Welcome to Howard County Association of the Deaf

Vision: Enhance the quality of deaf people's lives in Howard County

Mission: Serve and represent Deaf Community in Howard County
Develop solid partnership with the government of Howard County
Build relations between hearing and deaf constituents in Howard County

On January 12, 2010 a violent 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated much of the capital of Haiti and its surrounding areas, leaving an estimated 230,000 people dead, 300,000 injured and over a million homeless. Needless to say, this also had a severe impact on thousands of Deaf people, who are usually the last to know where to find emergency food, water and medical aid. Haiti culture places Deaf people near the bottom of the ladder and they are treated with scorn. One native Deaf Haitian commented that Deaf people get less respect than animals due to their poor speaking skills and/or preference to use sign language, which is mostly American Sign Language interspersed with their own Haitian sign vocabulary.

A group of Deaf people from the Washington, DC area gathered to find a way to help the Deaf community in Haiti and named themselves Friends of Deaf Haiti (FDH). At their own expense, a few FDH people made trips to Haiti to find out what is needed and to organize a team of Deaf leaders in Haiti. The mission has not been an easy one due to the chaotic situation in Haiti, the red tape one must go through to obtain service, the competition for goods and service among the estimated 1 million homeless people, and the fact that FDH people have been paying for trips and supplies out of their own pockets. Nevertheless, FDH was successful in setting up a Deaf Haiti Tent Community for homeless deaf and hard of hearing adults and their children.

Since FDH is neither incorporated nor a tax-deducible charitable organization, Howard County Association of the Deaf, Inc., a regional Deaf association in Maryland, agreed to accept donations to support the goals of FDH, allowing donors to claim tax deductions.

Efforts are continuing to help the people in the Deaf Haiti Tent Community to get back on their feet and become productive members of society. To date, the following have been accomplished successfully:

• Desirable land in a good location was found to create a Deaf Tent Community.
• Tents & cots were set up and approximately 250 adults and their children moved in.
• More tents will be delivered and we expect a total of about 400 residents.
• Lighting, fencing and guards were set up to protect the community.
• A reservoir to hold water and machinery to purify water was set up.
• Toilets and showers were installed.
• Tarps are in the process of being installed for rain and heat protection.
• Fundraising and clothing collection was started and continuing.

We will need to do more fundraising to accomplish the following ongoing projects:

• Organize the Deaf Haiti community to work together for their needs.
• Find food for regular deliveries as many go days before eating solid food.
• Arrange medical checkups and find necessary medical supplies.
• Purchase emergency supplies as needed.
• Locate buildings to use as a communication center and job training site.
• Do outreach to encourage businesses to hire Deaf people.

Those willing to donate, please make checks payable to:
Howard County Association of the Deaf, Inc.
In the memo space, write: “Deaf Haiti Relief”

And mail to:
HCAD Deaf Haiti Relief
c/o Yolette Cohen
PO Box 6611; Ellicott City, MD 21042-0611; USA