National Association of the Deaf - NAD

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National Association of the Deaf - NAD This is the official Facebook account for the National Association of the Deaf (NAD). We are on Twitter and Instagram via as well!

The NAD is the nation's premier civil rights organization of, by and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America. The NAD is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported by the generosity of individual and organizational donors, including corporations and foundations. Region I -- www.facebook.com/NADRegion1/
Region II -- www.facebook.com/NADRegionII/
Region III -- www.facebook.com/NADRegionIII/
Region IV -- www.facebook.com/NADREGION4/

Social Media Policy:

The NAD does not tolerate any abusive, offensive or racist comments on our social media pages. We want to provide a safe space for the members of our community to be respected. If you do not abide by our policy, your comment will be reported. Your comments are made in a space where members of our community are to feel respected. This means that any abusive, offensive or oppressive comments on our social media are not acceptable. In this space, all comments must be respectful.

The NAD Board is having its retreat in Washington, DC, on Gallaudet University's campus on October 8-10. There will be t...
10/07/2026

The NAD Board is having its retreat in Washington, DC, on Gallaudet University's campus on October 8-10. There will be three events where the community can connect with the board. Come for your chance to meet the board and NAD staff!

[Image Description: A tall flyer in navy blue and red on a white background. At the top is the circular NAD logo, with the letters "NAD" in red inside a navy ring. Below it, between two thin red lines, it reads "National Association of the Deaf." Large bold navy letters say "NAD BOARD RETREAT." Under that, a navy banner with an red border says "October 8–10, 2026" in white. Next, small text reads "Held at Gallaudet University, Washington, DC."

Below an red divider line, a large navy heading reads "MEET THE BOARD," with the subtitle "Connect with NAD board members at these community events." Three columns follow, separated by thin red lines. Each has a round navy icon with an red border:

Left (building with columns): "TOWN HALL." October 8, 7:30 PM, at the Rathskellar. Hosted by Gallaudet SBG.
Middle (clipboard): "BOARD MEETING." October 10, 2:45–5 PM, at the EMG Memorial Building.
Right (group of three people): "DCAD COMMUNITY HANG-OUT." October 10, 7 PM, at Red Bear Brewing Company.

The bottom of the flyer is a navy-and-orange illustration of a fall skyline. On the left is a red-brick Victorian building with a tall clock tower, like Gallaudet's Chapel Hall, surrounded by orange autumn trees. On the right are the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol dome above a bridge over the water.]

🌍✋ Happy International Day of Sign Languages!Today we celebrate the beauty, history, and power of sign languages around ...
09/23/2026

🌍✋ Happy International Day of Sign Languages!

Today we celebrate the beauty, history, and power of sign languages around the world — and we're honoring a piece of our own history: George W. Veditz's Preservation of the Sign Language (1913).

In the early 1900s, the oralist movement was working to suppress sign language in Deaf education. In response, NAD launched a film preservation project to capture ASL on camera for future generations. Veditz, a former NAD president, stepped in front of the camera and signed what would become one of the most iconic speeches in Deaf history — declaring ASL "the noblest gift God has given to Deaf people."

Over 100 years later, his words still resonate. Sign languages are living, thriving languages — and preserving and protecting them is as important today as it was then.

Today, and every day, we celebrate ASL and sign languages around the world. 🤟

09/22/2026

⚖️ IMPORTANT UPDATE: NAD's Case for ASL Access at White House Press Briefings

Last year, Judge Ali granted NAD's motion for a preliminary injunction, requiring the White House to provide ASL interpretation for certain press briefings while the case proceeds. The White House appealed, and the case is now before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

📅 Oral argument: October 6, 2026 at 2:00 PM
📍 E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse, 333 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.

Please plan to arrive early — you'll need to go through security and seating is limited.

This case is about ensuring the Deaf community has equal access to information shared by the White House. We'd love to see a strong showing from our community as the Court considers this important case.

🍻 After the hearing, join NAD staff and attorneys for an informal gathering at Penn Quarter Sports Tavern, 639 Indiana Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004 — a great chance to meet the Law and Advocacy Center team fighting for our rights.

Please share this post, and if you plan to attend, let us know in the comments! We want to see you there on October 6th. 👊

Learn more: https://nad.org/nad-returns-to-court-to-defend-equal-access/

Happy Deaf Awareness Month! 👐🤟 September is a time to celebrate Deaf culture, ASL, and the achievements of the Deaf comm...
09/15/2026

Happy Deaf Awareness Month! 👐🤟 September is a time to celebrate Deaf culture, ASL, and the achievements of the Deaf community — while raising awareness around accessibility and inclusion every single day.

Deaf Awareness Month traces back to the founding of the World Federation of the Deaf in 1951 and has grown into a global observance ever since. And here's something to know: there are over 300 distinct sign languages in the world — ASL is just one of them, with its own grammar and structure completely separate from English.

This month, mark your calendars 📅
🔹 September 21–27 — International Week of Deaf People (Theme: Declaring Deaf People's Human Rights)
🔹 September 23 — International Day of Sign Languages
🔹 September 27 — World Deaf Day

Swipe to learn more — and remember, this month is just the start of the conversation. Deaf culture and accessibility deserve recognition every day. 💙

09/04/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us at this summer's NAD Conference. Your feedback and support mean so much. As new CEO Nick Kiego settles into his role, watch his latest Vlog to hear updates plus inspiring stories from our Junior Ambassadors.

Quick updates from President's Message Vlog:

Zero Tolerance Policy: Work continues with experts and community input to get this right.

