Oregon Association of the Deaf

08/11/2026

Save the date. The OAD Annual General Meeting is Sunday, September 13, 2026, from 1 to 5 p.m., hosted virtually on Zoom.

This is your meeting. Come hear reports, weigh in on new business, and take part in elections for the OAD Board of Directors.

Open positions: Vice President, Secretary, and four board member seats. Members in good standing are welcome to run. Candidacy submissions close September 4, 2026.

Open to members. Registration required.
Register at oad1921.org/agm2026

Questions or more information?? [email protected]

05/04/2026

Happy Star Wars Day

May the Force be with you, Oregon Deaf Community.

Today we celebrate connection, community, and the power we hold together. Just like the Force, our strength comes from unity, shared language, and collective resilience.



Oregon School for the Deaf Camp Taloali CymaSpace Bridges Oregon, Inc.

02/26/2026

Due to scheduling considerations, the upcoming Board Meeting & Town Hall this Sunday on March 1, 2026 has been rescheduled to ensure full participation and thoughtful discussion.

We appreciate your flexibility and will share the new date and details shortly.

Thank you for your continued engagement and support.

02/10/2026

OAD Board Meeting + Town Hall

Join the Oregon Association of the Deaf (OAD) on Sunday, March 1 | 1–3 PM.

🕐 1:00 PM — Board Meeting (open to the public for observation)
🗣️ After the board meeting — Town Hall (open to everyone for participation)

🔎 Town Hall Topic: Interpreter Licensure
🔗 Info + Zoom link: oad1921.org/board

JOIN OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP: oad1921.org/members

01/19/2026

📣 Important OAD Membership Update 📣

Starting February 1, the Oregon Association of the Deaf (OAD) membership cycle resets for everyone — no matter when you joined or renewed last year.

🔁 What this means:
All members will need to reactivate their membership beginning in February.
🗓️ Going forward:
✔️ Memberships are prorated
✔️ All memberships renew every February
✔️ You can join anytime, but renewal is always in February

💳 New Membership Fees:
🟦 Deaf Members (Regular, Youth, Senior): $1
• Voting rights
• Can hold office

🟨 Associate Members (Hearing supporters): $20
• No voting rights
• Cannot hold office

🏢 Organizational Affiliates:
• Nonprofits: $75
• For-profit businesses: $150

💻 New Platform: Zeffy
All memberships are now managed through Zeffy, making payments simple and transparent.
✨ 100% of your payment goes directly to OAD
✨ No processing fees
✨ Tips are optional — you can always choose $0

Your membership helps keep OAD strong, connected, and focused on advancing the civil, human, and linguistic rights of the Deaf community.
👉 Reactivate your membership starting in February and stay connected!

💙 Thank you for supporting OAD.

11/25/2025

Announcing the future dates of board meetings in 2026! You can look at zoom link information on oad1921.org to log in for those meetings. We look forward to seeing you there.

ID: OAD logo on top middle of flyer. the background is dark green with pine trees. Text reads "Board of Directors 2026 Meeting Schedule". Sunday, March 1, 2026 for board meeting and town hall. Sunday, June 7, 2026 for board meeting and townhall. Sunday, September 13, 2026 for board meeting and AGM. Sunday, December 6, 2026 for board meeting and town hall.

IG
FB: /oad1921
Website: oad1921.org

10/30/2025

Beware of SNAP benefit changes! Look at the video to be informed.

Federal Shutdown Impact on SNAP Benefits — What You Need to Know
Click here: https://youtu.be/Qu_vOQZ5e08

10/09/2025

The OAD invites you to join us for PDX Deaf Community Day on Friday, November 14th, from 12 to 4 PM at Portland International Airport, Mezzanine Level, North End.

This event celebrates connection, accessibility, and community.
You can explore parts of the airport beyond the security checkpoint, try out Aira ASL with airport staff, and meet community partners including Bridges Oregon, Port of Portland, and OAD.

There will be free Sizzle Pie pizza, on-site ASL interpretation, and three hours of free parking for all participants.

Register on Eventbrite to reserve your spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pdx-deaf-community-day-event-tickets-1685089832049

ASL Video announcement: https://youtu.be/fiAoU6RxehI

We look forward to seeing you at PDX Deaf Community Day on November 14th.

10/07/2025

The Deaf community deserves representation, transparency, and accountability.
Regions II, III, and IV have united to release a joint open letter calling for the resignation of National Association of the Deaf - NAD President Lisa Rose after months of leadership failures and bylaw violations that have left entire regions without representation.

