Wisconsin Association of the Deaf

09/04/2026

Visual Description: white woman with blonde, curly hair. Wearing silver hoop earrings and a black short-sleeve polo shirt with red Wisconsin and white text "WAD 1876". Standing against a black background.

Hello, Wisconsin Deaf Community!

Get ready — the Wisconsin Association of the Deaf's 2027 Conference is coming, and we need YOU to help make it happen!

Next year is extra special: 2027 marks a milestone in our journey toward celebrating 150 years of WAD tradition, community, and shared history. We can't do it without volunteers like you.

We're looking for people to join three important committees:

Conference Planning Committee

Help shape the event from the ground up: registration, schedule, presenters/workshops, and making sure every attendee has a great experience.

Awards Committee

Help us recognize outstanding members of our community: reviewing nominations and selecting honorees for our conference awards banquet.

Necrology Committee

Help us honor and remember members of our Deaf community who have passed since our last conference: gathering names, stories, and preparing a respectful tribute.

No experience required! Just your time, your ideas, and your heart for our community.

If you're interested in volunteering for any of these committees, please contact [email protected] or, *not in the video*, fill out this form: https://visit.wisdeaf.org/2027wadcall.

Let's make WAD 2027 Conference together!

150 Years Strong: Our Legacy. Our Voice. Our Future

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwZXWholzMs

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

08/23/2026

Celebration of life for Randy Shank (1969-2026).

07/26/2026

Our Wisconsin School for the Deaf students enthusiastically participated as Jr. NAD Pages in the National Association of the Deaf Conference. They seized the chance to observe the Council of Representatives Business meeting and eagerly volunteered to share the expectations for Jr. NAD Pages. Along the way, they explored exciting events and enjoyed the sights of San Francisco.

In this picture, they are having a conversation with our WESP-DHH Center Director Milmaglyn Morales, who is also a Secretary of the NAD, about how the COR business works.

07/24/2026

07/04/2026

The video was taken on July 3rd, 2026. WAD Member-at-Large Jonathan Petermon summarized, from day 1, COR social networking and practice to be ready for the start of the session (July 1), day 1 COR session (July 2), and day 2 COR session (July 3). He learned a lot about bylaws, how delegates ensure the bylaws support the NAD Board in maintaining proper order, elections, and CDC (community-driven commitments), and how it works with all three to complete them in the days. Encourage the folks to come to the conference when NAD hosts the next two years. Visual description: A black man with a blue hat, wearing a navy blue jacket with a gray shirt underneath, and blue jeans. He is standing by the light gray/beige wall.

07/03/2026

WAD President Anna Dorst and Member-at-Large Jonathan Petermon are at NAD conference in San Francisco, representing as delegates. We are get ready for the day.

06/27/2026

Meet Wisconsin Association of the Deaf Delegates.

https://youtu.be/EKrecXAlnx0

Visual Description:
White woman with blonde bun hair, wearing a gray short-sleeved shirt with white text “WIS est. 1876 DEAF Wisconsin Association of the Deaf", silver hoop earring, and dog paw tattoo on left wrist. A woman is standing by a mint green wall.

Black male with green polo shirt on and closet is tan and wall is white.

Transcript:
Anna: Hello, my name is Anna Dorst. I am WAD (Wisconsin Association of the Deaf) president.

JP: Hi, my name is Jonathan Petermon. I am from Wisconsin Association of the Deaf (WAD) as Member at Large (MAL).

Anna: JP (Jonathan Petermon) and I (Anna Dorst) are delegates at the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) conference in San Francisco on June 30 - July 5 (correct dates, not June 29-July 4). There are three questions that we are answering.

What are you most looking forward to at the National Association of the Deaf Conference in San Francisco?

JP: I am looking forward to enjoying to see new people, new faces and old faces. That involves networking and leadership. That’s what I am looking forward to the NAD conference coming up soon.

Anna: As a delegate in Chicago two years ago, I look forward to continuing to learn and improve my leadership skills. Not just that, but meeting old faces and new faces and sharing resources/information. That’s why I am looking forward to having a connection at the NAD conference.

Which workshop, presentation or event are you most excited to attend?

JP: More workshops involvement look like everyday that simulates real world in National Stage Level (Meaning to understand how to approach real problem to real people that pops up everyday situations). Additionally, I know people mentioned about NAD as reputation, I haven’t a chance to go and now finally I can see for myself, what is real like to me in person. That will give me answer what I will know of idea of what NAD conference is as the whole picture.

Anna: I am most excited to attend workshops because they give me the passion to learn more about them and to be curious by asking questions. It benefits me as I continue these in the future.

What do you hope to learn or bring back to your community from the conference?

JP: What I bring back after the conference, I want to bring all and collected information from the conference, including idea/ information that can upstart the deaf community that lacks here in Wisconsin with feedback and action that backs it up. Always thrive and experience afterwards, that’s my goal, not just destination-that will be done. No, it is an ongoing process- lifetime learning and action with intention. Progress is always changing.

Anna: The NAD conference offers a lot of useful information, knowledge, and benefits. All of these to bring to Wisconsin, I can see that it is essential to share with the community, fill the gaps, and improve your skills. All of these help better understand and connect with the community. That’s what I hope to bring from the NAD conference and share with you all.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

05/20/2026

Congratulations to the Class of 2026! Your hard work, growth, resilience, and dedication brought you to this moment. Wishing you all the best as you move into your next chapter — the future is bright! 🎓✨

Image Description: Black background with gold frame, and three graduates wearing classic graduation caps and gowns holding rolled up diplomas. Text reads "Congratulations Class of 2026 From all of us at WAD"