New Board Members: Congratulations to Luisa Gasco-Soboleski, Christopher Samp, and Min Cho on their appointments to the Board!

Board Retreat: The Board and NAD Staff will meet at NAD Headquarters this October.

Deaf Awareness Week: Coming up in September! Watch for posts celebrating our community, and share your own with us.

Wishing everyone a great start to the school year. Thank you for your continued support of the NAD.

08/31/2026

The 2025–2027 Jr. NAD Ambassador, Marisa Goff, recently visited NAD headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland to sit down with new CEO Nick Kiego for a conversation about his first 30 days on the job.

Over the course of a 15-minute interview, Marisa asks Nick how things have been going, what his first few days looked like, what has surprised him, who he's been meeting with, and what he'll be focused on in the months ahead. Nick also asks Marisa for her perspective on how NAD can better engage Deaf youth.

It was an honest, easygoing conversation. Nick spoke openly about the work ahead and the need for more volunteer support from the community, along with his optimism for what's next. We hope this gives members a genuine look at where things stand and where NAD is headed.

Thumbnail Image Description: A man in a suit and a young woman in a blue shirt sit in chairs against a blue wall, both smiling and looking at each other.

(Video Transcript in the comments)

New CEO, New Chapter.[Image Description pinned in the comments]
08/03/2026

New CEO, New Chapter.

[Image Description pinned in the comments]

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is deeply saddened by the passing of Kaylee Hottle (July 21, 2026), a talente...
07/22/2026

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is deeply saddened by the passing of Kaylee Hottle (July 21, 2026), a talented young Deaf actress whose authenticity, warmth, and remarkable talent inspired countless people within the Deaf community and beyond.

Kaylee broke barriers through her memorable portrayal of Jia in Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, proudly representing Deaf talent on the global stage. As a native ASL user from a multigenerational Deaf family, she demonstrated that Deaf individuals belong in every space including Hollywood and inspired a new generation of Deaf children to dream without limits.

Beyond her accomplishments on screen, Kaylee was a beloved member of the Texas School for the Deaf community. Her beautiful soul with kindness, vibrant spirit, and unwavering pride in her Deaf identity left a lasting impression on classmates, friends, teachers, and staff. She brought light to the halls of TSD, lifting those around her with her compassion, determination, and joyful presence. That light reached far beyond campus, touching the Deaf community across Texas and inspiring people around the world through her advocacy, representation, and example.

Though her life was tragically cut short, Kaylee’s impact will endure through the lives she touched, the friendships she cherished, the doors she helped open, and the hope she gave to so many young Deaf people who saw themselves reflected in her success.
On behalf of the NAD, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Kaylee’s family, friends, classmates, colleagues, and all who loved her. We join the Texas School for the Deaf community, the Deaf community worldwide, and the entertainment industry in mourning this profound loss while celebrating the extraordinary legacy she leaves behind.

May Kaylee’s memory continues to shine brightly, inspiring future generations to pursue their dreams with courage, pride, determination, and the confidence to know that they, too, belong in every space.

07/10/2026

President’s Message: July 10, 2026

On behalf of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) Board of Directors, I want to acknowledge the concerns expressed by members of our community regarding the NAD’s Zero Tolerance Policy, including its title, language, and implementation. We sincerely appreciate the thoughtful feedback that has been shared.
We recognize that the phrase “zero tolerance” carries significant historical context and has been associated with policies and practices that resulted in disproportionate harm and inequitable outcomes for marginalized communities. We also recognize that members of our community may experience this language differently because of those historical associations. It is important that NAD’s policies and language reflect our values of equity, inclusion, accountability, fairness, respect, and belonging.
The current Zero Tolerance Policy is not new. It has been in effect during the past several biennial national conferences and applies to NAD-sponsored events, programs, meetings, and other authorized activities. Its purpose has been to protect individuals from discrimination, harassment, bullying, oppression, abuse, retaliation, and other harmful conduct, while fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for everyone participating in NAD activities.
As President of the NAD Board of Directors, I am committed to leading the Board through a thoughtful and comprehensive review of the policy, including its title, language, implementation, and related procedures. Although the policy was adopted to promote safety, accountability, and respect, we recognize that good intentions do not replace the need to understand how the language is interpreted and experienced by our community.
As part of this review, the Board will consider community perspectives on whether the policy’s title should better reflect values such as accountability, safety, respect, inclusion, and restorative approaches. No decisions have been made, and the Board will carefully evaluate all feedback before determining whether any changes are appropriate.
During this review, the current policy will remain in effect to ensure continued protections for all participants. Reports received under the policy will continue to be addressed through established procedures while respecting confidentiality, applicable law, organizational policies, and principles of fairness.
The Board is committed to sharing updates with our community as this review progresses and to communicating any changes that result from this process.
We are grateful to everyone who has shared their perspectives. Open and honest communication, thoughtful reflection, and a willingness to learn from one another strengthen our organization and help ensure that every member of our community is treated with dignity, fairness, respect, and belonging.

Together, we NAD rise.

Stephanie Hakulin
President, NAD Board of Directors

Opening Ceremony highlights 📸 Night 1 at the 58th Biennial NAD conference was all about honoring our historic roots, gro...
07/03/2026

Opening Ceremony highlights 📸 Night 1 at the 58th Biennial NAD conference was all about honoring our historic roots, grounding our values, and rising together towards the future.

Address

8630 Fenton Street, Ste 202
Silver Spring, MD
20910

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+13015871788

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