Founded in 1908 by alumni of the Louisiana School for the Deaf, the Louisiana Association of the Deaf (LAD) stands as the oldest and largest nonprofit organization dedicated to Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing (DDBHH) citizens in Louisiana.
How LAD Transforms the Deaf Community
LAD’s origins trace back to the collective vision shared by alumni of the Louisiana School for the Deaf who recognized the critical need for a support network that would address the linguistic and educational needs for Deaf children. Originally, LAD was focused on fostering linguistic skills and educational opportunities, but has since evolved into a comprehensive service-based industry.
In 2021, LAD expanded its scope and responsibilities when it acquired the Deaf Focus organization. The goal of this acquisition was to create sustainable revenue streams and set a model for effective Deaf-centric advocacy and service. Now, in 2024, LAD operates with a strong emphasis on Deaf leadership and advocacy. LAD Executive Director, Jay Isch, says, “LAD wants to be the model of how a Deaf association is run.” To do this, he and his Board work with the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf to monitor and champion state progress and policies. Since 2016, LAD has been instrumental in passing 11 key laws with the help of supportive figures like Governor Edwards.
“Deaf people deserve equal access to information, services, and other resources,” says Isch. “It’s important to me that Deaf individuals obtain what they need, at the same equivalent level that a hearing person has.”
LAD Addresses Educational Inequities
Based on research from the National Association of the Deaf, “70% of Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and Hard of Hearing children do not have access to language.” For children who are Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC), this number is much higher.
“It is imperative to prevent language deprivation in all Deaf children, and this requires addressing the usual reliance on auditory input for language acquisition,” says Isch. As a result, it is necessary to utilize “active prevention” to mitigate any possibility of language deprivation in each Deaf child. According to the NAD, “Active prevention refers to the systematic structures used to ensure that Deaf children are exposed to language in all forms necessary to avoid language deprivation.” Parents, families, and professionals need to actively prevent language deprivation within Deaf children starting at birth, and especially through the newborn hearing screening process. The responsibility of active prevention lasts well beyond the initial experience in infancy, meaning that every provider, professional, advocate, teacher, organization, and program who comes in contact with the family then becomes equally responsible to prevent language deprivation with each Deaf child.
To help prevent language deprivation, LAD advocates for the importance of ASL in early childhood development, and has been a vocal proponent for improved educational practices and higher standards for interpreters. For instance, LAD successfully advocated for increasing the required score on the Educational Interpreter Proficiency Assessment (EIPA) from 3.0 to 4.0. In addition to helping improve ASL in schools, LAD also provides interpreting services, expert consulting, professional development, educational support, and ASL classes. LAD aims to support Deaf children every step of the way.
Impact on Baton Rouge and Beyond
While LAD serves the entire state of Louisiana, its impact is especially felt in Baton Rouge and the surrounding areas. The organization provides essential services, including financial assistance, fundraising for schools, and support through mental health services. LAD’s initiatives extend to providing educational supplies, ensuring that teachers and students in Deaf education programs have the necessary resources.
“For schools, we buy the supplies, split them up, and then distribute them to teachers, and the teachers in turn, give them to the students,” says Isch. LAD provides support wherever there is a community need. LAD is also focused on employment opportunities for Deaf individuals, addressing the alarming statistic that 99 percent of Deaf people in Louisiana are unemployed. The organization recognizes the barriers Deaf individuals face in accessing mental health counseling and aims to offer direct support while ensuring that services are culturally competent and accessible.
Most recently, LAD provided $100,000 in aid to the Deaf community after a hurricane struck, filling gaps left by slow federal assistance.
LAD Believes in Nourishing Every Deaf Person’s Well-Being
As community support continues, LAD aims to be a safe space for Deaf people in the state of Louisiana–through everyday services or support during natural disasters or emergencies. LAD strives to be the face of Deaf leadership in Louisiana, and wants to make sure that everyone–child or adult–has access to everything they need to thrive in the fullness of life, liberty, and equality in the state of Louisiana.
