“Protecting and promoting the rights, needs, and concerns of Deaf Canadians.”

The Canadian Association of the Deaf – Association des Sourds du Canada (CAD-ASC) is the oldest national consumer organization. This important non-profit is of, by and for Deaf individuals in Canada. The goal: representing persons who are deaf and their interests on the national level. In other words, giving a voice to a group often ignored by society and by policy makers.

From the Canadian Association of the Deaf’s website

The Canadian Association of the Deaf (CAD) is one of Canada’s first true self-help groups. It was founded in 1940 as the Inter-Provincial Association of the Deaf by three major regional associations of the Deaf — the Western Canada, the Ontario and the Eastern Canada Associations — with the support of the Montreal Association of the Deaf.

In 1948, the Association became federally incorporated. At that time it became officially known as the Canadian Association of the Deaf. The Association has since called upon the assistance of a number of hearing persons to serve on committees and in advisory and staff capacities. However, the entire board of the CAD is composed of Deaf persons, and the affairs of the Association have always been under the control and administration of Deaf persons. In other words, this is a group that is represented by the group with those most invested in its success.

Projects & Programs

Registered Education Savings Plan

The Canadian Association of the Deaf is working to educate families of Deaf children and Deaf parents of hearing children about the importance and advantages of a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP). Through a number of initiatives, CAD-ASC is identifying needs and creating workshops and information kits about the benefit of RESP and education savings to the Deaf Community. CAD-ASC will be able to help you locate an RESP provider that will provide RESP services in a Deaf-friendly approach.

Visible Languages Translation Initiative Project

The Canadian Association of the Deaf – Association des Sourds du Canada has pioneered an important new initiative. The CAD-ASC is working to make it easier for sign language users to communicate with people who don’t use sign language. This project is funded by a grant from Industry Canada and with additional support from CAD-ASC’s partners. CAD-ASC has started work to establish a national call-centre service to deliver sign language interpretation through the Internet to installed video console systems in banks, stores and other central locations. This system will allow Deaf Canadians to communicate effectively. Deaf persons often need assistance in situations like banking or voting. In addition, many institutions need assistance with remote, “on demand” access to interpreter services.

News & Events

Good news! The Canadian Association of the Deaf – Association des Sourds du Canada has received funding from the federal Department of Justice for a new project!

A team of expert researchers will explore the experiences of Deaf Canadians with the justice system, including police, courts, and prisons. We will gather stories from those who have been victims of a crime or have been accused and convicted of a crime. The team is led by Dr. Debra Russell, renown interpreter; Dr. Cathy Chovaz, Deaf psychologist; and Dr. Patrick Boudreault, famed for his work on LSQ and Deaf linguistics.

What is the Project?

Canadian Association of the Deaf- Association des Sourds du Canada (CAD-ASC) has received funding from the Federal Department of Justice. The goal of our project is to gather information from D/deaf, deaf-blind, and deaf people who have additional disabilities, about their experiences with the justice system. The words “the justice system” include contact with the police, lawyers, courts, prisons, halfway houses, and/or parole officers.

Why this project?

Many Deaf people have had to access services like the police, courts, and lawyers as a victims of a crime, or as persons accused and/or convicted of crimes. We want to gather your stories and experiences so that we can identify the problems with the current system, and to develop strategies that can make the judicial system more accessible.

Who is doing the research project?

CAD-ASC has contracted Dr. Cathy Chovaz (Deaf), Dr. Patrick Boudreault (Deaf) and Dr. Debra Russell (Hearing). This team of experienced and trusted researchers will help CAD-ASC to build a picture of the needs of the Canadian Deaf community.

Who can participate this project?

We are looking for individuals who want to participate as part of a focus group or in one-to-one interviews. We are surveying two groups: individuals who work in the judicial system, and members of the Deaf community. We hope you will participate.

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