Sign the petition to demand accountability: https://chng.it/gpwpybrLDF

Watch the video statement from state association presidents: https://youtu.be/ztkLtyAeKeo

Read the full open letter: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRvnZj_XzCrR8FscLCZEjsYLeShtxCD993ZupNUdjcY2uAo8_eCSBf_FaPhTl2VItTA5ZMq76jt_zIt/pub

For 145 years, NAD has stood for our rights, language, and culture. It’s time to restore that integrity.



[TRANSCRIPT]
Jeffrey Spinale Jr. (Indiana)
Hello. My name is Jeffrey Spinale Jr., President of the Indiana Association of the Deaf. Region II
Fara Harper (Illinois)
Since January 2025, Region II has not had full representation on the NAD Board. Region III is also unrepresented. Thousands of members left without a full voice.
Susan MacDonald (Iowa)
The Secretary seat is vacant. Article 4.9.2 requires President + Secretary + majority for special meetings. Leaving the Secretary seat empty blocks meetings. That blocks solutions.
Katie Wise (Kansas)
Last week, twelve Region II presidents and one delegate signed a letter to NAD. We asked for representation restored, vacancies filled, and fairness in the CEO search.
Jason Smith (Kentucky)
Instead of a response, NAD announced on social media that governance was paused. We respect due process. But a pause cannot override bylaws.
Jeffrey Spinale, Jr. (Indiana)
Bylaws are supreme. Policies cannot override bylaws. Article VIII, Section 8.2: only the Council of Representatives can suspend bylaws, four-fifths vote. No one else has that power.
Today, multiple vacancies remain unfilled:
– Region II
– Region III
– Secretary
– Treasurer
– Two Members-at-Large
This is a failure of governance.
Lindsey Moon (Minnesota)
Under President Rose’s leadership:
Governance halted.
Seats left empty.
The October 29 Board meeting canceled without cause.
CEO search stalled. NAD unstable.
Nathan Johnston (Missouri)
These are not small errors. They are gross negligence, breaches of fiduciary duty, and bylaw violations.
Jonathan Arteaga (Nebraska)
Region II joins Region IV.
We stand united. Same demand.
Anna Dorst (Wisconsin)
We demand accountability, transparency, and representation.
Mark Koterwski (South Dakota)
For NAD to survive, leadership must change.
Anna Dorst (Wisconsin)
The Deaf community deserves better.
Jeffrey Spinale, Jr. (Indiana)
Do you think it’s just us Region II that is asking you for your resignation? No. We have more. -points hand at the screen-
Ryan Peavy (Alabama)
Hello my name is Ryan Peavy, and I am the President of Alabama Association of the Deaf. I am asking you President Lisa Rose to please resign now.
Alex Gauger (Oklahoma)
Hello my name is Alex Gauger -signs name- and I am President of the Oklahoma Association of the Deaf. We request that Lisa Rose resign. Finish.
Anna Dorst (Wisconsin)
Resign
Ashli-Marie Grant (Utah)
Utah Association of the Deaf. We ask Lisa Rose to resign.
Sherry Crosby (Louisiana)
Hello my name is Sherry Crosby and I am the President of Louisiana Association of the Deaf (LAD). We ask that Lisa Rose resign now.
Lindsey Moon (Minnesota)
Resign
Karen Atwoon (Washington)
Hello my name is Karen Atwood -signs name- and I am the President of Washington State Association of the Deaf. We all formally request that NAD President Lisa Rose resign. We call for action.
Amy Cohen Efron (Georgia)
Hello my name is Amy Cohen Efron and I am the President of Georgia Association of the Deaf (GAD). We ask National Association of the Deaf President Lisa Rose to resign. Thank you.
Jonathan Arteaga (Nebraska)
Resign

09/29/2025

Open Letter: NAD President Lisa Rose Must Resign

The state associations affiliated with National Association of the Deaf - NAD have issued an urgent open letter calling for the resignation of NAD President Lisa Rose.

Under her leadership, the Board has:
❌ Halted governance in violation of fiduciary duties
❌ Failed to fill vacancies and maintain representation
❌ Canceled the October 29 Board meeting outside of bylaws
❌ Stalled the CEO search, leaving NAD unstable

She has also left the Secretary seat unfilled, effectively blocking the Board from convening special meetings — a deliberate obstruction of governance.

👉 Our demands:
1️⃣ Lisa Rose’s immediate resignation
2️⃣ Vice President to assume Acting President role, with Past Presidents Council support to fill officer vacancies
3️⃣ Completion of the CEO search with a clear public timeline
4️⃣ Filling of all vacant Board seats to restore full governance

For 145 years, NAD has defended us. Now it is our turn to defend NAD.

Read and share the full letter here: https://www.change.org/p/open-letter-nad-president-lisa-rose-must-resign

NOTE: You do not need to be a NAD member to sign the petition. All within Deaf community are invited to sign the petition.

Open Letter: NAD President Lisa Rose Must Resign