NAD News

Delegates at the 49th Biennial National Association of the Deaf (NAD) Conference, held July 7-11, 2008 in New Orleans, Louisiana, elected new members of the NAD Board of Directors.

Elected NAD Board members are: Bobbie Beth Scoggins, President; Christopher D. Wagner, Vice President; Lynn Z. Null, Secretary; Ronald E. Sutcliffe, Treasurer; Sean Gerlis, Region I Representative; Michael K. Berger, Region II Representative; Liz Hill, Region III Representative; and James "Manny" Johnson, Region IV Representative.

They will join continuing members of the NAD Board: Julie C. Bourne, Region I Representative; Jack L. Cooper, Region II Representative; Lissette Molina, Region III Representative; and Astrid Amann Goodstein, Region IV Representative.

"The new NAD Board of Directors is ready to take on a more strategic focus," said Scoggins. "This builds on the synergy of the recent and highly successful 2008 NAD Conference, which was very different from previous gatherings, which in turn provides the impetus for the board to advance the civil, human, and linguistic rights agenda of the NAD, also with emphasis on diversity in every way possible."

Scoggins continued, "I also wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to past members of the NAD Board for their leadership, expertise, and commitment during the last term: Trudy Suggs, Secretary; Thomas J. Dillon, Treasurer; Yerker J. Andersson, Region I Representative; Linsay Darnall, Jr., Region II Representative; Genie Gertz, Region IV Representative; and Nathie L. Marbury and Thuan Thi Nguyen, Appointed Members. I am also delighted that they have expressed their intent to remain involved with and be of support to the new NAD Board."

The NAD Board of Directors will hold its first meeting of the new term from 9 am to 5 pm on Friday, August 22 and from 9 am until 5 pm on Saturday, August 23, at the NAD Headquarters in Silver Spring, MD. Agenda items include selection of appointed members, 2008 conference wrap up, approval of board and conference meeting minutes, review of conference priorities and resolutions, establishment of strategic and standing committees, selection of committee chairs and board liaisons, fundraising and membership recruitment targets, and selection of 2010 conference site. As always, board meetings are open to observers.

Board members will undergo a closed all-day orientation session on roles and responsibilities on Thursday, August 21, with review of governance processes, communication protocol, and transparency. That evening, a small fundraiser generously sponsored by CSDVRS will be hosted at the home of Julie Bourne and Matt Lockhart. This will also kick off NAD Across America fundraisers to be held across the country during the new term.

On Friday, August 22 from 4 to 7 pm, a Community Open House will be held at the NAD Headquarters, made possible by the generous sponsorship of Viable. This is a wonderful opportunity for the public to meet and mingle with the NAD Board as well as tour the Headquarters and meet staff. Open House directions/parking information is available at www.nad.org/boardmeetingdates. Refreshments will be provided; please come and join us!

About NAD

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) was established in 1880 by deaf leaders who believed in the right of the American deaf community to use sign language, to congregate on issues important to them, and to have its interests represented at the national level. These beliefs remain true to this day, with American Sign Language as a core value. As a nonprofit federation, the mission of the NAD is to preserve, protect, and promote the civil, human, and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America. The advocacy scope of the NAD is broad, covering the breadth of a lifetime and impacting future generations in the areas of early intervention, education, employment, health care, technology, telecommunications, youth leadership, and more. For more information, please visit www.nad.org.

About CSDVRS

CSDVRS, a video relay services provider, launched its inaugural service to the nation in 2000. By 2001, CSDVRS became the nation's only 24/7 provider, and also was the first to offer Spanish VRS, video mail, and personal 800 numbers. CSDVRS was developed by and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals based on feedback from the nation's deaf and hard of hearing community. While other providers have followed our lead, CSDVRS is dedicated to that same spirit of innovation and commitment to excellence that took VRS from a dream to a reality, by becoming the nation's premier VRS provider. Visit us at www.csdvrs.com.

About Viable, Inc.

