Organizations of, by and for
the Deaf
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An Organization is…
• “A structure through which individuals
cooperate systematically to conduct
business”
• “A social arrangement which pursues
collective goals, which controls its own
performance, and which has a boundary
separating it from its environment”
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Types of Organizations
• Community & Informational Organizations
• Educational & Professional Organizations
• Self-Empowerment/Cultural Awareness Organizations
• Social & Recreational Organizations
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Community & Informational Organizations
• Alexander Graham Bell Association
• American Society for Deaf Children
• The Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind
Youths and Adults
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Alexander Graham Bell Association:
• Helps to educate and inform families, health care providers
and education professionals about childhood hearing loss as
well as the importance of early diagnosis and intervention
• “Through advocacy, education, research and financial aid, AG
Bell helps to ensure that every child and adult with hearing
loss has the opportunity to listen, talk and thrive in
mainstream society”
• Has chapters located all over the U.S. and a network of
international affiliates
• Mission: “Advocating Independence through Listening and
Talking!”
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American Society for Deaf Children
• Established in 1967 “as a parent-helping parent network”
• Mission: Provides support, encouragement, and information
to families raising children who are deaf or heard of hearing
• Their goal is to provide children with what they need in order
to become self-supporting and fulfilled adults
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The Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind
Youths and Adults
• Authorized as an Act of congress in 1967
• Located in Sands Point, NY
• National rehabilitation program for youth and adults who are
deaf-blind
• Mission: “to enable each person who is deaf-blind to live and
work in their community of choice”
• Some of the Services Provided::
– Vocational Training to gain experience and marketable
skills for employment.
– Job placement/work experience
– Adaptive Technology Center: allows students to learn how
to use the internet, Microsoft, excel and other computer
programs
– Communications Learning Center: a way for students to
improve communication skills
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Educational & Professional
Organizations
•
World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI)
•
World Federation of The Deaf (WFD)
•
Communication Services for the Deaf (CSD)
•
Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness, Inc. (GLAD)
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World Association of Sign Language Interpreters
(WASLI)
• “WASLI is committed to developing the profession of sign language
interpreting worldwide”
• Supports Deaf people who want to be trained/work as interpreters
for the Deaf communities
• In July 23, 2003 WASLI was established.
• Purpose::
– advance the sign language interpreting profession worldwide
– national associations exist in all countries
– supports national association
– Shares and distributes information to the community
– supports interpreters working at international events like
conferences, sporting events
– work with Deaf and Deaf-blind Associations on sign language
interpreting issues
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Communication Services for the Deaf
• Established November 1, 1995 (Sioux Falls, S. D.)
• CSD is a private, nonprofit organization
• Provides services/awareness of issues that affect Deaf and
Heard of Hearing people to the public
• There are currently 42 offices throughout the nation
– Nearly 3, 300 employees work in each office
• CSD Services include:
– call centers, communication products, community services,
and interpreting service
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World Federation of the Deaf
• Established in 1951, in Rome, Italy
• “WFD is an international non-governmental organization that
represents 70 million Deaf people worldwide”
• Works with the United Nation and different agencies to
contribute the growth of human rights for Deaf people
• Responsibilities/Goals include:
– ensure that Deaf people have the right to their own sign
languages, organizations, cultural, education, information,
and other activities.
– Improve the status of national sign languages
– Better education for the Deaf people
– Improve access to information and services
– Improve human rights for Deaf people in developing
countries
– Promote the establishment of Deaf organizations where
none currently exist
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Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness Inc.
(GLAD)
• Purpose: address and resolve the needs of deaf and hard of hearing
individuals
• Ensures that both the Deaf and Heard of Hearing people have equal
access to the same opportunities
• Provides social, recreational, cultural, educational, and vocation
welfare to Deaf and HOH individuals.
• Some of GLAD services include:
– Human services (independent living skills, peer counseling, &
etc) ,
– Health education services (teen pregnancy prevention, mentor
program, & etc),
– Employment ( Free interpreters for interviews, job leads and
referrals, free employer training, & etc),
– Public relations ( Community events, fundraisers, etc)
– Lifesigns (medical, law enforcement, and mental health
emergencies, & etc), and
– Senior housing (find a place for Deaf and HOH to live).
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Self-Empowerment & Cultural Awareness
Organizations
• Deaf Women United (DWU)
• National Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA)
• National Association for the Deaf (NAD)
• Religious Organizations
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Deaf Women United
• Founded in 1985
• Designed to support Deaf women regardless of who they are
• “promote the interests of Deaf and hard of Hearing women
in North America through education, advocacy,
empowerment and a support network”
• DWU is the first national conference of, by and for Deaf
• Main objective: is to provide tools, information and training
in areas of organizational management, personal growth and
empowerment
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National Black Deaf Advocates
•
Established in 1982
•
Black deaf leaders were concerned that African- American deaf
and hard of hearing individuals were not being properly
represented
• Non-profit organizations that serves as a national advocate for
thousands of members
• Has nearly 30 chapters nation wide
• Mission : “to promote leadership development, economic and
educational opportunities, social equality, and to safeguard the
general health and welfare of Black deaf and hard of hearing
people.
