National Association of the Deaf (United States)

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) was founded in 1880 as a non-profit, advocacy organization for the American Deaf community. It is the United States member of the World Federation of the Deaf, which has over 120 national associations of Deaf people as members.

The NAD, which celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2005-2006, safeguards the civil rights of deaf and hard of hearing Americans. As a national federation of state association, organizational and corporate affiliates, the NAD advocates in a broad spectrum of areas including, but not limited to, accessibility, education, employment, healthcare, mental health, rehabilitation, technology, telecommunications, and transportation. This work is centered in its Law and Advocacy Center (LAC).

Since 1969, its youth division, Junior NAD, has operated the very successful Youth Leadership Camp in several different locations throughout its 36-year history.

In recent years, the NAD has built closer ties with the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, including merging their certification tests for American Sign Language interpreters. It has also worked collaboratively with other organizations such as the American Association of People with Disabilities.