Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Kathleen Martinez. Claudia L. Gordon is the first deaf Black female attorney in the United States and the first deaf graduate of American University's law school. She was kept at home to do chores instead. There are scores of other individuals I could name because behind every successful person are plenty of people: role models, mentors, colleagues, friends and family members. Many shrugged off my grand intention as wishful thinking. She was the vice president of the National Black Deaf Advocates. 2022 American Bar Association, all rights reserved. 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. 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. After two years of no education, Claudia and her mother immigrated to New York. I thought I was the only deaf person in the world. 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. Since earning her juris doctorate from AU, Gordon has been active in working to ensure the rights of people with disabilities are respected. Get to know her by reading this post. 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. Claudia Gordon is the third featured guest in the Council on Women and Girls: Meet the Women of the Administration series. The OFCCP has powerful investigative and regulatory authorities for protecting workers, promoting diversity, and enforcing the law. Find your friends on Facebook. Her deafness gave her an opportunity to discover her identity, strengths, and personal growth with many positive qualities. Prior to joining the Law Center, Benally was the CEO of a Residential Treatment Center for Native American Youth that successfully integrated Navajo culture into western-based mental health treatment.Benally is the current President of the Navajo Nation Advisory Council on Disabilities, a former Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, and a former Member of the New Mexico Developmental Disability Planning Council. 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. View the profiles of people named Claudia Kordon. 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. 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 []. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission", "InfoGuides: SOCI 240 Deaf Culture: Popular Magazines", "Google Paints Stunning Portraits of Disability Rights Heroes on Washington, D.C. Steps", "National Disability Mentoring Coalition (NDMC)", "Claudia Gordon's Appointment as Public Engagement Advisor at the White House | News", "AAPD Applauds Appointment of Claudia Gordon as Public Engagement Advisor at the White House", "Claudia L. Gordon, Esq. Join Facebook to connect with Claudia Kordon and others you may know. #21. This political appointment made Gordon the first deaf person to work at the White House in a detailee capacity. The Council on Women and Girls is delighted to feature Claudia Gordon from the Department of Labor in our Meet the Women of the Administration series. Claudia received a B. [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. kkitt1, Your email address will not be published. Become a subscriber and support the site! The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling., Have a tip we should know? February 29, 2016 by Sue Ann Rodriquez 1 Comment. The Obama Administration appointed her to the head of the OFCCP. The discrimination, that she experienced in Jamaica and in general, inspired her to become a lawyer. Born in Jamaica, Gordon went deaf around the age of eight years old after she suddenly developed severe pain in her middle ears. She'll tell you she's the first Black, deaf woman attorney in the United States. While at Lexington, Claudia Gordon learned sign language, participated in sports, and became a top student. Despite various obstacles in America, individuals with disabilities comparatively have better opportunities here than in most other countries. 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. 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. Prior to attending AU, Gordon graduated from Howard University in 1995 with a bachelor of arts in political science. It would also be helpful to create a network of support in your community. At 11, she moved to the United States and attended Lexington School for the Deaf in New York. sites@gsu - Blogs for Georgia State University. Shortly thereafter, Claudias mother brought her to the United States in search of opportunities for her daughter. Its always a joy when I get to work closely with my boss, OFCCP Director Patricia A. Shiu. /content/aba-cms-dotorg/en/groups/diversity/disabilityrights/initiatives_awards/spotlight/gordon_c. Member of National Black Deaf Advocates. Gordon shared her ongoing quest to create spaces in society for seldom-heard voices in her TEDx Talk: Owning Otherness.[35]. Claudia Gordon was born in rural Jamaica. Her career began as an AmeriCorps member and 2nd grade teacher in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Now, she has come on the inside to create change from within government. As she became deaf during the summer, the school and her parents decided that Claudia couldn't go back to school in the fall. Claudia and her younger siblings were left in the care of her eldest sister, Mildred Taylor, a schoolteacher. 234 Likes, 63 Comments - Claudia L. Gordon (@cascade4ever) on Instagram: "Happy Valentines Day friends!! Despite all the hardships, they created a positive environment in which all of us children could be properly nourished with a sense of responsibility, dignity and pride. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. She is also a Member of Disability Lead. Claudia L. Gordon, Esq. 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. It was there that I confronted the truth that passing legislation is one thing but actual implementation with enforcement is another. Claudia was appointed as the Public Engagement Advisor for the Disability Community in the Office of Public Engagement at the White House in 2013. Gordon is a native of Jamaica, graduate of Howard University, and graduate of the American Universitys Washington College of Law.Risa Jaz Rifkind, Member, National Council on DisabilityRisa Jaz Rifkind is a justice advocate who seeks to make change by shifting access to power and influence. She was the vice president of the National Black Deaf Advocates. As she became deaf during the summer, the school and her parents decided that Claudia couldn't go back to school in the fall. Love Island 2023 star Claudia finds herself confronting Casey yet again (Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock). 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. The clinic nurse couldn't diagnose the pain in Gordon's middle ears, nor could the healers restore her hearing. There she learned sign language, participated in sports, and rose to the top of her class. Claudia also answers to Caudia Gordon, Claudia Haller Gordon, Claudia H Gordon, Glaudia H Gordon and Claudia Haller Gordon, and perhaps a couple of other names. 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. Find where to watch Claudia L. Gordon's latest movies and tv shows Foreign-born deaf lawyer uses opportunity in America to help those with disabilities during emergencies. The company's filing status is listed as Forfeited Existence and its File Number is 0801661939. Former staff attorney of nonprofit National Association of the Deaf Law and Advocacy Center. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. [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. 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. He is the father of two children, a daughter, Kimmi Braddy, and a son, Theo Braddy Jr.Claudia L. Gordon, Member, National Council on DisabilityClaudia Gordon is a dedicated advocate for people with disabilities with nearly 30 years of versatile professional expertise, with a personal mission to level the playing field and ensure the same opportunities are provided for all. I want to take the opportunity to remind you all; just in case some" Voorde recently returned to her hometown of South Bend, Indiana. A colleague of Katz-Hernandez is Claudia Gordon, the first deaf African-American female attorney in the United States. - Gallaudet University", "Centene Diversity & Inclusion | People With Disabilities", "CDT Project on Disability Rights & Algorithmic Fairness Advisory Committee", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Claudia_L._Gordon&oldid=1140822421, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, DeafKidz International, Global Ambassador, Centene National Disability Advisory Council, Center for Democracy and Technology Project on Disability Rights & Algorithmic Fairness, Advisory Committee, This page was last edited on 21 February 2023, at 23:32. 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. [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). Born in Jamaica, Claudia became deaf at age 8. None of the doctors did anything to really help or make clear what was going on. She currently serves as the Senior Accessibility Strategist with T-Mobile US, Inc. In 1995, she graduated form Howard University with a Bachelors in Political Science. Have a tip or story idea? Also, mentoring youth and young adults with disabilities keeps me motivated. Born in Providence, RI #12. After two years of no education, Claudia and her mother immigrated to New York. I did not realize until years later that a woman who everyone in my town knew as dummy, and who children my age would incessantly harass with stone throwing, was deaf. Senior Accessibility Strategist at T-Mobile . She also is the first deaf student to graduate from the American University (AU) Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C. in 2000. I'm delighted by the growing 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. Like (316) [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. 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.