FEATURE
Why be a Delegate for #NAD2020? Delegates vote on a motion at #NAD2018.
BY GRAHAM FORSEY, DC (REGION I), TAR GILLMAN, TEX AS (REGION III), LISA M ROSE, FLORIDA (REGION III), AND JIMMY WILSON IV, ARIZONA (REGION IV) We self-identify and stand out in many different ways; no one is like another. For most of us, one of our core identities is we’re Deaf. Some of us are able to join an organization that focuses on improving the lives of deaf people. A lot of us do want to be more involved but, we have our personal responsibilities and priorities to consider. While it’s true that we have our plates full – perhaps we don’t realize what the expectations are to be involved. One hundred and forty years ago, a wise group of people made a life-time commitment to civil rights advocacy. We know this group today as the National Association of the Deaf (NAD). We still face discrimination in our society, and we see many flaws and shortcomings that can be improved! There are many ways to do our part – every action goes a long way.
At the Biennial NAD Conference, we have an opportunity, as a delegate, to collaborate and develop ideas on how we can make deaf and hard of hearing people’s lives better in the United States. The Council of Representatives (COR) is a several-days long meeting that happens during the NAD Conference. Motions are discussed, priorities for the NAD are determined, and questions are raised for the NAD to respond to. The COR is our chance, as delegates, to focus the NAD’s efforts for the next two years. Some of us have made differences in our local neighborhood, county, state or even the entire country. Some have given up many hours of their time to gather and lead people together to achieve a goal. For others, ideas are just waiting to be acted on. The next Biennial NAD Conference in Chicago, NADmag | Fall 2019 NADmag | Fall 2019
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