Viable provides next-generation video relay services for deaf and hard of hearing persons that can be accessed wherever there is Internet or wireless connectivity, opening them to a world of communication possibilities. Founded in 2006, Viable is a private, deaf-owned company, and the majority of its employees are deaf and hard of hearing and are personally vested in the innovation and development of the company's products and services. Further information is available at www.viable.net.


HOME	NAD Supports DTV Transition Awareness Campaign Posted February 11, 2009
About GAD
Board	National Association of the Deaf NAD Supports DTV Transition Awareness Campaign The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is pleased to announce that it is working with CSD as an outreach resource partner to steer consumers with digital TV (DTV) transition questions to CSD's Help Center. CSD was awarded a contract from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to implement an awareness campaign targeted to deaf, hard of hearing and deaf-blind consumers in regard to the DTV transition. The NAD will place a banner on its home page with a direct link to the CSD Help Center and will inform its membership and supporters about this service. "The NAD has been working closely with the FCC to ensure that the needs of deaf, hard of hearing and deaf-blind consumers are seriously taken under consideration during this transition," said Nancy J. Bloch, NAD Chief Executive Officer. "So, we are very pleased to work with CSD on this important project to make sure our community has all of the information it needs." Recently, Congress passed a bill to delay the DTV transition deadline from February 17 to June 12, 2009. President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law. This delay will give Americans more time to apply for and receive government coupons to help purchase DTV converter boxes. Currently, there is a waiting list (currently 3.2 million) for converter box coupons. In addition, people will have more time to connect and test their DTV converter boxes and receive the technical assistance they need to make a smooth transition to DTV. CSD has launched both a Help Center (call center) and a new Web site — with "how to" videos in American Sign Language (ASL), captioning, voice and in Spanish (captioned and voiced). Please go to: http://dtv.c-s-d.org for more information. ====================== About NAD The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) was established in 1880 by deaf leaders who believed in the right of the American deaf community to use sign language, to congregate on issues important to them, and to have its interests represented at the national level. These beliefs remain true to this day, with American Sign Language as a core value. As a nonprofit federation, the mission of the NAD is to preserve, protect, and promote the civil, human, and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America. The advocacy scope of the NAD is broad, covering the breadth of a lifetime and impacting future generations in the areas of early intervention, education, employment, health care, technology, telecommunications, youth leadership, and more. For more information, please visit www.nad.org. About CSD CSD (a.k.a. Communication Service for the Deaf, Inc.) was established in 1975, primarily to provide sign language interpreting services to deaf and hard of hearing adults in South Dakota. Today, CSD employs over 1,500 individuals in offices across the nation, providing a broad continuum of social and human services programs, as well as telecommunications relay services. CSD is a private nonprofit agency dedicated to providing quality services; ensuring public accessibility; and increasing awareness of issues affecting the deaf, hard of hearing and individuals with speech disabilities. For more information, please visit www.c-s-d.org.
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	NAD Board of Directors Selects Appointed Members Posted September 5, 2008

	The Board of Directors of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) selected two appointed members, Melissa S. Draganac-Hawk and Kirsten Poston, at the first meeting of the new term, held at August 21-23, 2008 at the NAD Headquarters. Both will serve for two years. Elections for the 2008-2010 Board of Directors were held at the recent 49th Biennial NAD Conference, held July 7-11, 2008 in New Orleans, LA. Board members are: Bobbie Beth Scoggins, President; Christopher D. Wagner, Vice President; Lynn Z. Null, Secretary; and Ronald E. Sutcliffe, Treasurer. Regional representatives are as follows: Region I -- Julie C. Bourne and Sean Gerlis; Region II -- Jack L. Cooper and Michael K. Berger; Region III -- Lissette M. Molina and Liz Hill; Region IV -- Astrid Amann Goodstein and James "Manny" Johnson. Nancy J. Bloch, Chief Executive Officer serves as ex officio member of the board. Melissa S. Draganac-Hawk brings a wealth of experience, with two BA degrees in Production/Performance and American Sign Language and a MA degree in Linguistics from Gallaudet University. She currently serves as executive director of Deaf Woman United (DWU) and as president of the National Council of Hispano Deaf and Hard of Hearing - Fray Pedro Ponce de Leon (NCHDHH). In addition, she has taught American Sign Language for 12 years and this fall she will begin teaching at the University of Pennsylvania. Kirsten Poston also brings her personal expertise on disability policy issues, having been employed at the federal level for the past 17 years. She received her BA degree in Communication Arts from Gallaudet University, and has been responsible for conferences such as the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Government 2008 Employment and Technology Forum and observances of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. She currently serves on the board of Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Government (DHHIG). The NAD Board of Directors meets three times yearly in various parts of the country. For more information, please visit www.nad.org/board.













