1999: The Year in Review
Highlights of Accomplishments

As we enter a new millennium (yes, we know, it does not officially begin until the end of this year!), it is time again to look back on the past year's accomplishments at the National Association of the Deaf.

This is just a sampling of the many activities of the NAD, highlighting the various issues and areas of focus by the Board, staff, committees, and members. You will note that some items are followed by (month), which indicates the issue of The NAD Broadcaster in which they were mentioned.

If you see an issue or area that is not addressed, please let us know by sending an email or by writing to us so that we can communicate directly with you about the work of the NAD.

From everyone at the NAD, our best wishes to you for a healthy, productive, and successful 2000!

Captioned Media (back to the top)

In 1995, when the NAD was first awarded the U. S. Department of Education contract to coordinate the distribution of captioned media (second of two grants), the Hawaiian Islands only used 50 captioned titles per year. This year's usage will total about 4,000 bookings for this population that is so desperate to have accessibility. The Captioned Media Program (CMP) now has a nationwide viewing audience of nearly two million each year.

The current CMP free-loan reservation system is going through a complete redesign to allow for instant booking and confirmation via the Web. Check out the CMP site at http://www.cfv.org/.

The CMP placed public service announcements on CNN Headline News, the Airport News Channel, Postal Vision (TV network seen in post offices nationwide), and at countless cable outlets, with still more planned through the national ABC network -- all at no cost!

The CMP now offers Spanish-captioned videos and information materials (brochure and promotional video) in Spanish.

Civil Rights/Advocacy (back to the top)

The ADA Committee is now in the final stages of preparing an "ADA and You" booklet specific to the needs of deaf and hard of hearing consumers for NAD Information Center distribution.

The NAD continued its national voter registration drive efforts by sending specific information to State Association affiliates for further distribution at the local/state level.

The NAD signed on in support of two legislative bills: the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization (VAWA) and the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Both provide additional protection for people with disabilities.

In February, the NAD took part in the annual Consumer Action Network (CAN) retreat, held in Washington, DC. Members of CAN, a coalition of national organizations of, by, and for deaf and hard of hearing people, met to establish legislative and advocacy priorities for the year. (March)

In addition to CAN, the NAD also was active throughout the year in legislative and regulatory issues with other coalitions, including the Coalition of Organizational Representatives (COR) and the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD).

The NAD provided pro bono assistance to the the United States Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF) regarding Congressional and USOC funding actions, seeking strategies to correct funding inequities among sports organizations.

In November, the U.S. Access Board published a notice of proposed rulemaking on the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG), which includes important and far-reaching access considerations for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. The NAD is now preparing an action alert for members to send in comments by the March deadline. (January 2000)

Cochlear Implants (back to the top)

In June, Phil Aiello, chair of the Cochlear Implant committee, appeared on NBC's Today show as part of a feature on cochlear implants. Aiello and his committee are currently hard at work on formulating a new position statement for consideration by the NAD Board of Directors. The committee will also develop materials that will enable the NAD to distribute factual information about cochlear implants. (May)

Early Hearing Detection (back to the top)

In December, the Newborn and Infant Hearing Screening and Intervention was signed into law. The NAD took a leadership role with medical, audiology, education and advocacy organizations to ensure support for the "Walsh Bill," as it was commonly known. This bill provides for state grants to develop newborn hearing screening and intervention programs. (February, April)

Teresa Bell, a graduate Social Work intern at the NAD, is currently collecting information from individual states on their current and pending legislation, as well as regulations for early hearing screening. This will lead to development of model legislative and regulatory language and technical guidance documents for use by state advocates.

Education (back to the top)

In March, the US Department of Education issued a new set of final regulations under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, reauthorized in 1997. In January 1998, the NAD submitted extensive comments on the proposed regulations. (May)

In May, the first and highly successful National Symposium on Childhood Deafness (NCSD), co-hosted by the NAD and Communication Service for the Deaf, drew over 400 attendees from 37 states, plus Australia and Canada. General/plenary and workshop sessions focused on the theme, "Collaboration and Partnership Geared to Quality Education." (June)

Plans are already underway for the next National Symposium, slated for September 29 to Oct. 2, 2001 in Sioux Falls, SD. The NAD, in collaboration with key organizations and institutions, is coordinating this effort. (September)

In June, the NAD took part in a rally staged by the North Carolina Association of the Deaf (NCAD) in Raleigh. Rally protesters objected to negative comments made about the use of sign language (as a form of "child abuse") made by NC Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, Dr. David Bruton. (July/August)

In November, the NAD hired Joseph "Jay" Innes on a part-time basis to direct the establishment of a new NAD Education Policy and Program Development Center (EdCe), and to work with the Education Committee on fulfillment of key Education mandates.

