniors. They need accessibility in American Sign Language (ASL) or their preferred sign languages in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation centers, centers for the aging, and even for caregivers at home.

3. DECLARE: Deaf Children’s Language Rights Everywhere

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Problem to be addressed: 

Language deprivation, or lack of early sign language acquisition and access for Deaf children from birth through age 8, is a huge constant problem in the U.S. Decades of research, especially from the Visual Language and Visual Learning Center at Gallaudet University, has shown the importance of early and quality sign language acquisition to build foundations for healthy cognitive and literacy development for all deaf children. A majority of our Deaf community members are not fluent bilinguals in ASL and English; instead, they struggle with a myriad of issues that stem from the trauma and adverse impact of language deprivation.

Proposed Solution: 

This is a proposal resulting from the 2 years long committee work on the NAD Priority 2022-2024: ASL Resources for Deaf Babies. The committee has worked with 20+ leaders representing U.S.-based organizations involved indirectly and directly in language access and education of our Deaf children. Together, we designed a plan to establish a Community of Practice to end language deprivation. Our approach is a movement called DECLARE: Deaf Children’s Language Rights Everywhere. Through DECLARE, we have strategies and plans to create cohesion among organizations to build change in our systems, from legislation to education, family programming, resource building, and awareness campaigning. Our goal is to end language deprivation in a generation.

Rationale: 

This work is a continuance based on the past decade-long priorities addressed by the NAD. We need to recognize the fact that this issue has been a huge problem in our community by eroding opportunities and quality of life for our Deaf citizens, starting from when they (and we) were children. This plan developed by the committee brings forth a fresh solution: push for a movement through a Community of Practice mechanism and structure to align our fractured community organizations and allies to create systemic changes our Deaf babies desperately need.

4. Access to Resources for DeafDisabled Citizens and Enhancing Services for DeafBind Communities

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Problem to be addressed:

There are many systematic barriers that DeafDisabled and DeafBlind individuals encounter on a daily basis which includes limited access to resources and services. Many service providers are not equipped to work with DeafDisabled and DeafBlind due to the lack of knowledge of their communication needs.  As a result, they are highly likely to experience a shortage of services to meet their needs. DeafBlind people do not have a consistent program across the country for transportation with communication access (known as Support Service Provider or Co-Navigator, depending on the state).

Proposed Solution: 

NAD will develop and implement the following:

  1. Work with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to ensure that their requirements are being strengthened and adapted to current issues/crises.
  2. Develop a training module to educate the interpreter interpreting agencies and Interpreters Training Programs to ensure the interpreters will be knowledgeable with interpreting/providing equitable communication access with the DeafDisabled/DeafBlind community.
  3. Develop a training module to educate the agency professionals to ensure that they will be knowledgeable with providing equitable communication access and support to the DeafDisabled and DeafBlind community.
  4. Promote solutions that are not already addressed in the above-mentioned list.
  5. The NAD shall develop a draft letter for state associations to submit to Congress to pass a bill and establish a federal funding program for transportation and communication facilitators for DeafBlind.

Rationale:

There are many barriers such as:

  1. Delayed in determination of eligibility for state-based long-term services (limited number of appropriate culturally competent evaluators and assessments).
  2. Limited number of interpreters that are culturally competent in working with DeafDisabled and DeafBlind  individuals in different situations such as mental health crises, domestic violence, and other related emergency challenges.
  3. Lack of culturally appropriate training for interpreters, providers, and professionals in terms of working with DeafDisabled  and DeafBlind individuals especially with meeting their communication needs.
  4. Not enough providers and professionals know and use ASL and Visual Gesture Communication as well as Deaf Culture.
  5. While Administration for Community Living already has a program dedicated to making accessible transportation possible, it does not address:
  1. Communication access for DeafBlind during transportation and during errands or events;
  2. Long-distance transportation for social events (not possible outside of local transit systems);
  3. Scheduling; and
  4. Transportation expenses out of pocket.

5. Deaf Community Needs: Access Emergency Responders and Emergency Announcements/Notifications

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Problem to be addressed:

Most public facilities do not have an emergency response light when notified that there is a shooting situation. Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, and Late-Deafened will experience a delayed response or do not know when there is a shooting emergency. Additionally, First Responders do not know how to communicate with the Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, and Late-Deafened people.

Proposed Solution:

NAD shall develop best practices, and guidelines for the State Associations and Affiliates to use to discuss with their state emergency preparedness offices. The NAD should develop a position statement for each public facility to have a light when there is a shooting. The NAD also should develop a letter for the State Association and Affiliate to use. NAD should provide webinars on the importance of emergency preparedness and to help State Associations and Affiliates  to connect with the emergency preparedness offices. The NAD also should work with federal legislation to strengthen the Americans with Disabilities Act to address First Responders.

Rationale:

Our safety is the most important thing in our lives. Having additional visual cues such as flashing lights, and/or tactile alerts such as vibration on phones or other devices during active shooting will help the community to prepare better and know what to do. First Responders learning ASL will help improve communication between them and  Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, and Late-Deafened people. Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, and Late-Deafened individuals deserve equal and timely emergency announcements and notifications.  We are often the last to receive them.