Community Action
DCAD’s mission is to empower all Deaf and hard-of-hearing residents in the DC area and provide advocacy for equal political, social, and economic access among our population. To that goal, we are focused on increasing our visibility in both government and community levels.
Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing Commissioner
To better represent our community’s interests, DCAD hopes to create a salaried commissioner position in the D.C. city government. We are in the process of setting up meetings with Mayor Williams soon to discuss this possibility.
DC Relay Service
Re-establishing an active role in the D.C. Relay Service (DCRS) is a priority. Last February, three DCAD representatives met with the District’s Public Service Commission to address strategies for re-joining the DC Relay Advisory Board.
Street Fair
DCAD plans on hosting a street fair in Spring 2007 to increase community awareness and visibility. This event will be a cultural education experience, sharing with others the intracies of the deaf culture, and will increase and diversify our membership base.
Accomplishments
- In 1993, DCAD worked with the DC Council to successfully pass a law that recognizes American Sign Language (ASL) as the language of Deaf people.
- Created a contractual relationship between DCAD and the Student Body Government (SBG) at Gallaudet University to provide training and educational workshops to students.
- Provided sensitivity training to DC Police trainees to familiarize them with the needs of deaf and hard of hearing DC residents.
- Coordinate logistics for the selection of a Miss Deaf DC to participate at the Miss Deaf America pageant at the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) biennial conference.
