Mission: DCABDA is a membership-based, community-organizing group in the metro area of District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland. Since 1981 DCABDA has empowered Deaf and Hard of Hearing of multiple identities to work together for systemic changes that bring concrete improvement to their lives. DCABDA aims to foster advocacy and leadership skills with issues impacting the Deaf and Hard of Hearing people, strengthen the educational, cultural, social, civil, and economic advancement Deaf and Hard of Hearing people, safeguard the general health and welfare of Deaf and Hard of Hearing people, and emphasize ongoing political education and connection of the campaigns to broader social justice movements.
Vision:
At a societal level, DC Area Black Deaf Advocates believe that:
Rights
Deaf and Hard of Hearing people with multiple identities have the right to protect their general health and welfare.
Respect
Deaf and Hard of Hearing people with multiple identities deserve respect and valuable human (capital) resources that accept them. DCABDA believes they should not be unduly distressed.
Responsibility
DCABDA is responsible to provide Deaf and Hard of Hearing members with tools they need to safeguard their rights. Deaf and Hard of Hearing members assume their expected responsibility, participating in activities to achieve the goals.
Furthermore, DCABDA believes that Right, Respect, and Responsibility provide a framework for establishing healthy interpersonal relationships among members of Black Deaf community.
Theme: Strengthening Black Deaf Image Through Awareness
Welcome Letter from the '22-'24 DCABDA Administration
Education and work are the levers to uplift a people. Education must not simply teach work - it must teach Life.
- W.E.B. Du Bois
Pillars of DCABDA
According to data collected by the National Deaf Center Postsecondary Outcomes' educational attainment, deaf folx received a lower percentage of education than their hearing counterparts. The biggest concern is addressing the employment gap for Black Deaf and allocating resources for students and senior citizens who reside in Greater Washington Metropolitan Area.
