Many shrugged off my grand intention as wishful thinking. Required fields are marked *. How Long Will Joe Goldbergs Rampage Be Left Unchecked? Claudia Gordon is the third featured guest in the Council on Women and Girls: Meet the Women of the Administration series. That would have been Claudias life, except at the age of eleven her mother went to America and she was transferred to Lexington School for the Deaf. Claudia Gordon delivering the opening keynote in American Sign Language at the 50th Biennial Conference of the National Association of the Deaf in Philadelphia, PA. July 6, 2010. Have a tip or story idea? For each of the 28 days of February, we at The Mary Sue will have a post about a black woman you should know aboutsome you may have heard of, some a little bit more obscure, and some fictional who still deserve a lot of love. I have an innate desire to give back. Team Zutara forever. [15], Gordon was part of the Presidential Delegation of Barack Obama sent to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Summer Paralympics. Her deafness gave her an opportunity to discover her identity, strengths, and personal growth with many positive qualities. As the first deaf black female attorney in the United States, Claudia Gordon recounts her childhood in the West Indies, her search for identity while grappling with audism in a hearing college, and her ongoing quest to create spaces in society for seldom-heard voices. I think its an exciting way for government to function and is in keeping with the high standards of inclusion, openness and transparency that the President has set for all of us. With no doctor on duty, the nurse couldnt figure out what was wrong, only that Claudia was going deaf. If you have questions regarding how this information may affect you or your organization legally, please seek the advice of professional legal counsel. I want to contribute to a better society where there is more understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities and where the same opportunities are provided for all." "Meet the Women of the Administration: Claudia Gordon." She was also active in sports, student organizations, and community activities. Facebook gives people the power. WeCo Accessibility Services Reach us at: 855-849-5050 accessinfo@theweco.com, 2730 West Lake Street Suite 300 Minneapolis, MN 55416. Recently, what has been new and exciting about your work? Washington, DC 20500. She was kept at home to do chores instead. She currently works in the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. In this role, she drives strategies for a disability inclusive culture and an accessible plus equitable work environment. She took her to a clinic and healers, to no avail. In truth, I was raised by a community of women. Since earning her juris doctorate from AU, Gordon has been active in working to ensure the rights of people with disabilities are respected. He is currently employed with the Native American Disability Law Center as the Community and Government Liaison engaged in Disability Systems Advocacy with the Navajo Nation and other Native American Tribes. She works at the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and has. Claudia L. Gordon she/her Inclusion and equity champion. Claudia L. Gordonwas born in Jamaica. NCD fulfills its advisory roles regarding disability policies, programs, procedures, and practices that enhance equal opportunity by: convening stakeholders to acquire timely and relevant input for recommendations and action steps; gathering and analyzing data and other information; engaging and influencing current debates and agendas;identifying and formulating solutions to emerging and long-standing challenges; and providing tools to facilitate effective implementation.Hoskie Benally, Jr., Member, National Council on DisabilityHoskie Benally Jr., is a Member of the Navajo Nation and is Legally Blind. February 29, 2016 by Sue Ann Rodriquez 1 Comment. Prior to DOL she was a Senior Policy Advisor with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. Rifkind received a B.A. Daily Practice In 2002, Gordon received the Paul G. Hearne/AAPD Leadership Award from the American Association of People with Disabilities. Born in Jamaica, Gordon went deaf around the age of eight years old after she suddenly developed severe pain in her middle ears. Quick search hundreds of articles, documents and resources. While in her eldest sisters care, Claudia suddenly developed severe pain in her middle ears and was taken to a small clinic. As CEO, Braddy created an independent living center that became a strong and growing voice for people with disabilities, and started the Living Well with a Disability Initiative. She was a woman of profound faith and perseverance up until the very day she lost her six year battle with ovarian cancer in 2000. Like (316) It comes about when Casey and Rosie get some alone time, a day on from Casey deciding not to . See Claudia L. Gordon full list of movies and tv shows from their career. Braddy is married to Rovenia Braddy, who is an author and playwright. Baggetto, Maude. She was one of the only approximately fifty qualified deaf lawyers in the U.S. and Canada back then. In 2000, Gordon became the first deaf student to graduate from the American University, Washington College of Law. Claudia L. Gordon The first deaf African American female attorney in the United States Birthday: Claudia L. Gordon was born on May 14, 1946 Background Information Childhood: Claudia L. Gordon was born in rural Jamaica. She provides advice and technical assistance to the leadership and components of DHS that are geared towards implementation and enforcement of disability civil rights laws, regulations, and Executive Orders. To get to know aboutClaudia, her career, and her inspirations read