- Status: ✅ Enriched / recently verified
- State: Arkansas
- Type: State affiliate of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD)
- Legal: Volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit
AAD has provided leadership and advocacy for Deaf and hard-of-hearing Arkansans since the late nineteenth century.
- 1893: Founded as the Arkansas Deaf-Mute Association by Hunter S. Edington and Rev. John W. Michaels, both alumni of the Arkansas Deaf-Mute Institute (now Arkansas School for the Deaf).
- 1912: Renamed to the Arkansas Alumni Association of the Deaf.
- 1956: Affiliated with the National Association of the Deaf (NAD); name changed to Arkansas Association of the Deaf.
- 1969: Began publishing its periodical, The Deaf Arkansan.
- Conventions: Held biennially.
Helping pave the way for all individuals to achieve full participation in life and community.
AAD is governed by an executive board of elected officers and trustees.
Officers (from official website, 2025):
Trustees (from official website, 2025):
Key roles:
¶ Legislative advocacy and key issues
AAD maintains an active legislative advocacy program at the Arkansas state level.
- Primary current priority: Establishing and funding a Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Arkansas.
- 2020: Legislative bill to fund Deaf services was killed in committee.
- 2022: AAD pursued the same during a special session; funding was not secured.
- 2024–2025: AAD is educating legislators ahead of the 2025 session with a “Deaf Advocacy 2024” policy document and sample letters for constituents to send their representatives.
- Public resources:
- “Find My Legislators” guide to help members locate their state representatives and senators
- “Deaf Advocacy Cover Letter” template for contacting legislators
- “Deaf Advocacy 2024” document outlining needed services and statistics for Arkansas
¶ Advocacy and impact (historical)
AAD has been instrumental in:
- Securing court interpreting services: Act 664 (1979) established a full-time Arkansas Court Interpreter position and guaranteed interpreting for Deaf persons in courts.
- Telecommunications access: Contributed to the Arkansas Relay Program (1992) for functionally equivalent access for Deaf, hard-of-hearing, Deaf-blind, and speech-impaired residents.
- Telecommunications Access Program: Authorized in 1995 to provide communication devices to eligible users.
- Ongoing legislative advocacy at the state level on accessibility, education, and employment rights.
AAD offers tiered membership:
- Student Membership: $25 (ages 16 and up; includes college/university students)
- Biennial Membership: For general (non-student, non-senior) members
- Senior Citizens Membership: For members aged 62 and up
AAD runs an annual awards program recognizing outstanding contributions within the Arkansas Deaf community. The 2025 cycle is open to member nominations via an online form; voting is confidential.
- AAD accepts donations via PayPal.
- As a 501(c)(3), donations are tax-deductible; a tax letter is available on their website.
- AAD official website (arkdeaf.org)
- Encyclopedia of Arkansas entry: “Arkansas Association for the Deaf”
- NAD-affiliate references (RIIT/NIH/NAD resources)