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Andrew Foster Sculpture
and Cultural Recognition Project
In 1987, deaf children of Africa lost one of their most significant
advocates when Andrew Foster died in a plane crash. The Black Deaf
community here in the United States lost a cultural leader and role
model. This project seeks to educate the public and students of
culture and history about the life of Andrew Foster. NBDA enlisted the service of renowned Black
sculptor Virgin Cox to create a sculpture of Andrew Foster. It is the first
time a sculpture of an African American Deaf person has ever been made. Never
before has a member of our community been recognized this way. Presentation of
the sculpture is the highlight of a cultural program both honoring Andrew
Foster and analyzing the contribution of Black Deaf people.
Learn more
about Andrew Foster here.
Black Deaf Seniors Citizen
Network
The NBDA Senior Citizen Committee aims to develop and strengthen
a support network for Black Deaf seniors, assist NBDA in becoming
better informed about the unique needs, concerns and challenges
faced by members of this particular segment of the Black Deaf community,
and design and implement outreach programs and activities tailored
to respond to their unique needs.
For more information contact Gerald Miller at Gerlav69
@cox.net.
Family Support Network
The NBDA Family Support Network aims support, inform, and empower
Black parents, with primary emphasis on hearing parents of deaf
and hard of hearing children.
Government Affairs
NBDA recognizes that advocacy is most effective when backed by
legislative action. Therefore, NBDA participates in a number of
legislative and policy oriented coalitions. NBDA is a member of
the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumer Advocacy Network (DHHCAN)
a coalition of national consumer organizations of, by, and for deaf
and hard of hearing people. DHHCAN addresses advocacy, public policy
and legislative issues relating to rights, quality of life, equal
access, and self-representation and legislative issues. NBDA also
participates in the ADA Watch coalition, a National Coalition for
Disability Rights that is a nonpartisan alliance of more than 400
national, state and local disability, civil rights, and other organizations
united to defend and strengthen the civil rights of people with
disabilities. (www.adawatch.org)
NBDA is represented in the Coalition for Movie Captioning (CMC)
through membership in DHHCAN. CMC focus is to increase the number
of movies theaters films that are being captioned. http://www.nad.org/infocenter/newsroom/nadnews/cmcstatus.html
Leadership Training
NBDA provides various opportunities for hands-on leadership training.
Among them is the NBDA Youth Empowerment
Summit (Y.E.S.) program, the annual NBDA conference, and various
leadership and self-advocacy workshops. NBDA has standing committees
and officers positions available to all NBDA members eager to hone
their leadership potential. NBDA also strongly encourages its members
in taking leadership positions outside of NBDA.
Training for Interpreters and Translators
of Color Committee (ITOCC)
NBDA established the Interpreters/Transliterators of Color Committee
(ITOCC) to investigate the growing need for qualified and certified
Black interpreters. Of special focus for the ITOCC are the recruitment
of minority interpreters and the offering of professional development
and training activities. Through collaborative partnerships, volunteer
services, and job opportunities, ITOCC has developed a successful
program that has reached Black Deaf communities across the nation.
ITOCC objectives are:
- Conducting national search for Black interpreters and others
interested in the field of interpretering by using technology,
personal contacts, and print mediums.
- Providing one-on-one mentoring opportunities for non-certified/certified
interpreters, deaf and hearing interpreters, and trainers.
- Establishing and maintaining collaborative partnerships with
interpreter associations (e.g., National Alliance of Black Interpreters,
Waubonsee Community College ITP, National Multicultural Interpreter
Project), Deaf organizations, and RSA Interpreter Training Grantees.
- Coordinating professional development and training activities
with local BDA chapters and the national conference planning team.
- Identifying and securing resources and training materials.
- Using the National Association of the Deaf Interpreter Performance
Assessment and training to become evaluators.
Black Deaf History Archives
NBDA Archival program aims to preserve and protect Black Deaf
history. Black Deaf history has long been neglected. While there
have been numerous books, films and articles on Deaf life, few have
focused on the experiences of Black Deaf Americans. By learning
more about the history and experience of Black Deaf people, all
people will gain a better understanding of the diverse nature of
American history. NBDA firmly believes that preservation and sharing
of the Black Deaf experience both within the community and with
persons of other races can only help to promote greater tolerance
and understanding.
NBDA Archives committee is working in conjunction with Gallaudet
University Archives Library to further develop the NBDA Archives
program. For more information contact NBDA Archives chairperson
Kimberly Lucas at lucasbkim
@hotmail.com.
Publications
NBDA Connections is published four times a year (Spring,
Summer, Fall, Winter) by the NBDA. The newsletter is sent as a membership
benefit. For membership information, contact Gerald A. Miller at
treasurer @nbda.org.
For contribution of articles and announcements or for purchase
of an advertisement contact nbda_nleditor
@yahoo.com.
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