Advocacy Council and Allies for Deaf Children
Mission Statement:
The purpose of the Advocacy Council and Allies for Deaf Children is to support, advocate for, and promote accessible services and opportunities for children and families within the Deaf community.
Values:
Safety and wellbeing for all Deaf plus children and families.
The right to culturally and linguistically competent services in the community.
Accessibility and inclusivity for all forms of Deafness.
Advocacy for the healthy development of Deaf Cultural Identity.
Expanding opportunities for networking.
Cultural humility and respect for all persons.
Collaborating with traditional service providers to improve access to their services.
Promoting accommodation to ensure ADA civil rights.
Leading with love, compassion and empathy for all.
History
Established in July 1991 the Advocacy Council for Abused Deaf Children (ACADC) has worked hard to improve system wide response to the needs of the abused deaf child, deaf parents, and adult deaf survivors of child abuse and deaf children/families at risk for abuse. At the time of its inception, the Advocacy Council was the only Child Abuse Council in the state of California to focus on the needs of the disabled and it has served as a model for other councils.
1991: It’s initial objectives were to provide Program Advisement to Five Acres, Family Resource Center – Deaf Services program In the fall, at CSUN, the council head the first Panel Discussion with Deaf Survivors of Child Abuse. By the end of the year, the council had developed a strategic plan focusing on community education and systems advocacy.
1992: By mid-1992 the Council had drafted its Proposal to the LA County Department of Children’s services to establish a Specialized Deaf Unit which would assure equal access to programs and services offered by the department. In late 1992, the Council sponsored the first ever Developmental Conference on “Communication Abuse: What is it and how do we Defne it?” which began a national discussion in the Deaf community. Council Members also made a Presentation and Proposal to Children’s Court Judges on the needs of Deaf adults and children which led to a model of accessibility in the courts.
1993: The Council’s informal professional peer network developed a Resource Directory of Services for Abused Deaf Children. Deaf Artists Against Child Abuse Held a Benefit for abused Deaf children. Council members designed and delivered training to Children’s Court. The Council also designed and provided Training to DCS Command Post staff in use of the TDD number for reporting Child Abuse.
1994: The California Consortium to Prevent Child Abuse has named the ACADC, Child Abuse Council of the Year in 1994. During the past two years, Council members have made several Presentations to National and Statewide Conferences (including the National Association of the Deaf, the National Conference on Abuse and Disabilities, and the National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect) as well as to local bodies such as ICAN and several Child Abuse Councils. Under the leadership of Dr. Ellen Scheiderman, the Council members Developed Training Curricula for the Inter-University Consortium for the new Deaf unit. Curricula was developed for Resource Awareness & Development, Treatment & Support of Families with Deaf Members, Educational Services for Deaf Children, Investigation & Assessment of Abuse in Families with a Deaf Member, Communication Issues in Legal and Mental Health systems, Deaf Culture and Developing Multi-Cultural Responsiveness.
2024: Current Council members filed articles of incorporation to file for 501 (c) (3) status with the federal government and began operating under the newly appointed Board of Directors, President/CEO Amy Kay, Vice President/COO Noelle Simpson, Treasurer Cody Hanable, Secretary Devon Medina and Director of Social Media and Marketing Veronica Arrazati.
Agency Collaboration
In order to accomplish its goals of serving deaf clients, service providers needed to come together to establish a network of agencies for clients to utilize. The ACADC helped bring professionals together to discuss the needs of the community and collaborate on resources and community events.
Some of the agencies involved include:
- Five Acres Deaf Services Program – Providing in-home counseling services to families with a deaf member. birth through 21, Parenting classes, and school based counseling for deaf children. Advocacy and community outreach.
- Peace Over Violence (formerly Los Angeles Commission on Assault Against Women,) Deaf and Disabled services – Providing rape, incest, domestic violence support groups and survivor assistance, peer counseling, hospital and court accompaniment. Shelter referral and support services. Public education, self-defense classes and advocacy.
- Greater Los Angeles Council on Deafness – Advocacy, cultural and community resources. Interpreter referral.
- School programs of all types working with service providers to meet the needs of the children involved.
ACADC is committed to continuing to provide advocacy and quality services to the Deaf Community.
You can visit our facebook page for more information: Advocacy Council and Allies of Deaf Children (ACADC).
Contact information:
Please contact ADADC council members at acadcinfo@gmail.com