The New Hampshire Association of the Deaf (NHAD) is the primary state affiliate representing the needs of the Deaf, hard of hearing, DeafBlind, and Deaf/Hard of Hearing with other disabilities in New Hampshire. Founded in 1973, NHAD is a volunteer organization whose officers are all deaf or hard of hearing. NHAD is a state affiliate of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and a proud partner of the New Hampshire Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.
NHAD is governed by an elected volunteer board with all officers being deaf or hard of hearing. The current board of directors includes:
The board oversees organizational operations, legislative advocacy, and community programming across New Hampshire.
NHAD has deep roots in New Hampshire's Deaf community, with advocacy efforts dating back decades before its formal organization.
The origins of NHAD trace back to early Deaf advocacy efforts in New Hampshire. A pivotal moment came when a Deaf individual (Mr. Cohen) successfully appealed to the State Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, leading to a coalition of 20 Deaf individuals who applied pressure to local politicians and provided testimony to the safety records of Deaf drivers in other states. This advocacy resulted in the passage of a law in 1931 granting the right of Deaf people to operate motor vehicles in New Hampshire.
The coalition then focused on establishing a school for the Deaf within the state, as most Deaf children were educated as far away as Canada. Deaf children not exhibiting great potential were often warehoused at the Laconia State School. Children educated out of state often remained out of state upon completion, continually depleting the state of an educated Deaf population.
A small victory came when the fledgling NHAD coalition influenced the State Board of Public Welfare to transfer responsibility for the education of Deaf children to the more appropriately equipped Board of Education. This required legislative effort which was successful. NHAD later persuaded the Board of Education to educate Deaf children closer to home. World War II put a damper on efforts to establish a school for the Deaf in the state. To this day, no such school exists in New Hampshire. Unfortunately, the economic demands of World War II forced the focus of the Deaf population away from NHAD activities, and the organization eventually disbanded. However, this tiny band of dedicated individuals instituted many benefits that Deaf children of New Hampshire still enjoy to this day.
In 1975, NHAD was formally reorganized by Hartmut Teuber and Norman Lafond in response to increased awareness of the needs of Deaf people. With the passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Deaf individuals were guaranteed the right to have sign language interpreters present when dealing with any organization or agency. Although this law was on the books, flagrant violations caused a Deaf group to author an interpreter law for New Hampshire, further protecting the rights of Deaf individuals at the state level. The law was passed in 1977.
That same year, NHAD hosted the National Association of the Deaf's Region 1 Convention, held in Keene NH, after becoming affiliated with the national organization.
Since that time, NHAD has remained a volunteer organization, whose officers are all deaf or hard of hearing. NHAD has worked diligently to promote the economical, educational, cultural, and social welfare of the Deaf in New Hampshire. Parents of the Deaf, sign language interpreters, and interested hearing people are also involved. NHAD's commitment is to the advancement of the Deaf population residing in New Hampshire.
NHAD's mission is to promote the economical, educational, cultural, and social welfare of the Deaf, hard of hearing, DeafBlind, and Deaf/Hard of Hearing with other disabilities in New Hampshire. The organization is committed to the advancement of the Deaf population residing in the state through advocacy, education, community building, and support services.
NHAD operates under established bylaws, last revised in 1995 and amended multiple times through 2024. Key governance provisions include:
Page last updated with available public information (as of June 2026). Officer rosters and conference schedules may be obtained through the official website or by contacting NHAD leadership.