The Ohio Deaf Association (ODA) is the state affiliate of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) for Ohio. Established in April 2024, ODA was founded to honor the legacies and past contributions of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Ohioans and to serve as a transparent, accountable organization representing the state's Deaf community. ODA joined NAD as an affiliate member in April 2025 and is currently in its early stages of growth and building.
The current ODA leadership includes:
ODA holds regular board meetings via Zoom, with full agendas posted on Facebook. The organization's first board meeting was held January 11, 2025, at Dublin Library, Dublin, Ohio.
Ohio's Deaf advocacy history includes the Ohio Association of the Deaf (OAD), founded in 1961. OAD was formerly called the Ohio Deaf Motorists Association, formed by three visionary founders — two Deaf gentlemen and one hearing businessman — who met with auto insurance companies to advance Deaf rights. Ten Deaf organizations, including districts, merged to create OAD, Inc. in 1961.
In December 2023, a Core Team announced the formation of ODA due to concerns about transparency and IRS recognition. As of 2025, ODA is the active organization with ohiodeaf.org, while OAD's website (oad-deaf.org) has been unavailable. Fred Palchick, who served as OAD President, continues to use the oad-deaf.org email address without notifying ODA.
ODA hosts an annual Deaf/KODA Summer Camp for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and CODA (Children of Deaf Adults) youth ages 7–15.
2026 Camp Details:
ODA holds regular monthly meetings, currently conducted via Zoom. The February 21, 2026 meeting was announced for 10:00 AM–3:00 PM, with emphasis that "everyone's participation is important."
ODA publishes a monthly newsletter. Volume 1 was published January 2026, with subsequent volumes published regularly (Volume 4 in October 2025).
ODA was founded on principles of transparency, accountability, and community representation. The organization's Core Team emerged from community concerns about the prior organization's (OAD) lack of transparency and IRS recognition status.
ODA joined NAD as an affiliate member in April 2025, affirming its role as Ohio's state-level Deaf advocacy organization. ODA works to advance the rights, accessibility, and inclusion of Deaf individuals across the state.
The broader NAD organization has experienced significant challenges in 2025, including mass resignations, suspended board and committee meetings, and questions about its ability to function as a charitable volunteer organization. Several state associations have called for leadership changes. Despite these national challenges, ODA continues its growth and building efforts as an NAD affiliate.
The Ohio Deaf Association (ODA) was established in April 2024, honoring the legacies and past contributions of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Ohioans. The organization grew from community concerns about transparency and accountability, emerging from a Core Team that began outreach in December 2023.
ODA's founding built upon the rich history of Ohio's Deaf community, including the Ohio Association of the Deaf (OAD), founded in 1961, and the Ohio School for the Deaf (founded 1821 in Franklin), one of the oldest schools for the Deaf in the United States.
ODA joined NAD as an affiliate member in April 2025, marking its formal recognition at the national level.
ODA currently operates as a statewide organization without formal regional chapters, holding regular meetings via Zoom accessible to all Ohio residents. The organization collaborates with:
ODA welcomes all Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and CODA (Children of Deaf Adults) Ohioans, as well as allies who support the community. The organization is in its early growth stage and encourages community participation in meetings, events, and decision-making.