YOUR SUPPORT has carried us through the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, and we are grateful to you for making it possible for the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) to ensure that deaf and hard of hearing people have equal access to programs and services. Your support has enabled us to engage in:

- Responding and assisting more than triple the number of people served – from 1,300 per year in pre-pandemic times to 4,000 per year during the last two years;
- Ensuring that all government officials constantly provide ASL interpreters for all health threats and disaster information – leading to the White House providing ASL interpreters on a daily basis;
- Prevailing after litigation in reaching an agreement with a federal agency to re-establish a centralized interpreting system to appropriately serve its deaf and hard of hearing employees;
- Advocating for continued communication access under pandemic conditions for health care, telehealth, education, remote work, court proceedings, and the wearing of masks;
- Providing leadership training to deaf and hard of hearing youth through a virtual Youth Leadership Camp and to deaf and hard of hearing organization officials through a virtual NAD Leadership Training Conference; and
- Promoting hiring of deaf and hard of hearing people in all industries, including as authentic actors of deaf roles in the media.

The demand for our work has tripled, and we are doing our best to provide services and assistance to everyone. We need YOUR SUPPORT to continue this work! Giving is easy! Visit Link to make an online gift or send your check to our address. The NAD is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all donations are tax deductible.

All of us at the NAD wish you a healthy and happy new year!

[Video Desc. & Transcript: NAD President Melissa S. Draganac-Hawk is standing in the middle of the screen with a blue backdrop. Howard Rosenblum stands in the middle of the screen with a black backdrop.

Melissa: Thanks to your support, we’ve navigated through the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, and we’re grateful to you for helping the NAD continue to serve deaf and hard of hearing people.
Howard: Because of your support, we were able to do many things but we’ll share a few as we reflect on 2021…
Melissa: The NAD Front Desk responded to the triple amount of requests – from 1,300 per year before the pandemic to 4,000 per year during the pandemic!
Howard: The NAD has been monitoring government officials to see that they continue to provide ASL interpreters for all health threats and disaster information, and the White House has been providing ASL interpreters on a daily basis!
Melissa: The NAD Youth Programs organized and planned a successful virtual youth leadership camp for deaf and hard of hearing youth -- AND the NAD pulled off an amazing virtual leadership training conference for deaf and hard of hearing organizations!
Howard: After seven years of litigation, the NAD won a case by reaching an agreement with a federal agency to bring back their centralized interpreting system to appropriately serve their deaf and hard of hearing employees!
Melissa: Throughout the year, the Board met virtually almost every month to discuss progress with priorities, committees, and headquarter operations, as well as the, NLTC, and the upcoming #NAD2022.
Howard: The NAD has continued advocating for continued communication access during the pandemic in all areas such as health care, education, remote work, court, and the wearing of masks - including by sharing position statements and advocacy letters.
Melissa: Throughout 2021, the NAD had 18 press releases and held 6 free webinars that reached hundreds of people!
Howard: The NAD has been advocating for and promoting the hiring of deaf and hard of hearing people in all industries, including authentic deaf acting roles in the media.
Melissa: 2021 has definitely been a challenging and successful year. The NAD’s work has tripled since the pandemic and we continue to do our best to provide services and assistance to everyone.
Howard: To continue, we need your support. Donating is easy! Visit Link to make an online gift or mail your check to the NAD.
Melissa: The two of us and everyone at the NAD wants to wish you
Melissa and Howard: a happy and healthy 2022!

Video cuts to a gray background. Many small red and blue balls appear and swirl towards the center of the video before revealing the NAD logo in red, blue, and white with a water ripple effect. The copyright text appears in white underneath, “National Association of the Deaf, Copyright 2021, All Rights Reserved.”]