National Deaf Freedom Association (NDFA) Projects
The National Deaf Freedom Association (NDFA) is a non-profit 501(c)4 social welfare organization providing access to legislators at the Federal, State, City/County levels.
The team was formed in 2012 when Michael Gallagher and Sheri Bergman applied for a non-profit organization with the Community Law Center in Baltimore, MD. Soon thereafter, Eric Albro, Scott Reimer, Michael Bunjer, Scott Walker, and Vicki Lowen joined the team to establish the status with the IRS as a political organization.
The mission was essentially to provide the Deaf community with political leverage through movements and lobbying, as well as researching to collect data for legislators.
Onyx Deaf Movement
Mission
The Onyx Deaf Movement is in supporting the mission and needs of the black deaf community by amplifying their voices, advocating for equal access and resources, fostering understanding and inclusivity, and actively participating in initiatives aimed at addressing systemic issues and promoting equity. It's essential to recognize and respect the unique experiences and challenges faced by different communities within the broader deaf community and work together.
Vision
A vision for the Onyx Deaf Movement could encompass several key goals and principles focused on empowerment, inclusion, and equality:
- Accessibility and Equality: Ensuring that all aspects of public life, including education, healthcare, employment, and legal proceedings, are fully accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. This includes the provision of qualified interpreters, captioning services, and other communication aids in all public institutions and services.
- Education and Empowerment: Educational systems that support and celebrate deaf culture and American Sign Language (ASL), alongside providing resources for life-long learning and professional development. This includes pushing for deaf education programs that meet diverse needs and prepare deaf students for a variety of career paths.
- Community and Cultural Recognition: Promoting the recognition and appreciation of deaf culture and ASL as integral parts of the broader cultural tapestry in any states. This involves supporting deaf arts, literature, and events that highlight the richness of the deaf community's contributions to society.
- Healthcare Access and Equity: Working to eliminate barriers to healthcare for the deaf community, ensuring that medical information and services are accessible and provided in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner. This includes training for healthcare professionals on deaf culture and the specific needs of deaf patients.
- Employment Opportunities and Workplace Inclusion: Equal employment opportunities for deaf individuals and promoting workplace policies that support diversity and inclusion. This includes providing resources for employers on best practices for hiring and working with deaf employees.
- Legal Rights and Advocacy: Strengthening legal protections for the deaf community, including enforcing and expanding laws related to accessibility and discrimination and establishing robust advocacy and legal support networks to assist deaf individuals in navigating legal challenges.
- Community Support and Solidarity: Building strong networks of support within the deaf community and with allies, focusing on mutual aid, and mentorship. This includes creating spaces for sharing experiences, resources, and strategies for overcoming societal barriers.
- Technology and Innovation: Leveraging technology to improve accessibility and create new opportunities for the deaf community. This involves advocating for the development and adoption of innovative communication technologies that can facilitate greater independence and inclusion.
The realization of such a vision would require collaborative efforts among deaf individuals, allies, organizations, and policymakers. By working together, the Onyx Deaf Movement can drive significant change towards a more inclusive and equitable society for deaf and hard-of-hearing people to bring peace, justice, equality, love and a fulfillment of what our lives should be.
“Without vision, the people will perish, and without courage and inspiration, dreams will die – the dream of freedom and peace”
— Rosa Parks
“You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.”
— Rosa Parks
“IF YOU CAN'T FLY THEN RUN, IF YOU CAN'T RUN THEN WALK, IF YOU CAN'T WALK THEN CRAWL, BUT WHATEVER YOU DO YOU HAVE TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD.”
— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Freedom March, Washington, DC-1963) Mat Lil high.
Genuine leaders have the ability to articulate, initiate, and follow-through on their vision.
Deaf Grassroots Movement (DGM)
Mission
Deaf Grassroots Movement, DGM is to inspire those to advocate and create leaders to rise to the occasion and actively push for common-sense solutions with long overdue legislative and systemic changes. DGM is a movement focused on equal access to Communication, Education, and Jobs (CEJ) and any other relevant issues on both the federal and State level, for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.
Vision
The vision of the Deaf Grassroots Movement is to live without being judged, to advance and protect communication access, to improve the Deaf education system, and to help grow the economic power of the diversity within the Deaf community with the pursuit of liberty, equality, and happiness.
ASL Coffee Podcast
ASL Coffee Podcast social media, our mission is to empower, educate, and support the Deaf, Hard of Hearing (HoH), and DeafBlind communities. Under our shows, we aim to amplify voices, raise awareness, and create a space where conversations can happen. We advocate for equal rights, accessibility, and inclusivity while celebrating the richness of Deaf culture. Each episode features unique topics, guest speakers, and stories that inform, inspire, and connect our audience.
We are seeking volunteers to serve as American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters for our shows. This is a fantastic opportunity for interpreters to gain valuable experience, meet their required hours, and contribute to a meaningful cause—it’s a win-win for everyone!
If you have feedback, ideas for improvement, or know someone who would like to volunteer, share their journey, or raise awareness on our show, we’d love to hear from you! Together, we can create meaningful change and a stronger community.
You can contact us directly or connect with us on Facebook. We also offer a variety of unique items on our Facebook page, including mugs, t-shirts, and more. We are dedicated to ensuring equal rights and access for all individuals, and a portion of our proceeds supports the provision of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters. By advocating for inclusivity and supporting ASL interpretation services, we strive to create a world where everyone, regardless of hearing ability, can fully participate and thrive. Let’s make a difference together!
Our Emblem
The name of our organization, "National Deaf Freedom Association," was coined in 2013 when our pro bono attorney (PBA) assisted us in establishing this organization, including drafting its bylaws and Articles of Incorporation. PBA is to stay with NDFA for the life of the organization, according to IRS rules on 501(c)4.
The year "2014" denotes the year the IRS approved our application.
The "Scale" is to bring Deaf Rights to equal justice.
The slogan "E SURDUM PLURIBUS UNIM" is Latin for "All Deaf People United".
The olive branch represents the Deaf as universal peaceful people.
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