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	21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, H.R. 6320

	Dear Supporters, I am sending this on NAD's behalf. Please read on and download the attachment and send it in the mail as soon as you can. Thank you so much for your support. NAD, from me, is writing to ask your support in the NAD's efforts to obtain co-sponsors for the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, H.R. 6320. The NAD has been instrumental in the writing of this bill. As you may know, this bill would help ensure accessibility to emerging technologies for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. For example, it would require devices other than televisions to have captioning capability. Passing a bill in Congress requires the effort of hundreds, even thousands of advocates educating their elected representatives about the proposed legislation. That is where you come in. One of your state's members of Congress plays a key role on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which is the committee with jurisdiction over this bill. We are asking you to contact this member by September 16 to ask him/her to co-sponsor the bill. We have made this very easy for you. We have drafted a letter from your state association to the member in your state. All you need to do is fill in the date, write a paragraph describing your frustration with inaccessible technology (you will see where in the letter, it is written in red), sign it, send it to the address on the letter, and then let us know you have sent the letter. It's that simple. Without this bill we will continue to have uncaptioned videos on the Internet, mobile devices that are not even capable of displaying captions, and difficulty turning on the captioning when it does exist. Please take a moment today to complete and send this letter. Many industry representatives already are contacting their members of Congress asking them not to support the bill. We really need your help. Let me know if you have any questions. Also, if you can't send the letter can you let me know the reason? We want to be sure we are proceeding in the most effective way we can. The Attachment Thanks for your assistance. From NAD from Christopher M. Patterson






























	NAD Announces New Board of Directors, Meeting, and Open House Posted August 18, 2008