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National Association for the Deaf
• Established in 1880 in Cincinnati, Ohio
• It is the oldest and largest organization safeguarding the accessibility
and civil rights of 28 million deaf and HOH Americans in education,
employment, health care, and telecommunications
• Programs & Activities include:
- advocacy and empowerment
- captioned media
- certification of American Sign Language professionals
- certification of sign language interpreters
- insures distribution and accessibility to deafness-related information
- provides legal assistance
- increases public awareness
- facilitates youth leadership development
• Mission: “promote, protect, and preserve the rights and quality of life
of deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America”
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Religious Organizations
• Exist to promote cultural, spiritual and social union among
deaf and hard-of hearing individuals whom share a common
religion
• There are of course numerous religious affiliations and
organizations that exist, here are a few:
- International Catholic Deaf Association
- The Episcopal Conference of the Deaf
- Jewish Deaf Congress
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Social & Recreational Organizations
•
Performing Arts Organizations
•
Sports & Fitness Organizations
•
Online Networking Sites
•
Deaf Clubs
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Performing Arts Organizations
• National Theater of the deaf
• Common ground sign dance theater
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National Theater of the Deaf
– A touring theater company of deaf and hearing actors.
– “Poetry for the eye and the ear”
– Combines ASL with spoken language, allowing the
audience to see and hear everything
– NTD is the oldest continuously performing theater
company in the country
– They entertain and educate
– They challenge stereotypes on communication, language,
and disability
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Common Ground Sign Dance Theater
– Dance performance which integrates sign language into
choreography
– Strongly rooted in deaf culture yet can be understood
without any knowledge of sign language
– Both the deaf and hearing are the actors.
– “Poetry of the body”
– Runs workshops for schools, colleges, community groups,
and youth theatre groups.
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Sports & Fitness
Organizations
• USA Deaf Sports Federation
- Established in 1945 under the name ‘American Athletic Union of the
Deaf’
- Purpose: ”foster and regulate uniform rules of competition and
provide social outlets for deaf members and their friends”
- Conduct annual athletic competitions
- Assist in the participation of US Teams in international competition.
• North American Deaf Strongman Games
– Official website for all deaf strongman competitions in North America
– Cash Prizes!
– All deaf and hard of hearing are eligible to compete
– Bring your competitive spirit, strength, and humor to have a good time
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Online Networking Sites
• Deafs.com
– Largest dating site in the world for deaf ASL and hearing impaired
friends and singles
– Your can find friendships, love, and even marriage.
– Discuss topics such as culture, religion, etc.
• TagDeaf
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–
–
–
Deaf Social Network
The “myspace” for the deaf
Make a profile
Meet new people
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Deaf Clubs
• Exist in almost every major metropolitan area in the United
States, Canada and Europe
• Help to unite the local deaf community with the larger
national deaf community
• Exist for a variety of purposes
– Social
– Entertainment
– A place of learning & teaching one another about Deaf
Culture and values
– Older members serve as mentors : helping to acclimate
younger members to various challenges faced on a daily
basis
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Deaf Clubs Information
• More information regarding deaf clubs can be
found by visiting the following websites:
• Deaf Culture & the Hearing World
• A list of Deaf Clubs in the U.S.
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References
(I)
A. Community & Informational Organizations
1. Alexander Graham Bell Association
2. American Society for Deaf Children
3. Hearing Loss Association of America
4. The Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and
Adults
B. Educational & Professional Organizations
1. World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI)
2. World Federation of The Deaf (WFD)
3. Communication Services for the Deaf (CSD)
4. Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness, Inc. (GLAD)
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References
(II.)
C. Self-Empowerment & Cultural Awareness
Organizations
1. Deaf Women United (DWU)
2. National Black Deaf Advocates
3. National Association for the Deaf
4. Religious Organizations
- International Catholic Deaf Association
- The Episcopal Conference of the Deaf
- Jewish Deaf Congress
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References
(III.)
• D. Social & Recreational Organizations:
1. Performing Arts Organizations
- National Theater of the Deaf
- Common ground sign dance theater
2. Sports & Fitness Organizations
- USA Deaf Sports Federation
- North American Deaf Strongman Games
3. Online Networking Sites
- Dating Deaf Singles
- Tag Deaf
4. Deaf Clubs
- Deaf Culture & the Hearing World
- A list of Deaf Clubs in the U.S.
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