Organization
Canadian Association of the Deaf(CAD-ASC)
The Canadian Association of the Deaf is Canada's oldest national consumer organization of, by, and for Deaf people, founded in 1940 and governed entirely by Deaf persons. CAD advocates for the rights, inclusion, and linguistic recognition of Deaf Canadians at the federal level while maintaining a major resource and research library on Deafness and Canadian Sign Language.
About
Founded in 1940 as the Inter-Provincial Association of the Deaf and federally incorporated in 1948, the Canadian Association of the Deaf – Association des Sourds du Canada (CAD-ASC) is headquartered at 251 Bank Street in Ottawa, Ontario. The entire board of directors and executive have always been composed of and administered by Deaf persons, making CAD one of Canada's clearest examples of authentic community self-determination.
What They Do
CAD conducts federal advocacy on Deaf rights, recognition of Canadian Sign Language, accessible communication standards, and education policy. The organization provides consultation, research expertise, and a resource library on Deafness to governments, service providers, and the public, and represents Deaf Canadians at national and international forums including the World Federation of the Deaf.
Who They Serve
CAD serves the Canadian Deaf community — including culturally Deaf adults, sign language users, and Deaf organizations coast to coast. Governance and membership are restricted to Deaf persons, ensuring authentic Deaf leadership in all advocacy efforts.
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