The NAD is also represented on the Council on Education of the Deaf (CED) Board, the National Deaf Education Project (NDEP) Advisory Board, the Pre-College National Mission Programs (PCNMP) Advisory Panel, and other related educational coalitions.

The NDEP published several articles to inform the public about its services; Education Chair Gertrude Galloway serves as representative on the NDEP Advisory Board. (June, September)

Fundraising (back to the top)

In April, the NAD launched a "Burn the Mortgage" campaign, with the goal of paying off its building mortgage and sprinkler system loans by July 2000. The aim is to expand NAD focus on education policy and training matters of importance to membership. (April)

Headquarters (back to the top)

In September, the NAD Headquarters building in Silver Spring, MD welcomed WebbyNation, Inc., as its anchor tenant, as well as ASL Interpreters, Inc., and the Maryland Resource and Training Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

In November, the NAD hired Ronald Nomeland to assume coordination of the Membership Services department.

Gallaudet intern Luke Ocuto spent the summer at the NAD working on a variety of projects, including the funding strategies for the National Study on the Education of the Deaf, the Walsh Bill, and the National Voter Registration Drive.

NAD volunteers provided 1,772 hours of support to Headquarters programs and staff. Hats off to our loyal volunteers!

Tens of thousands of emails, faxes, letters and phone calls were handled by NAD Headquarters staff. 2,000 were handled by the Information Center alone.

The NAD began distributing an electronic magazine to take advantage of the speed for instantaneous communication provided by the Internet.

Throughout the year, the NAD welcomed numerous USA and international visitors, including deaf culture and sign language students from high schools and colleges.

Human Services (back to the top)

The NAD participated as a member of a work group on informed consent in scientific research, which was summarized in "Communicating Informed Consent to Individuals Who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing" by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) under the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

In November, the NAD distributed a survey to gather information from deaf consumers on access to mental health services. Some of this information will be used to update the Standards of Care for Mental Health Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People, published by the NAD. A consumer fact sheet on access to local mental heath services is nearing completion.

In June, the NAD was represented at the First White House Conference on Mental Health, which focused on various initiatives and legislative activities underway. (September)

In December, the Work Incentives Improvement Act (WIIA) was signed into law, which allows people with disabilities to maintain their Medicare or Medicaid coverage when they go to work. The NAD was among the many disability organizations supporting passage of this law.

The NAD, with other organizations, met with Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) personnel in the US Department of Education to discuss improvements to monitoring of state Vocational Rehabilitation programs. (January)

The Rehabilitation Committee is currently drafting a position paper for review by the NAD Board of Directors on the role of educational programs and vocational rehabilitation in funding interpreting and support services for deaf and hard of hearing students.

The NAD is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on a number of issues, including ethics in genetic research on deafness and intervention program strategies for deaf and hard of hearing newborns and infants.

The NAD has provided support to a Congressional bill that would require health insurance contractors with the Federal government to cover the cost of hearing aids. If this bill becomes law, it is hoped that private health insurance companies will follow suit.

The NAD provided guidance on the proposed Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) 2000 Position Paper outlining how newborn and infant hearing screening and intervention programs should be developed and conducted.

International (back to the top)

In July, the NAD was represented at the XIII World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) in Brisbane, Australia, which had "Diversity and Unity" as its theme.

NAD representatives Elizabeth Pollard and Nancy Bloch gathered information during the Congress for Jack Gannon, author of A History of the WFD, which will be published by the NAD. Former WFD President Yerker Andersson was on hand to provide assistance to the current WFD leadership. (October, November)

One of six WFD International Social Merit Awards was conferred upon Dr. Gerald "Bummy" Burstein upon recommendation of the NAD, in recognition of his extraordinary dedication to the cause of deaf people nationally. (October)

The NAD supported the applications of four individuals -- Trina Baylor, Jordan Eickman, Heather Herzig, and Vicki Liggera -- for participation in the WFD Youth Camp near Brisbane, which had youth representatives from 22 countries during the week prior to the Congress. (October)

Roslyn Rosen of the USA was elected to a second term as WFD Board member, and Joe Murray of the USA was elected to a second term on the WFD Youth Section Board, as president. He served as vice president during his first term. The NAD supports board-related travels of Rosen and Murray. (May, October)

Interpreting (back to the top)

In January, April, July, and October, the NAD-RID Task Force met to discuss several issues of importance: cooperation at the state/local level, involvement by the NAD in the RID Ethical Practices System, continuing efforts of the joint national test development process, Task Force representation plans for the year, and the concept for a future Interpreter Summit. (March, June)

In March, the NAD took part in the National Multicultural Interpreter Project (NMIP) Consortium Advisory Committee Meeting in El Paso, TX.