the following Q and A with her. After becoming deaf, Gordon experienced discrimination in Jamaica as deaf and disabled persons are stigmatized. At 11, she moved to the United States and attended Lexington School for the Deaf in New York. Get to know her by reading this post. Gordon later emigrated to the United States and reunited with her mother, who was living in South Bronx, New York. At DHS Claudia is able to address misconceptions people have about those with disabilities, some of them similar to the stereotypes and erroneous beliefs she faced in Jamaica. Gordon has held senior leadership positions with Sprint Corporation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the National Council on Disability, and the National Association of the Deaf Law and Advocacy Center. Accessibility Quick Tips WeCo's Accessibility Blog Updates WeCo's Network for VCR Professionals & Job Coaches, Manual Accessibility Audits and Remediation, Accessibility, Usability, and Disability Awareness Training, Accessibility, Inclusion SME Speaker Services, National Association of the Deaf Law and Advocacy Center, http://deafness.about.com/od/deafwomen/p/claudiagordon.htm, http://www.deafpeople.com/dp_of_month/Gordon.html, From Jamaica to U.S., heres the story of the first female deaf Black lawyer who advised Obama africainmatters. Member of National Black Deaf Advocates. With her fellowship project sponsored by the National Association of the Deaf, she "provided direct representation and advocacy for poor deaf persons, with a particular emphasis placed on outreach to members of minority groups". Currently, Claudia is a Senior Policy Advisor for the Department of Homeland Security, Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. At age 11, she attended Lexington School for the Deaf and learned American Sign Language (ASL) there. Thanks to the values that were instilled in me during my formative years, I understood then that those voices of doubt neither dictated my worth nor my capacity. [18], Gordon has been active in both the black deaf community and the cross disability community. Friends slowly disappeared and what was usually a cheerful hello was replaced by an awkward smile, curious stares and even outright ridicule. After law school, she was a staff attorney for the National Association of the Deaf Law and Advocacy Center and a consulting attorney with the National Council on Disability. She is a former staff attorney with the National Association of the Deaf Law and Advocacy Center and have also worked as a consulting attorney with the National Council on Disability. - Gordon, Obama White House, 30 August 2010[5]. More awards and honors came at American University, where Gordon was an Equal Justice Foundation Fellow, had the Myers Law Scholarship, and the J. Franklin Bourne Scholarship. August 30, 2010. http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/08/30/meet-women-administration-claudia-gordon, Copyright 1995-2023 Jolanta Lapiak. The White House So I wanted to highlight Claudia L. Gordon, the first known deaf black American woman to earn aJuris Doctor. Claudia was a member of the Obama Administration from December 2009 to January 2017 initially . By identifying and developing strategic partnerships, Rifkind positions Members to take on leadership roles that advance their careers, civic engagement, and equity for people with disabilities. She was instrumental in drafting and implementing an executive order on Individuals with Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness. During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, Voorde served as an Associate Director with the University of Notre Dames Sara Bea Center for Students with Disabilities. When Hurricane Katrina hit, Gordons efforts to ensure that the needs of disabled people were met in hurricane relief efforts earned her both the Gold Medal Award and the 2005 Hurricane Response Award from the Secretary of Homeland Security, Claudia Gordon has been active in both the black deaf community and the broader disability community. In 2004, she was named secretary of the Board for the Lexington Board of Directors. There were also those long road trips on the bumpy Jamaican roads to distant towns where healers would perform rituals in attempts to cure me. And I know they are proud, patient and ready to welcome me home when this tour of duty, in service of our country, is done. Foreign-born deaf lawyer uses opportunity in America to help those with disabilities during emergencies. Claudia and her younger siblings were left in the care of her eldest sister, Mildred Taylor, a schoolteacher. She was given some antibiotics but she eventually became deaf. After two years of no education, Claudia and her mother immigrated to New York. NCD is comprised of a team of Presidential and Congressional appointees, an Executive Director appointed by the Chair, and a full-time professional staff.NCDs mission is to be a trusted advisor, in collaboration with people with disabilities, to: the President; Congress; Federal entities; State, tribal communities, and local governments; and other entities and organizations. For her unrelenting commitment to advocacy, compliance, civic engagement, and mentoring, Gordon has been recognized by the American Association of People with Disabilities, Google, AT&T Humanity of Connection, National Disability Mentoring Coalition, National Association of the Deaf, National Black Deaf Advocates, and The Root 100. Claudia was appointed as the Public Engagement Advisor for the Disability Community in the Office of Public Engagement at the White House in 2013. To be honest, I dont. YOU HAVE 20,000 FOLLOWERS: $100 per post at a $5/CPM. . Texas Zero Property Tax Bill Has Extreme, Discriminatory Catches, Eurovision 2023 Tickets Announced on Ticketmaster, Celebrating Womens History With Qiu Jin, Chinese Revolutionary, The Penguin Tells a Batverse Scarface Story. [3][4], Gordon was born in St. Mary, Jamaica in March 1972.