	Delegates at the 49th Biennial National Association of the Deaf (NAD) Conference, held July 7-11, 2008 in New Orleans, Louisiana, elected new members of the NAD Board of Directors. Elected NAD Board members are: Bobbie Beth Scoggins, President; Christopher D. Wagner, Vice President; Lynn Z. Null, Secretary; Ronald E. Sutcliffe, Treasurer; Sean Gerlis, Region I Representative; Michael K. Berger, Region II Representative; Liz Hill, Region III Representative; and James "Manny" Johnson, Region IV Representative. They will join continuing members of the NAD Board: Julie C. Bourne, Region I Representative; Jack L. Cooper, Region II Representative; Lissette Molina, Region III Representative; and Astrid Amann Goodstein, Region IV Representative. "The new NAD Board of Directors is ready to take on a more strategic focus," said Scoggins. "This builds on the synergy of the recent and highly successful 2008 NAD Conference, which was very different from previous gatherings, which in turn provides the impetus for the board to advance the civil, human, and linguistic rights agenda of the NAD, also with emphasis on diversity in every way possible." Scoggins continued, "I also wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to past members of the NAD Board for their leadership, expertise, and commitment during the last term: Trudy Suggs, Secretary; Thomas J. Dillon, Treasurer; Yerker J. Andersson, Region I Representative; Linsay Darnall, Jr., Region II Representative; Genie Gertz, Region IV Representative; and Nathie L. Marbury and Thuan Thi Nguyen, Appointed Members. I am also delighted that they have expressed their intent to remain involved with and be of support to the new NAD Board." The NAD Board of Directors will hold its first meeting of the new term from 9 am to 5 pm on Friday, August 22 and from 9 am until 5 pm on Saturday, August 23, at the NAD Headquarters in Silver Spring, MD. Agenda items include selection of appointed members, 2008 conference wrap up, approval of board and conference meeting minutes, review of conference priorities and resolutions, establishment of strategic and standing committees, selection of committee chairs and board liaisons, fundraising and membership recruitment targets, and selection of 2010 conference site. As always, board meetings are open to observers. Board members will undergo a closed all-day orientation session on roles and responsibilities on Thursday, August 21, with review of governance processes, communication protocol, and transparency. That evening, a small fundraiser generously sponsored by CSDVRS will be hosted at the home of Julie Bourne and Matt Lockhart. This will also kick off NAD Across America fundraisers to be held across the country during the new term. On Friday, August 22 from 4 to 7 pm, a Community Open House will be held at the NAD Headquarters, made possible by the generous sponsorship of Viable. This is a wonderful opportunity for the public to meet and mingle with the NAD Board as well as tour the Headquarters and meet staff. Open House directions/parking information is available at www.nad.org/boardmeetingdates. Refreshments will be provided; please come and join us! About NAD The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) was established in 1880 by deaf leaders who believed in the right of the American deaf community to use sign language, to congregate on issues important to them, and to have its interests represented at the national level. These beliefs remain true to this day, with American Sign Language as a core value. As a nonprofit federation, the mission of the NAD is to preserve, protect, and promote the civil, human, and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America. The advocacy scope of the NAD is broad, covering the breadth of a lifetime and impacting future generations in the areas of early intervention, education, employment, health care, technology, telecommunications, youth leadership, and more. For more information, please visit www.nad.org. About CSDVRS CSDVRS, a video relay services provider, launched its inaugural service to the nation in 2000. By 2001, CSDVRS became the nation's only 24/7 provider, and also was the first to offer Spanish VRS, video mail, and personal 800 numbers. CSDVRS was developed by and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals based on feedback from the nation's deaf and hard of hearing community. While other providers have followed our lead, CSDVRS is dedicated to that same spirit of innovation and commitment to excellence that took VRS from a dream to a reality, by becoming the nation's premier VRS provider. Visit us at www.csdvrs.com. About Viable, Inc. Viable provides next-generation video relay services for deaf and hard of hearing persons that can be accessed wherever there is Internet or wireless connectivity, opening them to a world of communication possibilities. Founded in 2006, Viable is a private, deaf-owned company, and the majority of its employees are deaf and hard of hearing and are personally vested in the innovation and development of the company's products and services. Further information is available at www.viable.net.




























































	NAD Position Papers
	American Sign Language Advocacy Issues > American Sign > 2008 Position Statement www.nad.org/ASLpositionstatement Culturally Affirmative and Linguistically Accessible Mental Health Services Advocacy Issues > Human Services > Mental Health > 2008 Position Statement Supplement www.nad.org/2008mentalhealthpositionstatement Mental Health Services for Children Advocacy Issues > Human Services > Mental Health > 2008 Position Statement (Children) www.nad.org/2008mentalhealthchildrenpositionstatement Communication Access in State and Local Courts Advocacy Issues > Court Access > www.nad.org/2008communicationaccessadvocacystatement Use of Communication Access Funds to Access Legal Services Advocacy Issues > Legal Services Access www.nad.org/2008CAFadvocacystatement Video Remote Interpreting Services in Hospitals Legal Rights > Health Care > 2008 VRI Position Statement www.nad.org/2008VRIpositionstatement Use of Video Remote Interpreting in the Medical Setting Legal Rights > Health Care > 2008 VRI Advocacy Statement www.nad.org/2008VRIadvocacystatement
















	About NAD
	The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) was established in 1880 by deaf leaders who believed in the right of the American deaf community to use sign language, to congregate on issues important to them, and to have its interests represented at the national level. These beliefs remain true to this day, with American Sign Language as a core value. As a nonprofit federation, the mission of the NAD is to preserve, protect, and promote the civil, human, and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America. The advocacy scope of the NAD is broad, covering the breadth of a lifetime and impacting future generations in the areas of early intervention, education, employment, health care, technology, telecommunications, youth leadership, and more. For more information, please visit www.nad.org (http://www.nad.org).