The NAD worked with the Maryland Association of the Deaf to prevent a precedent-setting bill from being enacted by convincing a Virginia State legislator to withdraw an amendment requiring convicted deaf and hard of hearing defendants to pay for interpreters as part of court costs.

During the year, the NAD Interpreter Certification program awarded Levels 5, 4, and 3 certification to 335 interpreters.

Lisa Parker, a graduate Social Work intern at the NAD, has been gathering state laws and regulations on interpreting qualifications and requirements in various settings such as education, legal, and state and/or private entities. This is being done with the goal of developing a model law that will protect the interests of deaf and hard of hearing consumers but promote the growth of qualified and certified interpreters.

Language and Culture (back to the top)

Early in the year, the American Sign Language Teachers Association (ASLTA) became affiliated with the National Council for Languages and International Studies (NCLIS) and the Joint National Committee for Languages (JNCL), to further its advocacy, certification, and standards setting efforts nationwide. (May)

In August, the NAD submitted comments to the US National Commission on Library and Information Services (NCLIS), sharing information on FOLDA-USA Section efforts, emphasizing the public library access needs of deaf and hard of hearing children and adults, and making specific policy recommendations. (September)

In October, the First National ASLTA Professional Development Conference was held in Rochester, NY, coordinated by Matthew Moore, under the auspices of the ASLTA. The highly successful conference drew over 300 ASL teachers and specialists, with training workshops and presentations geared to the theme, "Study Now, Teach Tomorrow." (December)

Karen Glassenberg Alkoby of Illinois is the 1999 recipient of the prestigious William C. Stokoe Scholarship. Support for this award comes from sale of Sign Language and the Deaf Community (1980), a publication of the NAD. Ms. Alkoby, who was active in Jr. NAD and YLC during her teen years, is now working on her Ph.D. dissertation at DePaul University. (November)

Legal (back to the top)

The NAD Law Center successfully settled several important cases during 1999; many of these involved interpreting access:

Morace, Drew, and the Oregon Association of the Deaf v. Merrill (a pregnant hearing woman and her deaf husband were denied interpreter services for a prenatal appointment -- the doctor agreed to provide interpreter services and pay damages).

Proctor v. Prince George's Hospital Center, in Maryland (a deaf patient was denied interpreter services for inpatient medical treatment -- this led to a court decision on standards for compensatory and punitive damages under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act).

Falls v. Prince George's Hospital Center (a deaf minor patient was denied interpreter services for inpatient medical treatment -- this led to a court decision that both the patient and the hearing mother of the patient could sue for damages).

Gordon v. State of Texas, Harris County, and City of Houston (a deaf person was arrested, detained, and imprisoned without interpreter access -- this led to a settlement establishing model policy for deaf individuals who are pre-trial detainees in county jail).

DeLeon v. Swedish Covenant Hospital in Illinois (a deaf mother and a deaf father were denied interpreter services for a hospitalized hearing child -- this led to a settlement establishing model hospital policy and compensatory damages).

Some of the other cases now pending include: courtroom access (New Jersey and Puerto Rico); hospital access/discrimination and wrongful death (Maryland); fair housing and wrongful death/no visual alarm system (Ohio); and denial of educational services (Alabama).

The Law Center also participated in two court cases, which were decided in favor of an employer (Arizona) and a hospital (New Jersey). Both cases are now being appealed.

Claudia Gordon, who graduates from the American University Law School in Washington, DC in the Spring of 2000, will join the NAD Law Center under a two-year Skadden fellowship starting in the fall. Staff attorney Mary Vargas is now in the last year of her Skadden fellowship and hopes to continue with the NAD Law Center.

Outreach (back to the top)

The NAD Board held meetings in Silver Spring, MD, Little Rock, AR, Beaverton, OR, and Omaha, NE; the next one is January 28-29 in Norfolk, VA, followed by Atlanta, GA in April.

Outreach efforts included NAD Board and staff representation at national organization conferences, state association conferences, regional NAD conferences, regional Junior NAD conference, and one jointly sponsored conference focusing on education matters. Visits were also made to residential, charter and day schools, state relay centers, service organizations, and clubs for the deaf. The NAD also supported national organizations through conference exhibits and program book ads, and provision of specialized training workshops and information sessions.