[5]. She later went to the American University Washington College of Law. Her mother immigrated to the South Bronx so that she could earn It's hard to wrap your mind around it when you see it on paper. When she immigrated to America -- the South Bronx --she kept right on working to ensure that within a few years she would be reunited with her three children, whom she had left in the care of her eldest sister, my aunt Mildred Taylor. Its hard to pick a single moment that stands out in the eight months Ive been here.Every day I get to be a part of a team of nearly 750 dedicated public servants working in every part of the country who are responsible for holding those who do business with the Federal government contractors and subcontractors to the very reasonable standard that they cannot discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran. As she became deaf during the summer, the school and her parents decided that Claudia couldn't go back to school in the fall. What has been your favorite moment since youve been working for the Department of Labor? Your government can only do so much, so it is important to make sure you have a personalized plan and know how to initially proceed during an emergency. In 1988, Braddy was hired as CEO of the Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania, where he served for over 30 years. Its that reality of our jobs knowing that we have a window of opportunity to effect such sweeping and systematic change that makes me proud of the work we do. /content/aba-cms-dotorg/en/groups/diversity/disabilityrights/initiatives_awards/spotlight/gordon_c. She is an intelligent and talented attorney who comes from the advocacy world. When I suddenly lost my ability to hear at the age of eight, I was taken out of school and kept at home to perform chores. The company's filing status is listed as Forfeited Existence and its File Number is 0801661939. In an interview she makes a point that there was a deaf intern working in the White House before her, and that there are currently other deaf people working in less prestigious positions in the White House, Claudia Gordon has been active in both the black deaf community and the broader disability community. A domestic servant with only an eighth grade education, she literally scrubbed her way to America one garment at a time. Previously she held a position in the White House Office of Public Engagement as the Public Engagement Advisor to the Disability Community for less than a year Facebook gives people the power. All Rights Reserved. None of the doctors did anything to really help or make clear what was going on. After two years of no education, Claudia and her mother immigrated to New York. Previously, Claudia was a Planning & Performance Mo nitoring Officer at HEART Trust/NTA and also held positions at Lexington School for the Deaf, Goje Frozen Yogurt, Department of Homeland Security. Now, she has come on the inside to create change from within government. Claudia was a member of the Obama Administration from December 2009 to January 2017 initially serving as Special Assistant to the Director of the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and then as OFCCP's Chief of Staff. [9], By my junior year in high school, I made it known to all that I would go to law school and become an attorney. He graduated from Temple University with his MSW in 1988 after receiving his BSW from Edinboro University. My interest in working for the Federal government was sparked while working as a Skadden Fellow and staff attorney at the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) Law and Advocacy Center from 2000-2002. It would also be helpful to create a network of support in your community. American University Washington College of Law, American University, Washington College of Law, United States Department of Homeland Security, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, American Association of People with Disabilities, United States Secretary of Homeland Security, List of first women lawyers and judges in the United States, "Employee Spotlight: Disability Awareness Starts with All of Us and Benefits All of Us TMobile Newsroom", "Meet the Women of the Administration: Claudia Gordon", "Claudia Gordon: America's First Deaf Black Woman Lawyer is Jamaican Born", "Claudia Gordon: 1st African American Female Deaf Lawyer", "NCD Applauds Appointment of Claudia Gordon as Public Engagement Advisor at the White House", "Skadden Fellows | Skadden Fellowship Foundation", "Disability Rights Campaigner, Claudia Gordon, joins DeafKidz International as Global Ambassador", "Trustee Appointed to White House Office of Public Engagement", "President Obama Announces Presidential Delegation to Attend the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Paralympic Summer Games", "Previous AAPD Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Award Recipients", "| U.S. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. From July 2013 to March 2014 Claudia was assigned to the White House Office of Public Engagement where she served as the liaison to the disability community and advised on disability policies. