NL Association of the Deaf

What We Do...

Provide consultation and information to the public, businesses, media, health care, government, educators and others on the needs and interests of Deaf Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

Conduct Research and collect data regarding: Deaf demographics, employment, literacy; provide reports on information gathered.

Promote and protect the use of American Sign Language through sign language classes.

Administer the Deaf Literacy Program.

Promote and provide workshops for the Deaf community on Mental Health, Employment and Financial Management.

Provide representation on national and local boards:
- Canadian Association of the Deaf
- Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf
- Coalition of Persons with Disabilities
- Independent Living Resource Centre
- Interpreting Services of NL Inc.

Involvement in charitable projects:
- Christmas Hampers to needy Deaf families
- Annual donation to Janeway Telethon for early detection of hearing loss

What We Have Done...

For over 60 years, Deaf children of Newfoundland and Labrador were educated outside the province. In 1961, St. John's Association of the Deaf lobbied the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to establish a school for the Deaf in St. John's resulting in the opening of the Newfoundland School for the Deaf in 1964.

In 1987, when the Provincial Government cut all funding under the Employment Assistance for People with Disabilities, the NLAD and Coalition of Persons with Disabilities successfully lobbied Government to have it reinstated.

In 1990, NLAD and Canadian Association of the Deaf lobbied Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to provide a relay telephone service resulting in Newfoundland and Labrador being the first Atlantic province to have the service.

In 1995, NLAD's lobbying efforts to CRTC paid off with the first closed captioning on CBC's evening news in 1996.

In 2005, NLAD developed and implemented the first Deaf Literacy Program in Newfoundland and Labrador.

From various government grants, NLAD sponsored workshops, conferences and research programs.

21 Merrymeeting Road, 3rd Floor

St. John's, NL A1C 2V6

TTY/Voice: (709) 726-6672

Fax: (709) 726-6650

nlad@nlad.org