The Texas Association of the Deaf (TAD) is the primary statewide advocacy organization dedicated to preserving the civil, human, and linguistic rights of Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind Texans. Headquartered in Austin, TAD has actively championed accessibility, education, and equal opportunity for over a century.
- Website: texasdeaf.org / txad.org
- Mission: "To empower the Deaf community across Texas by promoting equal rights, Deaf culture, and providing essential resources. We advocate for accessibility in early childhood intervention, education, employment, healthcare, and technology."
- Facebook: Texas Association of the Deaf (@txad1886) — 8.8K+ followers
- TAD Connect: Facebook Group — 780+ followers (committee of TAD for board meetings and general membership)
- NAD Affiliate: Yes
- Founded: 1886 as the Blue Bonnet Association of the Deaf
- Incorporated: Formally incorporated in 1932
- Major Achievement: TAD was a driving force for accessibility in Texas, most notably successfully lobbying in the 1950s for a $2.5 million building program to modernize the Texas School for the Deaf.
Following internal restructuring in 2025, TAD's executive leadership includes:
- Acting President: Wes Singleton (Vice President who stepped into the Acting President role)
- Vice President: Wes Singleton
- Secretary: (elected)
- Treasurer: (elected)
The board has undergone a period of structural rebuilding and reorganization in 2025 to enhance community transparency and accountability.
TAD is organized into 5 distinct regions across Texas:
| Region |
Representative |
| Region 1 |
Otis Sizemore |
| Region 2 |
Sheryl Denham Meador |
| Region 3 |
LeAnn Avalos |
| Region 4 |
Thumas Lee |
| Region 5 |
Vijay Advani |
- Transparency Initiatives: The board has heavily focused on hosting public oversight forums (often via community groups like Elevate TAD) and updating the organization's bylaws.
- Elevate TAD Committee: An active volunteer group seeking supporters committed to transparency, accountability, and strong governance within TAD.
- Board Meetings: Regular Zoom meetings, also streamed on Facebook Live. Next scheduled meeting: Sunday, April 12, 2026.
- Conference: The annual TAD conference was postponed to March/April 2026 with a location change to Austin.
- September 2025 Statement: Vice President Wes Singleton issued an apology on behalf of TAD, acknowledging internal mistakes and affirming the organization's commitment to addressing financial transparency and recovery efforts.
TAD advocates for accessibility and equal opportunity in:
- Early childhood intervention
- Education
- Employment
- Healthcare
- Technology
- Texas School for the Deaf — Austin
- Texas School for the Blind — Austin