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/09/30/president-biden-announces-key-appointments-to-boards-and-commissions-9/?utm_source=link, Office of the United States Trade Representative. Given the fact that nearly one in four American workers is employed by a company that receives Federal funds for contracted work, stronger Section 503 regulations, backed by real enforcement, will ensure that more people with disabilities have equal employment opportunity in the labor force. She won a Skadden Fellowship for2000-2002, and worked as a staff attorney at the NAD Law and Advocacy Center and a consulting attorney with the National Council on Disability. A. degree from Howard University . [2] Prior to joining the telecom industry, Gordon held various roles in the public sector from 2002 to 2017most notably as the associate director in the White House Office of Public Engagement, where she advised White House offices and senior officials including former President Barack Obama on disability issues. 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Looking back, I wish I knew her real name. In 1995, Gordon graduated with honors from Howard University. On a personal level, Ive had so many wonderful moments at the Department that its difficult to pick just one. @claudia.l.gordon.1. I am motivated by knowing that although progress is being made towards inclusion and access, there is still a great deal more work to be done. Her career began as an AmeriCorps member and 2nd grade teacher in Pascagoula, Mississippi. OFCCP recently published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeking input from the public on ways to strengthen regulations for implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, which requires Federal contractors to take affirmative action to employ and to advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities. [28], Gordon is a member of organizations, such as the Alpha chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority[34], Gordon is a public speaker on a broad range of topics primarily pertaining to disability civil rights law, non-discrimination and equal access; grassroots leadership and advocacy; and disability, youth and women empowerment. She was the vice president of the National Black Deaf Advocates. One problem we still find is that those who create emergency preparedness plans need to realize that the disability community is not homogeneous. Which is exactly the type of work Gordon was driven to do: I am motivated by knowing that although progress is being made towards inclusion and access, there is still a great deal more work to be done. After leaving the OFCCP U.S. Department of Labors Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. Maude Baggetto is in the Office of Public Engagement focusing on Women and Girls. Pronunciation of Claudia L. Gordon with 1 audio pronunciation and more for Claudia L. Gordon. Join Facebook to connect with Claudia Kordon and others you may know. She wanted to have direct involvement in the enforcement of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, combating in order to make sure that the laws were really being utilized to help those who needed it the most. [emailprotected]. Claudia remembers how she was treated in Jamaica after going deaf. Love Island 2023 star Claudia finds herself confronting Casey yet again (Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock). Gordon is also associated with the National Coalition for Disability Rights , where she is part of their national governance, Sources: http://deafness.about.com/od/deafwomen/p/claudiagordon.htm http://www.deafpeople.com/dp_of_month/Gordon.html, Sylvia Walker: A Champion for Disability Rights, Filed Under: Access Awareness, General, Making a Case for Accessibility, [] at the National Association of the Deaf Law and Advocacy Center, giving her the opportunity to provide direct representation and advocacy for poor deaf persons with a particular emphasis on outreach []. One of these activities is the mock trial sponsored by the American Bar Association. #21. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. I want to take the opportunity to remind you all; just in case some" It was there that I confronted the truth that passing legislation is one thing but actual implementation with enforcement is another. Claudia Gordon is the third featured guest in the Council on Women and Girls: Meet the Women of the Administration series. Opt in to send and receive text messages from President Biden. Still lives in Brooklyn with her over 500 Pokmon that she has Eevee trained into a mighty army. Leave a comment Claudia L. Gordon, Member, National Council on Disability Claudia Gordon is a dedicated advocate for people with disabilities with nearly 30 years of versatile professional expertise, with a . I thought I was the only deaf person in the world. She also is the first deaf student to graduate from the American University (AU) Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C. in 2000. Grounded in Navajo tradition and fluent in Navajo, Benally is an experienced cultural instructor. Senior Accessibility Strategy Partner at T-Mobile Speaker, Consultant, Mentor Seen in Obama White House, Google, BBC, Washington Post, and TED Talk ("Owning Otherness"). Disability is something that often gets overlooked when we talk about the spectrum of representation, so it was very important to me to make sure we do not ignore them in our celebration of black women. What inspired you to pursue your field of interest? Claudia L. Gordon is the first deaf African-American female attorney in the United States. This is long overdue. Meet other fascinating administration women by checking out our post on Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs Rebecca Blank and our post on Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Kathleen Martinez. [16], Before joining T-Mobile to lead strategies for disability-inclusive culture and accessible work environment,[17] Gordon was a Senior Manager of Government and Compliance at Sprint. Heres What We Know, INTERVIEW: Cary Elwes Understands the Assignment of Guy Ritchie Movies for Operation Fortune, Walgreens Caves to Republicans, Limits Sales of Another Reproductive Healthcare Item, Florida Man Fulfills His Destiny