The Early Years of PRWAD-ADARA:
"The 1960's, A Different Time"
By Robert R. Lauritsen
May 1997
For the next few minutes, I would like all of you to join me in a time shift back to the 1960's - more than 30 years ago. Try to think of what our world was like at that time. Color TV was just coming in, Deaf people were just getting the TTY - the big old clunkers donated by AT&T, NTID was still a dream, there were no regional postsecondary education programs (now changed in scope and mission), there was no RID, interpreters were essentially all CODAs, captioned TV was still years away. There were few services for deaf adults anywhere in the United States, nor the world. E-mail was more than 20 years away, fax machines had not been thought of, there was no Internet, World Wide Web, and no homepages. As we look around at our world today, we can almost think of the 1960s as the Dark Ages of American Technology.
The Beginning
But there was a spirit in the 1960s - a need was being felt to do something constructive for Deaf people. It all began with a conference held a Fort Monroe, Virginia in 1961. David Myers, then a Gallaudet student, long-time member of PRWAD/ADARA and now of Texas, was there as he is with us tonight. This was one of the first of hundreds of workshops, conventions, and conferences that were to be held throughout the coming decades. At Fort Monroe, deaf adults [and] lay people who worked for free came together and said more has to be done. Some of those early pioneers included Fred Schreiber, Dewey Coates, Gordon Allen, and Ed Carney. Boyce Williams, from Washington DC, was there providing a federal presence. These pioneers were not professionals in the field of Deafness. They were printers, teachers in residential schools, workers in aircraft factories and roofers. Those in attendance were local lay leaders who worked their crafts by day and served the Deaf community in the evenings and on weekends.
The early 1960s was a time in history when federal dollars began to flow for a wide variety of deafness activities including money for workshops. For a period of time, participants had all expenses paid by the federal government to attend these workshops. Boyce Williams, with the leadership of Mary Switzer, was deeply involved with the flow of federal funds that were utilized in the 1960s, the 1970s, and the 1980s for a wide variety of workshops in the area of Deafness. Special words of praise and admiration must be said for Boyce Williams, a deaf man from Kenosha, Wisconsin, teacher at the Indiana School for the Deaf, and the first deaf person to be employed at the federal level in Rehabilitation. Boyce was ever present for decades and all of us here tonight owe Boyce an eternal debt of gratitude for his leadership. Indeed, it can be said that if Boyce Williams had not been the guiding light for Deafness and Rehabilitation, it is doubtful if there would have been a PRWAD/ADARA and it is doubtful we would be here tonight in Milwaukee.
In October 1964, a national workshop was held in the Hotel Andrew Jackson in Knoxville, Tennessee entitled, "Improved Vocational Opportunities for Deaf People," which was a key workshop that lead to the establishment of NTID and the then three regional postsecondary education programs (Seattle Community College, Delgado, New Orleans, and St. Paul). In those early days a lot of "piggy back" meetings took place at national gatherings. Those of us involved always seemed to have second agendas. At an after-hours session in Knoxville on October 21 some thirty professionals and lay persons shared their concerns, their thoughts, and their dreams. From this beginning, a steering committee evolved which lead to the establishment of PRWAD (Professionals Rehabilitation Workers with the Adult Deaf) some 19 months later. Members of the early planning meeting included Gary Blake, William Woodrick, Roy Patton, William Craig, Norm Tully, Alan Jones, Roger Falberg, Farrell Mitchell, Geno Vescovi, James Whitworth, Boyce Williams, and myself.
The Official Birthdate
Enter Dr. Stephen Quigley, a prominent teacher trainer and researcher of the University of Illinois. Dr. Quigley was a master at securing federal funds. With assistance from Dr. Quigley, the steering committee obtained federal funds to hold a national workshop on Rehabilitation Casework Standards for the Deaf in St. Louis on May 23-27, 1966. This workshop provided the vehicle for yet another piggyback meeting to be held which established PRWAD. May 25, 1966 is the official birth date of this organization. Gary Blake chaired the organizational meeting, Doug Burke (now deceased) was the parliamentarian. The motion to establish the organization was by Dr. William Desmond Phillips and it was seconded by Edsel Ford. The initial by-laws were prepared by Roger Falberg and were presented with assistance by Geno Vescovi.
There are three of here tonight that were in St. Louis in 1966 - Dave Myers, Doug Watson from Arkansas, and myself. I cannot speak for recent years, but I can assure you that in the early years one of the most popular parts of any PRWAD Conference was the business meeting and proper parliamentary procedure was adhered to with a vengeance!
One source of pride that the planning committee had was that the first slate of officers offered was made up of equal numbers of deaf persons and hearing persons.
The First Officers
The first officers of PRWAD were President James Whitworth (Georgia), Vice-president Bob Lauritsen (Minnesota), Second Vice-president Geno Vescovi (California), Treasurer Al Pimental (NTID), Secretary William Woodrick (Tennessee), and Board of Directors Gary Blake (Kansas City), Richard Johnson (Washington, DC), Alan Jones (deceased), and Mrs. Beatrice Lamb (deceased). Before leaving St. Louis, Roger Falberg was appointed as the first editor of a yet to be named journal. Again, with the assistance of Dr. Stephen Quigley, the first journal was published within the first year. The 1960s were not the day of Insty Prints or desktop publishing. Roger Falberg not only wrote numerous of the articles but he set, by hand in hot lead on linotype machines, the first editions of the Journal of the Rehabilitation of the Deaf . The first editions were published at the University of Illinois and then at the Missouri School for the Deaf. Glen Lloyd became the second editor of the Journal and Al Pimental was the first business manager.
The second slate of officers took place in 1967. Gary Blake became the President. I was the Vice-president, Dr. Stephen Quigley was the Second Vice-president, William Woodrick was Secretary, and Al Pimental was Treasurer. Board members were Glenn Lloyd (replaced by Norm Tully when Lloyd became editor of the Journal), Boyce Williams, Alan Jones, and Vic Galloway. Some folks think that I was the first President. I was not. I was the first Vice-president and during that term the President stepped down and I took over as Acting President. This also happened with the second group of officers. So I decided to run for President for the third election and won. I thought I would be done at the end of that term, but it was during that time that the board voted in the Board position of Past President, effectively keeping me on board for another two years.
The First Conferences
The first convention of PRWAD was in Pittsburgh in 1967, entitled "New Vistas for Competitive Employment of Deaf Persons." Eighty-eight persons were in attendance. The Council of Organizations Serving the Deaf (COSD) was in existence at that time, and Herb Pickell and Eugene Petersen were the first delegates of PRWAD to COSD.
In 1968, the membership reached 350 individuals due in large part to the efforts of Robert Gonzales. A newsletter was established with Larry Stewart as the first editor. The second national conference of PRWAD was held in Hot Springs, Arkansas in 1969. In the early days, national conferences followed federal funding. That is, if a university or rehabilitation facility had a federal grant, the odds that they would host a conference were quite high.
A Cherished Memory
At the Rochester, New York convention in 1970, the third conference, your officers had a "precious moment" I want to share with you (note: there was a time in our history when a lot of bombings were taking place). The convention was at the Flagship Hotel and our convention was punctuated with numerous bombings in the neighborhood. At that banquet we had a head table and there were 300 people in attendance. As we looked out over the banquet room, what we saw was about 25-30 banquet tables, and every table was made up of persons who were both deaf and hearing from a wide variety of disciplines. It was one of the most integrated settings we had ever seen, and those of us at the head table said, "Yeah! This is what PRWAD is all about!"
PRWAD: The Site for Federal Leadership and National Impact
The 1974 conference was held in Tucson. At that meeting in an after hours session around the hotel swimming pool, the first major national effort for training interpreters on a national level took place. Representatives from New York University (Jerry Schein), Gallaudet College (Lottie Reikof), California State University at Northridge (Ray Jones), The University of Tennessee (Bill Woodrick), Seattle Community College (Ron Lafayette), and St. Paul TVI (Bob Lauritsen) met with Jim Buress from RSA and Boyce Williams. We "created" the National Interpreter Training Consortium (NITC) that night which was the model for future federally funded interpreter training programs.
Another early contribution of PRWAD was the Model State Plan which was to undergo several changes with contributions by the National Association of the Deaf and New York University (Dr. Jerry Schein). The Model State Plan established the Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf (RCD) among other things.
Name Change
The name change from PRWAD to the American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association (ADARA) took place at the San Antonio meeting in 1977 with Rex Purvis (recently deceased) as President.
Finances
In the early 1980s, financial difficulties began. During the Steve Sligar's term as President in 1985-87, ADARA was in deep financial trouble. The National Association of the Deaf was assisting with financial and office management. This arrangement was not working out and Steve, with assistance from Gloria Wright, move the office to Little Rock, Arkansas. During these years, Sharon Carter was the Executive Director. Other Executive Directors included Art Norris and Charlie Hill. The position of Office Manager was established in the mid-1980s with Marie Huie assuming this position.
Financial Turn-Around
The 1987 ADARA Conference in Minnesota provided a financial turn-around with a profit of $30,000 being realized.
Awards
ADARA has three great awards: the Boyce Williams Award, the Fred Schreiber Award, and the Gene Petersen Award. How appropriate that these awards are in honor and memory of three great deaf men who changed in a positive way the lives of deaf people in the United States. Should another award be established, I would be presumptuous and suggest that the award be named in honor and in memory of another great Deaf American, Larry Stewart. Of the twenty three award winners, I know seventeen individuals. These are truly distinguished individuals and ADARA should take great pride in having recognized these persons.
Some of you may not be familiar with the beginnings of what you now call the Bell Flasher Award. My recollection of this award was that at the Washington DC Conference in 1972 (conference chairperson was Dr. Thomas Mayes), conference planners were struck by the excellence of so many presentations that were made during the conference. It seemed worthwhile to present an award to the outstanding presentation both as an award for the work people made in preparation for their presentation, but also to provide an incentive for continuing excellence in future conferences. The award was called the Bell Ringer Award going back in history to the 1870s and the invention of the telephone - Alexander Graham Bell.
Individual Contributions
Over the past thirty years, there have been numerous individuals who have made truly significant contributions to ADARA. This presentation would be quite lengthy if I were to name all of them. As I have thought back to my active time in ADARA, there is one name that keeps coming to mind. That is Craig Mills of Florida. Craig was head of the Florida Rehabilitation Services and was a master of all of Rehabilitation. Craig was one of those persons who could finger spell but could not master sign language. But he did understand the needs of deaf people. He was active in the National Rehabilitation Association and brought deafness into the mainstream of rehabilitation. He was a key person in expanding rehabilitation counseling services for deaf and hard of hearing people throughout the United States. He was instrumental in creating a section on Deafness in CSAVR. Craig Mills was a master at "personal inclusion" (perhaps he learned this from Boyce Williams!). In addition to getting Deafness into the national mainstream of rehabilitation, Craig got numerous individuals started in professional careers in deafness. Craig is the person who insured that Doug Watson entered the graduate programs at New York University under the leadership of Dr. Jerome D. Schein.
The Building Blocks
PRWAD/ADARA was built on a simple foundation. There was a great need in the 1960's to gather professionals together in local and national networks to work together to improve the lives of all deaf people in the United States. What a professional organization could offer were a variety of forums for dissemination and exchange of information. We tried to do that through: national conferences, publications (the Journal, the newsletter, and deafness annual publications), and involvement in policy making decisions at the state and federal level.
This tradition continues with ADARA. In 1997, you are continuing with the same organizational objectives. You as an organization have made the necessary changes to keep current with the changes in our society. You have your mission statement. You have your strategic plan. You have your publications. You have the national conferences. Milwaukee is your 16th conference. You are keeping current with your strategic plan. You have board priorities which include membership, fund raising, and legislation. You are continuing your efforts at self-improvement using focus groups and a variety of evaluation techniques.
A Simple Way to Evaluate
A very simple way to evaluate the effectiveness of any activity including an organization such as ADARA is to ask three simple questions. There are more sophisticated ways to evaluate, but this method works for me. The questions are:
What have I seen?
What have I learned?
What difference does it make?
In the early days as we asked these questions, we knew we were making a difference. As I have been here this week and observed the networking, the enthusiasm, and the passion for ADARA, it is an easy task to say that ADARA is making a positive difference. What I have seen here this week is a passion for ADARA. I saw your passion at your board meeting early in the week. I saw passion at the opening session on Wednesday morning with M.J. and Gay. Throughout the week, I floated and observed almost all sessions, and again I saw passion for ADARA. Each presentation I attended was a quality session. The overall planning of the Milwaukee conference involved a lot of passion with Alisha Bronk and Sue Kay Bailey and their co-workers planning and carrying out an excellent overall ADARA conference. There is no question in my mind that ADARA is alive and well. With Michele Berke taking the reigns as the 18th President of ADARA and your planning committee for the next ADARA conference in Washington DC in 1999 well underway, your future is in good hands.
Speaking for the Past Presidents of PRWAD/ADARA, thank you for keeping and growing the dreams of the 1960s into the next century.
"The 1960's, A Different Time"
By Robert R. Lauritsen
May 1997
For the next few minutes, I would like all of you to join me in a time shift back to the 1960's - more than 30 years ago. Try to think of what our world was like at that time. Color TV was just coming in, Deaf people were just getting the TTY - the big old clunkers donated by AT&T, NTID was still a dream, there were no regional postsecondary education programs (now changed in scope and mission), there was no RID, interpreters were essentially all CODAs, captioned TV was still years away. There were few services for deaf adults anywhere in the United States, nor the world. E-mail was more than 20 years away, fax machines had not been thought of, there was no Internet, World Wide Web, and no homepages. As we look around at our world today, we can almost think of the 1960s as the Dark Ages of American Technology.
The Beginning
But there was a spirit in the 1960s - a need was being felt to do something constructive for Deaf people. It all began with a conference held a Fort Monroe, Virginia in 1961. David Myers, then a Gallaudet student, long-time member of PRWAD/ADARA and now of Texas, was there as he is with us tonight. This was one of the first of hundreds of workshops, conventions, and conferences that were to be held throughout the coming decades. At Fort Monroe, deaf adults [and] lay people who worked for free came together and said more has to be done. Some of those early pioneers included Fred Schreiber, Dewey Coates, Gordon Allen, and Ed Carney. Boyce Williams, from Washington DC, was there providing a federal presence. These pioneers were not professionals in the field of Deafness. They were printers, teachers in residential schools, workers in aircraft factories and roofers. Those in attendance were local lay leaders who worked their crafts by day and served the Deaf community in the evenings and on weekends.
The early 1960s was a time in history when federal dollars began to flow for a wide variety of deafness activities including money for workshops. For a period of time, participants had all expenses paid by the federal government to attend these workshops. Boyce Williams, with the leadership of Mary Switzer, was deeply involved with the flow of federal funds that were utilized in the 1960s, the 1970s, and the 1980s for a wide variety of workshops in the area of Deafness. Special words of praise and admiration must be said for Boyce Williams, a deaf man from Kenosha, Wisconsin, teacher at the Indiana School for the Deaf, and the first deaf person to be employed at the federal level in Rehabilitation. Boyce was ever present for decades and all of us here tonight owe Boyce an eternal debt of gratitude for his leadership. Indeed, it can be said that if Boyce Williams had not been the guiding light for Deafness and Rehabilitation, it is doubtful if there would have been a PRWAD/ADARA and it is doubtful we would be here tonight in Milwaukee.
In October 1964, a national workshop was held in the Hotel Andrew Jackson in Knoxville, Tennessee entitled, "Improved Vocational Opportunities for Deaf People," which was a key workshop that lead to the establishment of NTID and the then three regional postsecondary education programs (Seattle Community College, Delgado, New Orleans, and St. Paul). In those early days a lot of "piggy back" meetings took place at national gatherings. Those of us involved always seemed to have second agendas. At an after-hours session in Knoxville on October 21 some thirty professionals and lay persons shared their concerns, their thoughts, and their dreams. From this beginning, a steering committee evolved which lead to the establishment of PRWAD (Professionals Rehabilitation Workers with the Adult Deaf) some 19 months later. Members of the early planning meeting included Gary Blake, William Woodrick, Roy Patton, William Craig, Norm Tully, Alan Jones, Roger Falberg, Farrell Mitchell, Geno Vescovi, James Whitworth, Boyce Williams, and myself.
The Official Birthdate
Enter Dr. Stephen Quigley, a prominent teacher trainer and researcher of the University of Illinois. Dr. Quigley was a master at securing federal funds. With assistance from Dr. Quigley, the steering committee obtained federal funds to hold a national workshop on Rehabilitation Casework Standards for the Deaf in St. Louis on May 23-27, 1966. This workshop provided the vehicle for yet another piggyback meeting to be held which established PRWAD. May 25, 1966 is the official birth date of this organization. Gary Blake chaired the organizational meeting, Doug Burke (now deceased) was the parliamentarian. The motion to establish the organization was by Dr. William Desmond Phillips and it was seconded by Edsel Ford. The initial by-laws were prepared by Roger Falberg and were presented with assistance by Geno Vescovi.
There are three of here tonight that were in St. Louis in 1966 - Dave Myers, Doug Watson from Arkansas, and myself. I cannot speak for recent years, but I can assure you that in the early years one of the most popular parts of any PRWAD Conference was the business meeting and proper parliamentary procedure was adhered to with a vengeance!
One source of pride that the planning committee had was that the first slate of officers offered was made up of equal numbers of deaf persons and hearing persons.
The First Officers
The first officers of PRWAD were President James Whitworth (Georgia), Vice-president Bob Lauritsen (Minnesota), Second Vice-president Geno Vescovi (California), Treasurer Al Pimental (NTID), Secretary William Woodrick (Tennessee), and Board of Directors Gary Blake (Kansas City), Richard Johnson (Washington, DC), Alan Jones (deceased), and Mrs. Beatrice Lamb (deceased). Before leaving St. Louis, Roger Falberg was appointed as the first editor of a yet to be named journal. Again, with the assistance of Dr. Stephen Quigley, the first journal was published within the first year. The 1960s were not the day of Insty Prints or desktop publishing. Roger Falberg not only wrote numerous of the articles but he set, by hand in hot lead on linotype machines, the first editions of the Journal of the Rehabilitation of the Deaf . The first editions were published at the University of Illinois and then at the Missouri School for the Deaf. Glen Lloyd became the second editor of the Journal and Al Pimental was the first business manager.
The second slate of officers took place in 1967. Gary Blake became the President. I was the Vice-president, Dr. Stephen Quigley was the Second Vice-president, William Woodrick was Secretary, and Al Pimental was Treasurer. Board members were Glenn Lloyd (replaced by Norm Tully when Lloyd became editor of the Journal), Boyce Williams, Alan Jones, and Vic Galloway. Some folks think that I was the first President. I was not. I was the first Vice-president and during that term the President stepped down and I took over as Acting President. This also happened with the second group of officers. So I decided to run for President for the third election and won. I thought I would be done at the end of that term, but it was during that time that the board voted in the Board position of Past President, effectively keeping me on board for another two years.
The First Conferences
The first convention of PRWAD was in Pittsburgh in 1967, entitled "New Vistas for Competitive Employment of Deaf Persons." Eighty-eight persons were in attendance. The Council of Organizations Serving the Deaf (COSD) was in existence at that time, and Herb Pickell and Eugene Petersen were the first delegates of PRWAD to COSD.
In 1968, the membership reached 350 individuals due in large part to the efforts of Robert Gonzales. A newsletter was established with Larry Stewart as the first editor. The second national conference of PRWAD was held in Hot Springs, Arkansas in 1969. In the early days, national conferences followed federal funding. That is, if a university or rehabilitation facility had a federal grant, the odds that they would host a conference were quite high.
A Cherished Memory
At the Rochester, New York convention in 1970, the third conference, your officers had a "precious moment" I want to share with you (note: there was a time in our history when a lot of bombings were taking place). The convention was at the Flagship Hotel and our convention was punctuated with numerous bombings in the neighborhood. At that banquet we had a head table and there were 300 people in attendance. As we looked out over the banquet room, what we saw was about 25-30 banquet tables, and every table was made up of persons who were both deaf and hearing from a wide variety of disciplines. It was one of the most integrated settings we had ever seen, and those of us at the head table said, "Yeah! This is what PRWAD is all about!"
PRWAD: The Site for Federal Leadership and National Impact
The 1974 conference was held in Tucson. At that meeting in an after hours session around the hotel swimming pool, the first major national effort for training interpreters on a national level took place. Representatives from New York University (Jerry Schein), Gallaudet College (Lottie Reikof), California State University at Northridge (Ray Jones), The University of Tennessee (Bill Woodrick), Seattle Community College (Ron Lafayette), and St. Paul TVI (Bob Lauritsen) met with Jim Buress from RSA and Boyce Williams. We "created" the National Interpreter Training Consortium (NITC) that night which was the model for future federally funded interpreter training programs.
Another early contribution of PRWAD was the Model State Plan which was to undergo several changes with contributions by the National Association of the Deaf and New York University (Dr. Jerry Schein). The Model State Plan established the Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf (RCD) among other things.
Name Change
The name change from PRWAD to the American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association (ADARA) took place at the San Antonio meeting in 1977 with Rex Purvis (recently deceased) as President.
Finances
In the early 1980s, financial difficulties began. During the Steve Sligar's term as President in 1985-87, ADARA was in deep financial trouble. The National Association of the Deaf was assisting with financial and office management. This arrangement was not working out and Steve, with assistance from Gloria Wright, move the office to Little Rock, Arkansas. During these years, Sharon Carter was the Executive Director. Other Executive Directors included Art Norris and Charlie Hill. The position of Office Manager was established in the mid-1980s with Marie Huie assuming this position.
Financial Turn-Around
The 1987 ADARA Conference in Minnesota provided a financial turn-around with a profit of $30,000 being realized.
Awards
ADARA has three great awards: the Boyce Williams Award, the Fred Schreiber Award, and the Gene Petersen Award. How appropriate that these awards are in honor and memory of three great deaf men who changed in a positive way the lives of deaf people in the United States. Should another award be established, I would be presumptuous and suggest that the award be named in honor and in memory of another great Deaf American, Larry Stewart. Of the twenty three award winners, I know seventeen individuals. These are truly distinguished individuals and ADARA should take great pride in having recognized these persons.
Some of you may not be familiar with the beginnings of what you now call the Bell Flasher Award. My recollection of this award was that at the Washington DC Conference in 1972 (conference chairperson was Dr. Thomas Mayes), conference planners were struck by the excellence of so many presentations that were made during the conference. It seemed worthwhile to present an award to the outstanding presentation both as an award for the work people made in preparation for their presentation, but also to provide an incentive for continuing excellence in future conferences. The award was called the Bell Ringer Award going back in history to the 1870s and the invention of the telephone - Alexander Graham Bell.
Individual Contributions
Over the past thirty years, there have been numerous individuals who have made truly significant contributions to ADARA. This presentation would be quite lengthy if I were to name all of them. As I have thought back to my active time in ADARA, there is one name that keeps coming to mind. That is Craig Mills of Florida. Craig was head of the Florida Rehabilitation Services and was a master of all of Rehabilitation. Craig was one of those persons who could finger spell but could not master sign language. But he did understand the needs of deaf people. He was active in the National Rehabilitation Association and brought deafness into the mainstream of rehabilitation. He was a key person in expanding rehabilitation counseling services for deaf and hard of hearing people throughout the United States. He was instrumental in creating a section on Deafness in CSAVR. Craig Mills was a master at "personal inclusion" (perhaps he learned this from Boyce Williams!). In addition to getting Deafness into the national mainstream of rehabilitation, Craig got numerous individuals started in professional careers in deafness. Craig is the person who insured that Doug Watson entered the graduate programs at New York University under the leadership of Dr. Jerome D. Schein.
The Building Blocks
PRWAD/ADARA was built on a simple foundation. There was a great need in the 1960's to gather professionals together in local and national networks to work together to improve the lives of all deaf people in the United States. What a professional organization could offer were a variety of forums for dissemination and exchange of information. We tried to do that through: national conferences, publications (the Journal, the newsletter, and deafness annual publications), and involvement in policy making decisions at the state and federal level.
This tradition continues with ADARA. In 1997, you are continuing with the same organizational objectives. You as an organization have made the necessary changes to keep current with the changes in our society. You have your mission statement. You have your strategic plan. You have your publications. You have the national conferences. Milwaukee is your 16th conference. You are keeping current with your strategic plan. You have board priorities which include membership, fund raising, and legislation. You are continuing your efforts at self-improvement using focus groups and a variety of evaluation techniques.
A Simple Way to Evaluate
A very simple way to evaluate the effectiveness of any activity including an organization such as ADARA is to ask three simple questions. There are more sophisticated ways to evaluate, but this method works for me. The questions are:
What have I seen?
What have I learned?
What difference does it make?
In the early days as we asked these questions, we knew we were making a difference. As I have been here this week and observed the networking, the enthusiasm, and the passion for ADARA, it is an easy task to say that ADARA is making a positive difference. What I have seen here this week is a passion for ADARA. I saw your passion at your board meeting early in the week. I saw passion at the opening session on Wednesday morning with M.J. and Gay. Throughout the week, I floated and observed almost all sessions, and again I saw passion for ADARA. Each presentation I attended was a quality session. The overall planning of the Milwaukee conference involved a lot of passion with Alisha Bronk and Sue Kay Bailey and their co-workers planning and carrying out an excellent overall ADARA conference. There is no question in my mind that ADARA is alive and well. With Michele Berke taking the reigns as the 18th President of ADARA and your planning committee for the next ADARA conference in Washington DC in 1999 well underway, your future is in good hands.
Speaking for the Past Presidents of PRWAD/ADARA, thank you for keeping and growing the dreams of the 1960s into the next century.
60 Years Strong: How ADARA is Painting the Future with the Wisdom of Its Past
By Kent Schafer
April 2026
As ADARA celebrates its 60th diamond anniversary this May, I find myself standing at one of those rare dizzying intersections where a long history meets a sudden, vast potential. If we are to have any hope of mapping the future of mental health and vocational rehabilitation, we really ought to look at the people who were out there clearing the brush long before we arrived.
In re-reading the history of ADARA, then paraphrasing to create a time machine back to May 1966, imagine a world that feels spectacularly inconvenient. Color television became a novelty for the Deaf Community without captions. High-tech meant you owned a thirty-pound TTY: no internet or social media. We had deaf clubs where conversations grew from those hallways. In this analog wilderness, the first Journal of the Rehabilitation of the Deaf was born. It wasn't produced by influencers or thought leaders. The pioneers were people with grease under their fingernails, the printers, factory workers, and roofers. These were local lay leaders who spent their daylight hours mastering a trade and their evenings and weekends building a movement. They broke ceilings where accessibility did not exist.
At the center of this was Boyce Williams. He didn't just advocate; he effectively willed the professional field into existence. He secured the federal funding that turned a group of passionate volunteers into a disciplined profession. Here I am, serving as the 25th president of the ADARA generation, left to reminisce about the good old days of PRWAD (Professionals Rehabilitation Workers with the Adult Deaf), then ADARA (American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association), as we lead towards the 60th anniversary.
By looking up the inaugural volume of the Journal of Rehabilitation of the Deaf (1967), I see it serves as a foundational map for a field that was discovering its own borders. Boyce set the tone, opening up the volume with "Challenge and Opportunity," a title that carries the weary yet hopeful energy of a pioneer surveying a vast, unplowed field. This effort was followed by Sidney Hurwitz's argument for integrating social work into the vocational regime and Larry Stewart's seminal exploration of the "Social Dilemma of the Deaf Professional Counselor", a piece that shifted the gaze from being the eternal client towards the complex identity of finally being a provider. Technical rigor was introduced by Albert Pimentel through the "TOWER System" as a diagnostic tool. At the same time, Goetzinger codified the human element of the rehabilitative bond in counseling, and Joseph P. Youngs Jr. highlighted the burgeoning need for professional interpreting in the field of rehabilitation and what defines a good interpreter, just three years after Ball State. Ball State was a watershed moment in 1964 that fundamentally changed how communication access is provided. Imagine a workshop held from June 14–17, 1964, at Ball State Teachers College (now Ball State University) in Muncie, Indiana. This event is widely considered the "Big Bang" of professional sign language interpreting and of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID).
Alongside this historical review, I had the privilege of speaking with several past ADARA presidents. The breadth of insight and stories they shared could easily fill a book; what appears here is only a small selection. Their stories add texture to the written record, reminding us that this history was not only documented but lived.
Collectively, these works represent the transition of PRWAD/ADARA's first community movement to professionalize services into a structured, multidisciplinary science. The first conference report raised concerns about developing case studies while de-identifying clients with care, given the small size of the Deaf Community. All of these can be found in our Journal of the American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association (JADARA) repository. Go peek and share what you find. Greg Long (President 1991–1993) recalls that before the internet made such searches easy, the Mental Health Section had to build the map itself. With the power of the ADARA network, he led the creation of the first Directory of Mental Health Services for Deaf Persons in 1987, a monumental collaborative effort that made services visible and accessible for the first time.
As Michele Berke (1997-1999) shared, "A lot can happen in 60 years! Names change, logos change, people change…but one thing that hasn't changed is ADARA's commitment to supporting professionals who are on the front lines of working with Deaf individuals in various capacities. By providing this connection, ADARA is changing lives."
The Digital Frontier
Today, we find ourselves navigating a digital divide that has less to do with the quality of our information and everything to do with the invisible speed of its arrival. It's a strange new frontier where a lack of tools doesn't cause the isolation, but by the dizzying complexity and over-reliance on technology. If you aren't holding a map or at least a very sturdy GPS, it's remarkably easy to feel left behind in the analog.
We've traded the mechanical struggle of coaxing a donated, thirty-pound TTY into life for a much more subtle set of challenges. We no longer worry about the hardware; instead, we wrestle with the ghosts in the machine and their algorithms. We are looking at the accessibility of artificial intelligence (AI), whether it's translating text or capturing the fluid nuances of sign language, and at how remote technologies might be harnessed. Sign language and AI will have their first conference in April 2026 to build standards and expand access. (https://www.slxai.org/)
The digital frontier is now an instrument of strategic influence. They are the nudges that keep us aligned with our mission, ensuring that ADARA doesn't just survive the next sixty years but actually achieves great things. The goal is to ensure that while the service becomes more virtual, our impact remains.
The Architects
For many of our past presidents, ADARA wasn't just a line on a CV; it was a sprawling, multi-decade art project. Marcia Kolvitz (1999–2001) remembers the 1977 San Antonio conference as the moment the organization shed its original skin (PRWAD) and emerged as ADARA. It was a shift from a narrow focus on vocational rehabilitation to a multidisciplinary model by inviting everyone to the party. As Kolvitz notes, "No one does it alone."
Steve Larew (1995–1997) recalls the pivotal 1993 San Francisco Conference as his orientation to the board, where a strong advocacy group demanded that all presentations be in ASL with no simultaneous communication (SimCom). This surprise request was a catalyst for change; the board complied, asking all presenters to either sign in ASL or use an interpreter. These modifications set a standard for linguistic accessibility that remains a cornerstone of the organization today.
Larew also highlights the profound honor of recognizing excellence in the field. During his tenure, he informed giants like Dr. Glenn B. Anderson (1995), Dr. William McCrone (1997), and later Dr. Alan Sussman (1999) that they had received the Boyce R. Williams Award. For Larew, meeting these architects of the field in person, the very people whose books and articles he studied in grad school, was the highlight of his ADARA experience.
Charlene Crump (2015-2017) recalls that this inclusivity wasn't always the norm. When she was first introduced to the concept of ADARA, it was often strictly considered a Vocational Rehabilitation organization. "I was told it wasn't for me," she says, "as it was an organization targeted to rehabilitation counselors, not interpreters." Seeing the organization break down those silos to broaden its scope to include interpreters as a practice profession has been one of the most uplifting evolutions of her career.
Michelle Niehaus (2013–2015) echoes this, noting that rather than clinging to the past, leaders nurtured a culture that welcomed new people and ideas, even as a first-time attendee in 2001 in Monterey, California. She observes that ADARA's holistic approach methodically addressed intersection long before it became a buzzword, shifting the focus from strictly state-run vocational agencies to a vibrant presence of behavioral health providers and non-profits. Tim Beatty's (2007–2009) career trajectory mirrors this growth. Starting as an RCD and moving into federal roles in Independent Living, Tim saw the expansion of fields within ADARA as 'positive growth due to the need to understand each other and work together for the common good.' For him, the organization provided the 'wealth of information and networking' that fueled his rise into national advisory committees.
Nancy Carr's (2001-2003) presidency also marked a period of navigating shifting linguistic and legislative landscapes. She recalls a time when the U.S. Department of Education used the term "low functioning adults who were deaf," a phrase that ADARA pushed to replace with more culturally competent frameworks. Under her leadership, the Board prioritized local interaction by rotating meeting locations to engage with chapters. This era of advocacy culminated in a joint lobbying effort in D.C., where ADARA honored Senator Harkin and Congressman Walsh for the passage of the "Infant Hearing Screening Act."
Greg Long witnessed this evolution firsthand. Joining in 1985 when the organization was primarily a vocational rehab community, he was part of the 'newer wave' bringing a mental health focus. For Greg, "the shift toward behavioral health felt like a natural evolution of ADARA's multidisciplinary strength."
Nancy Carr vividly remembers that same era. Her journey began at the 1985 Little Rock conference, where the cocktail reception was held on the grounds of the Governor's Mansion, hosted by then-Governor Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary Clinton. Inspired by that energy, Nancy and her colleagues formed the New York City Chapter and successfully bid to host the 1989 national conference at the World Trade Center's VISTA hotel. For Nancy, the keynote by Dr. Frank Bowe and the time spent in that building made the events of 9/11 feel like a deeply personal loss to the ADARA family.
Steve Hamerdinger (2005–2007) describes standing on the shoulders of giants like Sussman, McCrone, and Stewart, names that carry the weight of legend in these circles. "I met just about everyone who was anyone in deaf mental health through ADARA," he recalls. It turns out that ADARA wasn't just an association; it was a high-stakes networking event that actually worked.
This evolution, moving from fixing a job to supporting the whole person, was a pivotal stroke on the canvas. Theresa Johnson (2003–2005) spent twelve years on the board, finding a family that defined her career. It's a sentiment echoed by Steven Sligar (1985–1987), who viewed ADARA as a home where professionals, regardless of their hearing status, could find something rarer than a good pension: genuine fellowship. Gerry Buckley (1989–1991) reminds us that beyond policy and professional expansion, ADARA has always been something more personal. As Gerry puts it, "ADARA means friendship, support, and kinship with professionals serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. It is a community of professionals who care deeply for their clients and for one another. My networking roots and lifelong relationships were formed through ADARA, and I remain grateful."
Leadership in a Storm
Sometimes, leadership isn't about a grand vision; it's about not panicking when the lights go out. Deb Guthmann (1993–1995) faced a trial by fire in 1987 when she agreed to chair a conference for an organization she hadn't even joined yet, a move that is either remarkably brave or delightfully impulsive. She helped pull the national body back from financial ruin, learning that compromise isn't about watering down an idea, but about refining it through the collective wisdom of the group. Tim Beatty lived this refinement firsthand. He navigated the transition from an era of robust SAMHSA funding and a staffed home office to a leaner period that required new partnerships. He recalls being inspired by a board that 'stayed focused on making ADARA strong and viable throughout the changes,' proving that the organization's heart wasn't in its office space, but in its people.
Decades later, Damara Paris (2019–2021) and Stephen Roldan (2021–2023) navigated the ultimate storm: a global pandemic. They traded hotel ballrooms for the robust webinars, a pivot that allowed professionals to earn CEUs without the joy of airport security. As Roldan notes, this era also forced a shift in focus toward the acceptance of mental health issues, especially depression and anxiety, ensuring the organization stayed relevant when the world felt most disconnected.
Makoto Ikegami (2023–2025) shared reflections on the 2024 ADARA Conference in Atlanta. He observed that while telehealth and digital tools have transformed our work, the human element remains irreplaceable; ADARA continues to prioritize the unique power of in-person connection. Ikegami also celebrated the organization's increasing diversity, reminding members that our field's strength lies in collective impact rather than individual accolades. Looking toward the future, he highlighted the 2026 debut of the Glenn B. Anderson Award, a landmark initiative designed to mentor and support the next generation of leaders by recognizing an emerging professional who has made outstanding contributions in the rehabilitation and behavioral health arenas within ten years of graduation.
I (Kent Schafer, 2025-2027) discovered ADARA through the power of Google. I was a school psychologist wanting to share our grant work on adolescent suicide prevention with a community that understood the nuances of our field and challenged myself to learn more. I didn't realize then that I was searching for a professional home. For Greg Long, that home was built on a foundation of family. His path to ADARA began with his brother, who is Deaf and multiply disabled. 'He remains the heart of my commitment to this population,' Greg shares, noting that ADARA provided a rare professional space where expertise and deep personal commitment met. I agree, Greg. Who knew that ten years after discovering ADARA through Google, I would be serving as the 25th President? It proves that ADARA isn't a closed circle; it's an open door for anyone with a mission and a Wi-Fi connection.
The Evolution of the Craft
The picture of the future has evolved from a room full of state VR directors to a digital, global collective. Larew notes that during his term, ADARA assumed responsibility for hosting the "Breakout" conferences, which focused on mental health services. Originally planned by state providers whose funding had dried up, these conferences were essential but expensive to host in person. In a precursor to our modern digital shift, Steve notes that as technology improved, the board transitioned these needs to online formats, lowering costs and increasing accessibility for members. Yet Marcia Kolvitz reminds us that the most enduring parts of ADARA often happen in the gray areas, in hallway chats, and in the exhibit hall loitering. "How many projects," she asks, "were stimulated by those kinds of interactions? I can certainly agree with Marcia. For me, a single conversation in an ADARA hallway led to the offer of a Ph.D. scholarship in Psychology, a moment that prompted me to relocate to the south for the first time and dedicate my career to advancing our shared causes. This kind of serendipity is woven into our DNA; the history section of ADARA's webpage even notes that an after-hours session around a hotel swimming pool in 1974 gave birth to the National Interpreter Training Consortium (NITC). This serendipity extended to the halls of Gallaudet in 2004. Nancy Carr recalls staying in the residence halls during the opening week of the World War II Memorial when D.C. hotels were at capacity. On a summer morning, she encountered a group of Veterans who knew nothing of the university's history. After Nancy gave them a brief tour of the campus, they expressed that the beauty and history of Gallaudet gave "extra meaning to their service" as a powerful reminder that ADARA's presence in D.C. often bridges communities in unexpected ways.
This spirit of partnership is what Crump identifies as ADARA's greatest strength: the embrace of a cross-disciplinary approach. She notes that by increasing our understanding of how other disciplines, such as interpreting, relate to clinical and vocational disciplines, we can improve our ability to provide services in a streamlined capacity. This cultural shift, seeing Deafness not as a medical problem to be solved, but as a culture to be celebrated, turned ADARA into a sanctuary. By bringing in more partners, ADARA has effectively put the focus back on what matters most: the people being served. Steve Sligar recalls an era when the membership was largely monolithic, hearing only white male administrators. Today, the painting is far more colorful, spanning interns, researchers, interpreters, practitioners, and educators from every conceivable background. In 2019, with John Gournaris (2017–2019) spearheading efforts, ADARA further advanced its cross-disciplinary initiatives by co-hosting a joint conference in Baltimore with another vital organization, the Association of Medical Professionals with Hearing Losses (AMPHL). The conference convened members of both organizations to address shared barriers through the exchange of information, ideas, and resources, fostering more effective solutions. This collaboration led to AMPHL members contributing several important articles to ADARA's professional journal, JADARA, in the following years.
Niehaus views this diversity as a kaleidoscope that makes the organization better, noting a significant increase in Deaf leadership and ASL-centric events. Beyond leadership, she highlights the academic evolution. ADARA has been instrumental in moving the field from having sparse data to seeing members' work featured in a wide variety of peer-reviewed publications. I agree, as JADARA offers our scholars an opportunity to publish.
This evolution, moving from fixing a job to supporting the whole person, was a pivotal stroke on the canvas. We call this systems-thinking. It is the shift from mere standardized compliance to achieving equitable outcomes. We are looking at the recovery capital of the individuals we serve, ensuring that the future of our clinical frameworks and our technology, from quite possibly AI-augmented interpreting to somatic trauma support work, as a unified ecosystem rather than a collection of silos.
The Enduring Architecture
Despite the 2026 bells and whistles, the building blocks remain stubbornly, wonderfully the same. Having served during a time when ADARA was the key national voice in Deaf/HH services, Gerry Buckley offers a reflection that feels both retrospective and prophetic: "During the 1980s and 1990s, ADARA was active locally and nationally. We could access members of Congress and policymakers in the Department of Education. Conferences were vibrant as we evolved from a vocational focus toward a broader human services and mental health emphasis." Whether it's 1966 or 2026, the mission is still about gathering professionals to improve lives. We've simply traded the hotel swimming pool for the high-speed fiber-optic cable. We aren't just checking boxes for vocational rehabilitation anymore; we are looking at the system of care (mental health, language access, becoming taxpayers, and technology) as a unified whole. The tools have changed, but the spirit of those roofers and printers remains the palette with which we paint the future.
True leadership isn't just about watching from your couch; it's about having the imagination to paint a future that people actually want to live in. By reaching out to our past presidents, we find more than just a list of names; we find a vibrant, sometimes messy, and utterly essential palette of stories that inform our tomorrow. It is fascinating for this author (Kent) to learn that we have evolved from a modest group rooted in vocational rehabilitation into a sprawling, multidisciplinary force. It's been a long walk, paved by individuals who didn't care much for titles but cared a great deal about blazing trails and creating a canvas.
Deb Guthmann marvels at the beautiful evolution from smoke-filled hotel rooms to monthly Zoom meetings. By going digital, ADARA didn't just solve a scheduling headache; it broke down the economic barriers to leadership. John Gournaris took this a step further by advocating for digitizing decades of JADARA issues dating back to the 1960s. He ensured that the hallway conversations and scholarly breakthroughs of the past weren't lost to dusty basement boxes but were instead made fiscally sound and accessible. ADARA now proudly houses The Dr. Irene W. Leigh Digital JADARA Library.
The Legacy of the Trailblazers
As I see it, dear readers, we cannot talk about the trail without honoring those who cleared it. Of those who have shuffled their mortal coil to advocate in the great big sky, one will be joining them soon. At the time of this writing, Barry Critchfield (2011–2013) is in memory care. He remains a titan for this writer (Kent), who had the opportunity to work with him. His 2002 white paper famously argued that traditional systems fail Deaf consumers by ignoring the cultural nuances of ASL. We see Barry's disciples everywhere today, proving that a leader's greatest work isn't a report, but the people they inspire.
As Theresa Johnson puts it: "I learned so much from others... and learned the great value of giving back to your field." Are you ready to give back?
For me, that 'giving back' is about lowering the ladder for those behind us. This giving back led ADARA to establish a scholarship program to bring 10 aspiring students to our 2026 Conference in Salt Lake City. We aren't just inviting them to watch; we are investing in them to lead us into the future. ADARA exists because our community spans every generation, and we want to ensure that the financial barrier isn't what keeps the next President out of the room.
A Call to the Next Generation
After 60 years, ADARA is more than a set of bylaws. It is both a training ground and a sanctuary sustained by a community that spans generations. Tim Beatty still keeps his ADARA plaques in a prominent spot on his office wall, a testament to a journey that began in 1981 when Gerry Buckley encouraged him to join. From Treasurer to President, Tim's legacy is a reminder that the small act of inviting a colleague to join can lead to a lifetime of leadership and success.
As he enters retirement, Gerry Buckley offers this reflection:
"ADARA has evolved alongside the field it serves. Our leadership is increasingly diverse, and today's funding challenges call for creativity and innovation. I applaud our current leaders and cheer you on as I step into retirement. Blessings to all members."
To the professionals among us: ADARA is your palette. Whether you are seeking your "Minnesota Moment," like Deb Guthmann, or a professional home, like Steve Hamerdinger, this is where you find your tools and your community. As Marcia Kolvitz reminds us, "Volunteers keep the organization viable." Showing up as an officer, reviewer, presenter, or committee member connects you directly to the heartbeat of this field.
What will you choose to contribute to the canvas?
For Michelle Niehaus, the true value of ADARA lies in the trusted professional allies and accomplices found within its membership. She has utilized ADARA conferences and workshops as a vital vetting ground for presenters at in-state events, finding immense value in a community where state behavioral health leaders can honestly exchange both successful strategies and shared struggles. These deep-rooted connections have opened doors to significant scholarly contributions, including invitations to join research projects, co-author journal articles, and draft book chapters. She credits the organization with fostering a unique spirit of talent-sharing without the friction of competition, defining ADARA through three central pillars: connection, collaboration, and collective action.
The picture is far from finished. ADARA represents a long tradition of individuals striving for excellence while lifting others along the way, a foundation built on strong alliances and a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve. As our past presidents look toward our organization's 60th diamond anniversary, they offer a tribute to the lifelong friends made through this work and to the vital role each member plays. Their mantra serves as a fitting guide for the road ahead.
By Kent Schafer
April 2026
As ADARA celebrates its 60th diamond anniversary this May, I find myself standing at one of those rare dizzying intersections where a long history meets a sudden, vast potential. If we are to have any hope of mapping the future of mental health and vocational rehabilitation, we really ought to look at the people who were out there clearing the brush long before we arrived.
In re-reading the history of ADARA, then paraphrasing to create a time machine back to May 1966, imagine a world that feels spectacularly inconvenient. Color television became a novelty for the Deaf Community without captions. High-tech meant you owned a thirty-pound TTY: no internet or social media. We had deaf clubs where conversations grew from those hallways. In this analog wilderness, the first Journal of the Rehabilitation of the Deaf was born. It wasn't produced by influencers or thought leaders. The pioneers were people with grease under their fingernails, the printers, factory workers, and roofers. These were local lay leaders who spent their daylight hours mastering a trade and their evenings and weekends building a movement. They broke ceilings where accessibility did not exist.
At the center of this was Boyce Williams. He didn't just advocate; he effectively willed the professional field into existence. He secured the federal funding that turned a group of passionate volunteers into a disciplined profession. Here I am, serving as the 25th president of the ADARA generation, left to reminisce about the good old days of PRWAD (Professionals Rehabilitation Workers with the Adult Deaf), then ADARA (American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association), as we lead towards the 60th anniversary.
By looking up the inaugural volume of the Journal of Rehabilitation of the Deaf (1967), I see it serves as a foundational map for a field that was discovering its own borders. Boyce set the tone, opening up the volume with "Challenge and Opportunity," a title that carries the weary yet hopeful energy of a pioneer surveying a vast, unplowed field. This effort was followed by Sidney Hurwitz's argument for integrating social work into the vocational regime and Larry Stewart's seminal exploration of the "Social Dilemma of the Deaf Professional Counselor", a piece that shifted the gaze from being the eternal client towards the complex identity of finally being a provider. Technical rigor was introduced by Albert Pimentel through the "TOWER System" as a diagnostic tool. At the same time, Goetzinger codified the human element of the rehabilitative bond in counseling, and Joseph P. Youngs Jr. highlighted the burgeoning need for professional interpreting in the field of rehabilitation and what defines a good interpreter, just three years after Ball State. Ball State was a watershed moment in 1964 that fundamentally changed how communication access is provided. Imagine a workshop held from June 14–17, 1964, at Ball State Teachers College (now Ball State University) in Muncie, Indiana. This event is widely considered the "Big Bang" of professional sign language interpreting and of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID).
Alongside this historical review, I had the privilege of speaking with several past ADARA presidents. The breadth of insight and stories they shared could easily fill a book; what appears here is only a small selection. Their stories add texture to the written record, reminding us that this history was not only documented but lived.
Collectively, these works represent the transition of PRWAD/ADARA's first community movement to professionalize services into a structured, multidisciplinary science. The first conference report raised concerns about developing case studies while de-identifying clients with care, given the small size of the Deaf Community. All of these can be found in our Journal of the American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association (JADARA) repository. Go peek and share what you find. Greg Long (President 1991–1993) recalls that before the internet made such searches easy, the Mental Health Section had to build the map itself. With the power of the ADARA network, he led the creation of the first Directory of Mental Health Services for Deaf Persons in 1987, a monumental collaborative effort that made services visible and accessible for the first time.
As Michele Berke (1997-1999) shared, "A lot can happen in 60 years! Names change, logos change, people change…but one thing that hasn't changed is ADARA's commitment to supporting professionals who are on the front lines of working with Deaf individuals in various capacities. By providing this connection, ADARA is changing lives."
The Digital Frontier
Today, we find ourselves navigating a digital divide that has less to do with the quality of our information and everything to do with the invisible speed of its arrival. It's a strange new frontier where a lack of tools doesn't cause the isolation, but by the dizzying complexity and over-reliance on technology. If you aren't holding a map or at least a very sturdy GPS, it's remarkably easy to feel left behind in the analog.
We've traded the mechanical struggle of coaxing a donated, thirty-pound TTY into life for a much more subtle set of challenges. We no longer worry about the hardware; instead, we wrestle with the ghosts in the machine and their algorithms. We are looking at the accessibility of artificial intelligence (AI), whether it's translating text or capturing the fluid nuances of sign language, and at how remote technologies might be harnessed. Sign language and AI will have their first conference in April 2026 to build standards and expand access. (https://www.slxai.org/)
The digital frontier is now an instrument of strategic influence. They are the nudges that keep us aligned with our mission, ensuring that ADARA doesn't just survive the next sixty years but actually achieves great things. The goal is to ensure that while the service becomes more virtual, our impact remains.
The Architects
For many of our past presidents, ADARA wasn't just a line on a CV; it was a sprawling, multi-decade art project. Marcia Kolvitz (1999–2001) remembers the 1977 San Antonio conference as the moment the organization shed its original skin (PRWAD) and emerged as ADARA. It was a shift from a narrow focus on vocational rehabilitation to a multidisciplinary model by inviting everyone to the party. As Kolvitz notes, "No one does it alone."
Steve Larew (1995–1997) recalls the pivotal 1993 San Francisco Conference as his orientation to the board, where a strong advocacy group demanded that all presentations be in ASL with no simultaneous communication (SimCom). This surprise request was a catalyst for change; the board complied, asking all presenters to either sign in ASL or use an interpreter. These modifications set a standard for linguistic accessibility that remains a cornerstone of the organization today.
Larew also highlights the profound honor of recognizing excellence in the field. During his tenure, he informed giants like Dr. Glenn B. Anderson (1995), Dr. William McCrone (1997), and later Dr. Alan Sussman (1999) that they had received the Boyce R. Williams Award. For Larew, meeting these architects of the field in person, the very people whose books and articles he studied in grad school, was the highlight of his ADARA experience.
Charlene Crump (2015-2017) recalls that this inclusivity wasn't always the norm. When she was first introduced to the concept of ADARA, it was often strictly considered a Vocational Rehabilitation organization. "I was told it wasn't for me," she says, "as it was an organization targeted to rehabilitation counselors, not interpreters." Seeing the organization break down those silos to broaden its scope to include interpreters as a practice profession has been one of the most uplifting evolutions of her career.
Michelle Niehaus (2013–2015) echoes this, noting that rather than clinging to the past, leaders nurtured a culture that welcomed new people and ideas, even as a first-time attendee in 2001 in Monterey, California. She observes that ADARA's holistic approach methodically addressed intersection long before it became a buzzword, shifting the focus from strictly state-run vocational agencies to a vibrant presence of behavioral health providers and non-profits. Tim Beatty's (2007–2009) career trajectory mirrors this growth. Starting as an RCD and moving into federal roles in Independent Living, Tim saw the expansion of fields within ADARA as 'positive growth due to the need to understand each other and work together for the common good.' For him, the organization provided the 'wealth of information and networking' that fueled his rise into national advisory committees.
Nancy Carr's (2001-2003) presidency also marked a period of navigating shifting linguistic and legislative landscapes. She recalls a time when the U.S. Department of Education used the term "low functioning adults who were deaf," a phrase that ADARA pushed to replace with more culturally competent frameworks. Under her leadership, the Board prioritized local interaction by rotating meeting locations to engage with chapters. This era of advocacy culminated in a joint lobbying effort in D.C., where ADARA honored Senator Harkin and Congressman Walsh for the passage of the "Infant Hearing Screening Act."
Greg Long witnessed this evolution firsthand. Joining in 1985 when the organization was primarily a vocational rehab community, he was part of the 'newer wave' bringing a mental health focus. For Greg, "the shift toward behavioral health felt like a natural evolution of ADARA's multidisciplinary strength."
Nancy Carr vividly remembers that same era. Her journey began at the 1985 Little Rock conference, where the cocktail reception was held on the grounds of the Governor's Mansion, hosted by then-Governor Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary Clinton. Inspired by that energy, Nancy and her colleagues formed the New York City Chapter and successfully bid to host the 1989 national conference at the World Trade Center's VISTA hotel. For Nancy, the keynote by Dr. Frank Bowe and the time spent in that building made the events of 9/11 feel like a deeply personal loss to the ADARA family.
Steve Hamerdinger (2005–2007) describes standing on the shoulders of giants like Sussman, McCrone, and Stewart, names that carry the weight of legend in these circles. "I met just about everyone who was anyone in deaf mental health through ADARA," he recalls. It turns out that ADARA wasn't just an association; it was a high-stakes networking event that actually worked.
This evolution, moving from fixing a job to supporting the whole person, was a pivotal stroke on the canvas. Theresa Johnson (2003–2005) spent twelve years on the board, finding a family that defined her career. It's a sentiment echoed by Steven Sligar (1985–1987), who viewed ADARA as a home where professionals, regardless of their hearing status, could find something rarer than a good pension: genuine fellowship. Gerry Buckley (1989–1991) reminds us that beyond policy and professional expansion, ADARA has always been something more personal. As Gerry puts it, "ADARA means friendship, support, and kinship with professionals serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. It is a community of professionals who care deeply for their clients and for one another. My networking roots and lifelong relationships were formed through ADARA, and I remain grateful."
Leadership in a Storm
Sometimes, leadership isn't about a grand vision; it's about not panicking when the lights go out. Deb Guthmann (1993–1995) faced a trial by fire in 1987 when she agreed to chair a conference for an organization she hadn't even joined yet, a move that is either remarkably brave or delightfully impulsive. She helped pull the national body back from financial ruin, learning that compromise isn't about watering down an idea, but about refining it through the collective wisdom of the group. Tim Beatty lived this refinement firsthand. He navigated the transition from an era of robust SAMHSA funding and a staffed home office to a leaner period that required new partnerships. He recalls being inspired by a board that 'stayed focused on making ADARA strong and viable throughout the changes,' proving that the organization's heart wasn't in its office space, but in its people.
Decades later, Damara Paris (2019–2021) and Stephen Roldan (2021–2023) navigated the ultimate storm: a global pandemic. They traded hotel ballrooms for the robust webinars, a pivot that allowed professionals to earn CEUs without the joy of airport security. As Roldan notes, this era also forced a shift in focus toward the acceptance of mental health issues, especially depression and anxiety, ensuring the organization stayed relevant when the world felt most disconnected.
Makoto Ikegami (2023–2025) shared reflections on the 2024 ADARA Conference in Atlanta. He observed that while telehealth and digital tools have transformed our work, the human element remains irreplaceable; ADARA continues to prioritize the unique power of in-person connection. Ikegami also celebrated the organization's increasing diversity, reminding members that our field's strength lies in collective impact rather than individual accolades. Looking toward the future, he highlighted the 2026 debut of the Glenn B. Anderson Award, a landmark initiative designed to mentor and support the next generation of leaders by recognizing an emerging professional who has made outstanding contributions in the rehabilitation and behavioral health arenas within ten years of graduation.
I (Kent Schafer, 2025-2027) discovered ADARA through the power of Google. I was a school psychologist wanting to share our grant work on adolescent suicide prevention with a community that understood the nuances of our field and challenged myself to learn more. I didn't realize then that I was searching for a professional home. For Greg Long, that home was built on a foundation of family. His path to ADARA began with his brother, who is Deaf and multiply disabled. 'He remains the heart of my commitment to this population,' Greg shares, noting that ADARA provided a rare professional space where expertise and deep personal commitment met. I agree, Greg. Who knew that ten years after discovering ADARA through Google, I would be serving as the 25th President? It proves that ADARA isn't a closed circle; it's an open door for anyone with a mission and a Wi-Fi connection.
The Evolution of the Craft
The picture of the future has evolved from a room full of state VR directors to a digital, global collective. Larew notes that during his term, ADARA assumed responsibility for hosting the "Breakout" conferences, which focused on mental health services. Originally planned by state providers whose funding had dried up, these conferences were essential but expensive to host in person. In a precursor to our modern digital shift, Steve notes that as technology improved, the board transitioned these needs to online formats, lowering costs and increasing accessibility for members. Yet Marcia Kolvitz reminds us that the most enduring parts of ADARA often happen in the gray areas, in hallway chats, and in the exhibit hall loitering. "How many projects," she asks, "were stimulated by those kinds of interactions? I can certainly agree with Marcia. For me, a single conversation in an ADARA hallway led to the offer of a Ph.D. scholarship in Psychology, a moment that prompted me to relocate to the south for the first time and dedicate my career to advancing our shared causes. This kind of serendipity is woven into our DNA; the history section of ADARA's webpage even notes that an after-hours session around a hotel swimming pool in 1974 gave birth to the National Interpreter Training Consortium (NITC). This serendipity extended to the halls of Gallaudet in 2004. Nancy Carr recalls staying in the residence halls during the opening week of the World War II Memorial when D.C. hotels were at capacity. On a summer morning, she encountered a group of Veterans who knew nothing of the university's history. After Nancy gave them a brief tour of the campus, they expressed that the beauty and history of Gallaudet gave "extra meaning to their service" as a powerful reminder that ADARA's presence in D.C. often bridges communities in unexpected ways.
This spirit of partnership is what Crump identifies as ADARA's greatest strength: the embrace of a cross-disciplinary approach. She notes that by increasing our understanding of how other disciplines, such as interpreting, relate to clinical and vocational disciplines, we can improve our ability to provide services in a streamlined capacity. This cultural shift, seeing Deafness not as a medical problem to be solved, but as a culture to be celebrated, turned ADARA into a sanctuary. By bringing in more partners, ADARA has effectively put the focus back on what matters most: the people being served. Steve Sligar recalls an era when the membership was largely monolithic, hearing only white male administrators. Today, the painting is far more colorful, spanning interns, researchers, interpreters, practitioners, and educators from every conceivable background. In 2019, with John Gournaris (2017–2019) spearheading efforts, ADARA further advanced its cross-disciplinary initiatives by co-hosting a joint conference in Baltimore with another vital organization, the Association of Medical Professionals with Hearing Losses (AMPHL). The conference convened members of both organizations to address shared barriers through the exchange of information, ideas, and resources, fostering more effective solutions. This collaboration led to AMPHL members contributing several important articles to ADARA's professional journal, JADARA, in the following years.
Niehaus views this diversity as a kaleidoscope that makes the organization better, noting a significant increase in Deaf leadership and ASL-centric events. Beyond leadership, she highlights the academic evolution. ADARA has been instrumental in moving the field from having sparse data to seeing members' work featured in a wide variety of peer-reviewed publications. I agree, as JADARA offers our scholars an opportunity to publish.
This evolution, moving from fixing a job to supporting the whole person, was a pivotal stroke on the canvas. We call this systems-thinking. It is the shift from mere standardized compliance to achieving equitable outcomes. We are looking at the recovery capital of the individuals we serve, ensuring that the future of our clinical frameworks and our technology, from quite possibly AI-augmented interpreting to somatic trauma support work, as a unified ecosystem rather than a collection of silos.
The Enduring Architecture
Despite the 2026 bells and whistles, the building blocks remain stubbornly, wonderfully the same. Having served during a time when ADARA was the key national voice in Deaf/HH services, Gerry Buckley offers a reflection that feels both retrospective and prophetic: "During the 1980s and 1990s, ADARA was active locally and nationally. We could access members of Congress and policymakers in the Department of Education. Conferences were vibrant as we evolved from a vocational focus toward a broader human services and mental health emphasis." Whether it's 1966 or 2026, the mission is still about gathering professionals to improve lives. We've simply traded the hotel swimming pool for the high-speed fiber-optic cable. We aren't just checking boxes for vocational rehabilitation anymore; we are looking at the system of care (mental health, language access, becoming taxpayers, and technology) as a unified whole. The tools have changed, but the spirit of those roofers and printers remains the palette with which we paint the future.
True leadership isn't just about watching from your couch; it's about having the imagination to paint a future that people actually want to live in. By reaching out to our past presidents, we find more than just a list of names; we find a vibrant, sometimes messy, and utterly essential palette of stories that inform our tomorrow. It is fascinating for this author (Kent) to learn that we have evolved from a modest group rooted in vocational rehabilitation into a sprawling, multidisciplinary force. It's been a long walk, paved by individuals who didn't care much for titles but cared a great deal about blazing trails and creating a canvas.
Deb Guthmann marvels at the beautiful evolution from smoke-filled hotel rooms to monthly Zoom meetings. By going digital, ADARA didn't just solve a scheduling headache; it broke down the economic barriers to leadership. John Gournaris took this a step further by advocating for digitizing decades of JADARA issues dating back to the 1960s. He ensured that the hallway conversations and scholarly breakthroughs of the past weren't lost to dusty basement boxes but were instead made fiscally sound and accessible. ADARA now proudly houses The Dr. Irene W. Leigh Digital JADARA Library.
The Legacy of the Trailblazers
As I see it, dear readers, we cannot talk about the trail without honoring those who cleared it. Of those who have shuffled their mortal coil to advocate in the great big sky, one will be joining them soon. At the time of this writing, Barry Critchfield (2011–2013) is in memory care. He remains a titan for this writer (Kent), who had the opportunity to work with him. His 2002 white paper famously argued that traditional systems fail Deaf consumers by ignoring the cultural nuances of ASL. We see Barry's disciples everywhere today, proving that a leader's greatest work isn't a report, but the people they inspire.
As Theresa Johnson puts it: "I learned so much from others... and learned the great value of giving back to your field." Are you ready to give back?
For me, that 'giving back' is about lowering the ladder for those behind us. This giving back led ADARA to establish a scholarship program to bring 10 aspiring students to our 2026 Conference in Salt Lake City. We aren't just inviting them to watch; we are investing in them to lead us into the future. ADARA exists because our community spans every generation, and we want to ensure that the financial barrier isn't what keeps the next President out of the room.
A Call to the Next Generation
After 60 years, ADARA is more than a set of bylaws. It is both a training ground and a sanctuary sustained by a community that spans generations. Tim Beatty still keeps his ADARA plaques in a prominent spot on his office wall, a testament to a journey that began in 1981 when Gerry Buckley encouraged him to join. From Treasurer to President, Tim's legacy is a reminder that the small act of inviting a colleague to join can lead to a lifetime of leadership and success.
As he enters retirement, Gerry Buckley offers this reflection:
"ADARA has evolved alongside the field it serves. Our leadership is increasingly diverse, and today's funding challenges call for creativity and innovation. I applaud our current leaders and cheer you on as I step into retirement. Blessings to all members."
To the professionals among us: ADARA is your palette. Whether you are seeking your "Minnesota Moment," like Deb Guthmann, or a professional home, like Steve Hamerdinger, this is where you find your tools and your community. As Marcia Kolvitz reminds us, "Volunteers keep the organization viable." Showing up as an officer, reviewer, presenter, or committee member connects you directly to the heartbeat of this field.
What will you choose to contribute to the canvas?
For Michelle Niehaus, the true value of ADARA lies in the trusted professional allies and accomplices found within its membership. She has utilized ADARA conferences and workshops as a vital vetting ground for presenters at in-state events, finding immense value in a community where state behavioral health leaders can honestly exchange both successful strategies and shared struggles. These deep-rooted connections have opened doors to significant scholarly contributions, including invitations to join research projects, co-author journal articles, and draft book chapters. She credits the organization with fostering a unique spirit of talent-sharing without the friction of competition, defining ADARA through three central pillars: connection, collaboration, and collective action.
The picture is far from finished. ADARA represents a long tradition of individuals striving for excellence while lifting others along the way, a foundation built on strong alliances and a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve. As our past presidents look toward our organization's 60th diamond anniversary, they offer a tribute to the lifelong friends made through this work and to the vital role each member plays. Their mantra serves as a fitting guide for the road ahead.