NAD E-newsletter
The 51st Biennial NAD Conference Early Bird I combo deadline is today, March 15, at the low price of $135 at the regular rate and $125 for people between the ages of 18 and 30!

These affordable registration rates include the Opening Ceremonies, College Bowl Finals, Miss Deaf America Finals, and NAD Benefit BBQ Dinner. The Opening Ceremonies begin the Conference on July 3 at the Louisville Slugger baseball stadium with a sumptuous buffet, tickets to the evening's baseball game, and fireworks. The always exciting College Bowl Finals takes place on July 5, which will include new colleges and universities in addition to the traditional legacy teams.Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Miss Deaf America Competition on July 6 at its last competition in its current format and learn about the new program that will showcase young deaf and hard of hearing leaders of tomorrow. The final day of the Conference on July 7 ends with a tantalizing BBQ dinner and a raucous conclusion to the week at the DeaFestival-Kentucky Jam Tent. In addition to this great deal, families will find this year's conference attractive so they can bring their children. We offer free admission for ages 0-17 to workshops, College Bowl preliminaries and finals, and Miss Deaf America preliminaries and finals. Children and teens ages 3-17 have discounted rates for the opening ceremonies, buffet, baseball game, and fireworks, along with the NAD benefit BBQ dinner on the last day of the NAD. Infants 0-2 years old have free admission to all Conference events.

DeaFestival-Kentucky on Saturday, July 7 and the NAD Conference exhibit hall from July 4-7 are open to everyone without charge. Conference workshops are open to anyone who is a current NAD member. Don't delay, register today! Click here register online for the 2012 NAD Conference:
http://www.nad.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=18382&qid=1437796
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The National Association of the Deaf
8630 Fenton Street, Suite 820
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3819
United States

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From: Michael Berger <mike.berger@nad.org> Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2012 06:02:36 -0500

Subject: Gannon to Present on WFD Book in Baltimore | National Association of the Deaf         

Submitted by NAD on Wed, 03/14/2012 
Renowned author Jack R. Gannon will give a presentation about his new book, "World Federation of the Deaf: A History," on Saturday, March 31, 2012 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm at the Central Library - Wheeler Auditorium in Baltimore, MD. This book is the first ever detailing the first 50 years of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD).

The event, "Maryland Legacy: A Celebration of Deaf Education and Sign Language" is presented by the Pratt Library and the Maryland Division of Library Development and Services in observance of Deaf History Month. Guest speakers will include: Molly Raphael, President, American Library Association; Chad Baker, Director, Maryland School for the Deaf Museum; and Gannon. There will be a special tribute to Abbé Charles Michel de l’Épée, founder of the first school for the deaf in the world and the inventor of sign language, on the 300th anniversary of his birth.

This event is presented in partnership with the Maryland Governor’s Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Maryland School for the Deaf, the Maryland Association of the Deaf, and the National Association of the Deaf. The free cultural and educational programs at Pratt libraries are made possible by the generous support of donors to the Enoch Pratt Free Library (www.prattlibrary.org). Much thanks and appreciation go to Alice Hagemeyer and Alec McFarlane for arranging this event with the various organizations and libraries.

Come on March 31st and meet Jack Gannon the author, and get your signed copy of this historic book!

Central Library - Wheeler Auditorium
400 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD
Click here to download the event flyer.

Information about purchasing the book is available at:
http://www.nad.org/wfdbook

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From: Michael Berger <mike.berger@nad.org> Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2012 05:51:03 -0500

Subject: NAD Files Comments on Access Board Accessibility Guidelines | National Association of the Deaf

NAD Files Comments on Access Board Accessibility Guidelines | National Association of the Deaf

http://bit.ly/xFMHX5

On March 6, 2012, the National Association of the Deaf took the lead, and was joined by several other consumer groups, in submitting comments on the U.S. Access Board rulemaking on its standards for electronic and information technology as well as its guidelines for telecommunications accessibility.

These guidelines help federal agencies comply with Section 508 requirements for making electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. Section 508 covers websites, software technology, telecommunications products, multimedia, and computers. We are pleased with many of the recent modifications and made a few suggestions.

The Board requested comments about adopting standards that allow federal agencies to offer alternate websites or forms of access when a website is inaccessible. We expressed concern that this might create a “separate but equal” system and made it clear that if a video is shown online, it must be captioned and providing a written transcript should never be considered an acceptable alternate form of compliance. We also encouraged the Board to update its guidelines to include Video Phones in addition to TTYs as a form of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). Also, points were made about the need to make sure that ICT devices have audio output connections points so they are compatible with Assistive Listening Devices.

Click here to view the NAD comments on the U.S. Access Board ANPRM.

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Dear State Association President Botz:

Greetings from the NAD office. As you know, deaf education is at a critical crossroads in this time of budget cuts and battles regarding language acquisition theories. The NAD is committed to ensuring that every deaf child acquires language through both ASL and English, and we know that State Associations join us in this commitment.

There are threats to cut the education budget in every state and this reaches every program and school for the deaf. We must be ready in every state to watch state legislative activity and budget cuts to ensure no harm comes to our deaf schools and programs.

The NAD cannot do this alone from its office in Maryland. We are fortunate to have Patricia Raswant to join our office as a State Education Advocacy Volunteer. She will be assisting us in monitoring Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) efforts and the status of deaf education throughout the country. Ms. Raswant has a Master's degree in Education, Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in English as a Secondary Language from University of Phoenix; and a Bachelor's degree and Graduate Professional Certificate in Deaf History from Gallaudet University. Currently, Patricia teaches English to deaf students at Inlingua in Washington, DC. Ms. Raswant is coordinating this email to all State Association Presidents to be part of our action plan.

The NAD asks each State Association to appoint one person to be its educational advocate. The NAD is committed to helping train and provide information and resources to this advocate on a year-round basis for our mutual efforts to protect the future of our deaf children.

The NAD office is asking each State Association to send their educational advocate to the 51st Biennial NAD Conference in Louisville, KY, July 3-7, 2012. The educational advocate will receive training on legislative process on a general level as well as specifically related to education for students who are deaf and hard of hearing as well as early intervention for infants and toddlers. The educational advocate will also receive training on advocacy techniques and tips to connect with legislators and other potential allies to support our cause.

To ensure that the best possible educational advocate is appointed from your State Association, we recommend the following criteria:

1) The advocate preferably has a background or degree in Education;

2) The advocate agrees to represent their State Association of the Deaf as an educational advocate for a period of no less than two years;

3) The advocate agrees to attend the 2012 NAD Conference and attend the educational track throughout the Conference;

4) The advocate agrees to train other members of the State Association of the Deaf upon returning back to the state after the 2012 NAD Conference;

5) The advocate demonstrates an ability to acquire legislative and policy skills; and

6) The advocate demonstrates excellent diplomacy and interpersonal skills.

Your teamwork in sending an educational advocate is very much appreciated. The NAD office is looking forward to a stronger collaboration with all State Associations in the education of all infants, toddlers, and children who are deaf. With all of us joined in this important effort, we are a strong force.

Sincerely,

Howard A. Rosenblum
Chief Executive Officer
National Association of the Deaf
8630 Fenton Street, Suite 820
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3819

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