as a Netflix Crime Series, The 13 Best Ted Lasso Quotes to Read When the World Has Made You Feel Weary, Thank You to the FDA for Telling Elon Musk He Cant Put Chips in Our Brain. While there she developed and executed technical assistance and training to JFO staff and coordinate resolutions of discrimination and accessibility issues. Born in Jamaica, Gordon went deaf around the age of eight years old after she suddenly developed severe pain in her middle ears. View the profiles of people named Claudia Kordon. She'll tell you she's the first Black, deaf woman attorney in the United States. Director of Government and Compliance with T-Mobile Accessibility. In 1995, she graduated form Howard University with a Bachelors in Political Science. After having sharp pains in her ears, her aunt, who took care of her at the time, took her to a small clinic, as there were no hospitals. Born in Jamaica, Claudia became deaf at age 8. [1] She currently works as a Senior Accessibility Strategy Partner at T-Mobile within its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team. [6][7][5][8], When she was eleven, Gordon attended a public school before enrolling at the Lexington School and Center for the Deaf in New York. [13], Notably, Gordon was deployed to Baton Rouge, Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina in 2005 where she served as the disability and elderly populations civil rights subject matter expert at the Joint Field Office (JFO). And so as a result, at age eight Claudia Gordon became deaf. Claudia's ethnicity is Caucasian, whose political affiliation is currently a registered . In the summer of 2019, Voorde returned to her hometown of South Bend, Indiana to support Secretary Pete Buttigiegs run for President, serving as Chasten Buttigiegs full-time body woman on the campaign trail. Gordon received the Skadden Fellowship (for law graduates working with disabled people) that helped her pay to work at the National Association of the Deaf Law and Advocacy Center. Teaming up with others who have similar disabilities and being vocal about your needs are necessary in order to be properly prepared., American Bar Association kkitt1, Your email address will not be published. Along with her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, she also earned a spot in The Patricia Roberts Harris Public Affairs Fellowship, Golden Key National Honor Society, and Political Science Honor Society. Claudia L. Gordon is Director of Government and Compliance with T-Mobile Accessibility a Business Unit within T-Mobile that offers communication products and services to reduce or eliminate communication barriers for customers with disabilities. During the Obama-Biden Administration, Gordon served as the Chief of Staff for the U.S. Department of Labors Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and the Associate Director of Public Engagement for the White House Office of Public Engagement.Adding to Gordons professional expertise is her lived experience as an immigrant at the intersections of race, disability, and gender, which is the foundation for the strong emphasis on disabled individuals with multiple marginalized identities that she brings to her work. At the age of 15, he became a person with a disability due to a high school football accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. #ESQ @tmobile DEI #Obama44 Alum @Howard1867 Alum #AlphaMadeDST #ProudJamaican #Fashionista #TEDx sites@gsu - Blogs for Georgia State University. People named Claudia L Gordon. 49 Year Old Aries #13. She taught me about the unbelievable power of faith and love. Claudia Gordon is a Senior Accessibility Strategist at T-Mobile based in Bellevue, Washington. Claudia L. Gordon is the first deaf African-American female attorney in the United States. grew up in Jamaica, and when she went deaf at the age of eight, she was pulled from school because it was believed that her disability prevented her from learning. What I do know is that the life of this woman ostracized as dummy almost became my own but for my mothers triumph in successfully bringing me to America by the time I was eleven years old. It is uplifting when you are able to empower another and help someone discover a sense of self-worth and confidence in his or her abilities. [5] She suddenly lost her sense of hearing at the age of eight. Happy Black History Month! [11], After law school, Gordon was awarded a two-year fellowship with Skadden Fellowship Foundation. Her mother immigrated to the South Bronx, in New York, so that she could earn a better living, and planned to reunite with her children as soon as she could. Despite various obstacles in America, individuals with disabilities comparatively have better opportunities here than in most other countries. Profile. Born on April 12 #43. Senior Accessibility Strategist at T-Mobile . or. from Johns Hopkins University.Emily Voorde, Member, National Council on DisabilityEmily Voorde is an Associate Director with NEWCO Strategies, a full-service strategic consulting firm that helps progressive campaigns, organizations, and companies achieve their goals. During the Presidency of Barack Obama, she served as the Special Assistant and subsequently as the Chief of Staff to the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Director in the United States Department of Labor. November 1st, 2016 She was deaf at the age of eight. Claudia L. Gordon, Esq. I want to contribute to a better society where there is more understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities and where the same opportunities are provided for all. Voorde recently returned to her hometown of South Bend, Indiana. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy. Claudia is a Special Assistant to the Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP).