Deaf children were abandoned and institutionalized

Deaf people had difficult and often unpleasant experiences as adolescents because they were denied appropriate services, a proper education, medical care, mental health services, and family welfare services
    
There were young adults whose physical conditions had been misdiagnosed and who suffered to the point of death because no one understood

“Once upon a time” is often the introduction to a fairy tale. The narrative above, however, is no fairy tale. Unfortunately this still is the true-life experience of many who have been denied the opportunity to thrive.

“Nadine” represents the struggles that millions of Deaf individuals face everyday. She’s a Deaf patient denied interpreting services, a single Deaf mom not knowing what services are available, a Deaf student not being properly educated, a Deaf newborn in a hearing family who’s not sure what to do. Nadine is you, she’s me. She’s our brother, our sister, our neighbor, our mom, our dad, our friend. Nadine is everywhere.

We honor those who love Deaf culture, history, and American Sign Language. The National Advocates on Deafness to Inform, Network, and Enrich was established to bring forth Deaf leadership, enrichment, and empowerment…to the Deaf community, by the Deaf Community.