State Associations (back to the top)

In April, the Sixth Annual NAD State Association Representatives Conference (SARC) was held in Little Rock, AR, with Bell Atlantic and Southwestern Bell sponsorship assistance. The conference provided training and caucus opportunities for State Association representatives on local, state, and national issues impacting on the deaf and hard of hearing communities. (June)

In September, October and November, the NAD held regional conferences in Jacksonville, FL; Baltimore, MD; Ogden, UT; and Milwaukee, WI, to prepare delegates for this summer's Biennial NAD Conference in Norfolk, VA.

Structure & Operations (back to the top)

In January, the NAD Board of Directors approved new wording for the mission of the NAD, which now states, "The mission of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is to promote, protect, and preserve the rights and quality of life of deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America."

The Board of Directors is currently reviewing various structural and program options for the new Collegiate NAD affiliate membership category with Headquarters personnel.

Telecommunications (back to the top)

In January, the NAD opened its doors as one of several Video Relay Interpreting (VRI) pilot sites, through a test program under cooperation with Sprint/Maryland Relay. The trial continued through October. (February)

In January, the Gore Commission approved language for expansion of digital television access by people with disabilities; the NAD was represented on the commission. (February)

The NAD worked with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on its fact sheet regarding the new closed captioning rules, which is now on the disability page of its website (www.fcc.gov/ditf/caption.html).

In May, the Electronic and Information Technology Access Advisory Committee presented its final recommendations to the US Access Board on implementation of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. This section requires federal agencies to obtain and use electronic technology that is accessible to individuals with disabilities. (July/August)

In October, the FCC released the much-awaited Section 255 Report and Order, which includes much of what the NAD and other consumer-based disability organizations wanted. Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 specifies that equipment and services are to be accessible to individuals with disabilities. (November)

In October, the Movie Access Coalition (MAC) met at the NAD Headquarters to continue its efforts to promote captioning access to first-run movies. Among the decisions made was a change of name to the Coalition for Movie Captioning (CMC) and to expand its organizational representation base. The next CMC meeting is scheduled for January. (September, October, December)

In November, the NAD submitted reply comments to the FCC on proposed rules for standards on the display and transmission of closed captioning by digital television (DTV) equipment. (November)

In December, the US Department of Education published a notice inviting public comment on what the term "educational, news, and informational" means in reference to the captioning of television, videos and materials under the IDEA. As we go to press, the NAD is preparing an action alert for membership to send in comments by the January 18 deadline. Comments by the NAD will focus on the fact that all such captioning is educational in nature.

The NAD has also continued its efforts to ensure access to emergency services, including wireless access to 911 centers. Through the Emergency Access Committee, the NAD is pushing for national standards for training of 911 center personnel on accessibility needs.

Transitions (back to the top)

In August, the nation's deaf community was saddened by the passage of Byron Benton Burnes, President Emeritus of the NAD. Affectionately known as "BBB", he holds the record for the longest tenure ever by a NAD president -- 18 years, from 1946 to 1964. He was instrumental in the restructuring of the NAD as a federation. Julian "Buddy" Singleton spoke on behalf of the NAD at the memorial service. (October)

In October, by unanimous decision of the NAD Board of Directors, the title of president emeritus was conferred upon Dr. Robert G. Sanderson of Utah. Sanderson has given many years of support to the NAD, having served as Board member from 1960-1974 and as president from 1964-1968. (December)

Transportation (back to the top)

In November, the NAD successfully encouraged the US Department of Transportation to host an all day conference (now scheduled for January 18) focusing on the air travel access needs of deaf and hard of hearing people. The recommendations gathered from this conference will be considered by DOT in issuing final rules for the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986.

The NAD developed contacts within the Transportation Industry which led to appointment of representative to the Northwest Airlines Customer Advisory Board. The NAD also has representation on the advisory board of American Airlines.

Youth (back to the top)

In June, the NAD provided a workshop at the annual National Leadership Conference for Youth with Disabilities, hosted by the National Council on Disability in Washington, DC. (September)

In June/July, the Youth Leadership Camp held another highly successful summer session at Camp Taloali in Stayton, OR. In-depth leadership experiences were ensured for a total of 67 campers from across the USA and one from Taiwan. (October)

In November, the Eastern Regional Junior NAD Conference was held at Camp Endeavor in Dundee, FL, with 64 student representatives from 20 schools and their advisors. The Florida School for the Deaf served as conference host. (December)

Amy Wong of Los Angeles, CA has traveled as an ambassador of goodwill on behalf of the NAD, attending nineteen events in nine states since winning the crown in July 1998. As the currently reigning Miss Deaf America, she gives inspirational presentations as well as performances to countless audiences on her theme of literacy. Her travels have taken her to state pageants, schools for the deaf, deaf awareness events, and organizational celebrations.