My aunt Mildred was also a very important role model, along with my grandmother Viola Parsons. Claudia Gordon. In 1995, Gordon graduated with honors from Howard University. Some cited my deafness as an obstacle rendering it impractical if not impossible to pursue a law degree. I want to contribute to a better society where there is more understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities and where the same opportunities are provided for all." 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. Sign Up. In 2002, Gordon received the Paul G. Hearne/AAPD Leadership Award from the American Association of People with Disabilities. Teaming up with others who have similar disabilities and being vocal about your needs are necessary in order to be properly prepared., American Bar Association or. Claudia Gordon is the first deaf African American woman to become a lawyer. After two years of no education, Claudia and her mother immigrated to New York. She was a woman of profound faith and perseverance up until the very day she lost her six year battle with ovarian cancer in 2000. Prior to attending AU, Gordon graduated from Howard University in 1995 with a bachelor of arts in political science. She didn't believe she was deaf because she had been reading peoples lip and thought she was hearing their voice. Born in Jamaica, Gordon became deaf at the 8 years old after having sharp pains in her ears. What I do know is that the life of this woman ostracized as dummy almost became my own but for my mothers triumph in successfully bringing me to America by the time I was eleven years old. I think its an exciting way for government to function and is in keeping with the high standards of inclusion, openness and transparency that the President has set for all of us. 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. She taught me about the unbelievable power of faith and love. Want more stories like this? [26] She has served on multiple boards, including American Association of People with Disabilities[27] and Gallaudet University. [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). Opt in to send and receive text messages from President Biden. Given the fact that nearly one in four American workers is employed by a company that receives Federal funds for contracted work, stronger Section 503 regulations, backed by real enforcement, will ensure that more people with disabilities have equal employment opportunity in the labor force. 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. [emailprotected]. See Photos. This is long overdue. Claudia L. Gordon is Director of Government and Compliance with T-Mobile Accessibility a Business Unit within T-Mobile that offers communication products and services to reduce or eliminate communication barriers for customers with disabilities. Heres What We Know, INTERVIEW: Cary Elwes Understands the Assignment of Guy Ritchie Movies for Operation Fortune, Walgreens Caves to Republicans, Limits Sales of Another Reproductive Healthcare Item, Florida Man Fulfills His Destiny as a Netflix Crime Series, The 13 Best Ted Lasso Quotes to Read When the World Has Made You Feel Weary, Thank You to the FDA for Telling Elon Musk He Cant Put Chips in Our Brain. Gordon was born in St. Mary, Jamaica in March 1972. It's time to renew your membership and keep access to free CLE, valuable publications and more. Being around other deaf children, and being embraced by a community taught Gordon that her disability was not the end of the road. Claudia L. Gordon, Member, National Council on Disability Claudia Gordon is a dedicated advocate for people with disabilities with nearly 30 years of versatile professional expertise, with a . NOT JUST COUNTRY FLORAL & GIFTS LLC is a Texas Domestic Limited-Liability Company (Llc) filed on September 28, 2012. After a year in service, she was appointed as an attorney advisor and later promoted to senior policy advisor for the United States Department of Homeland Security, Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. [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. Claudia Gordon's birthday is 02/28/1948 and is 74 years old. That would have been Claudias life, except at the age of eleven her mother went to America and she was transferred to Lexington School for the Deaf. Your email address will not be published. Handspeak trademarked. Claudia Gordon was born in rural Jamaica. Find your friends on Facebook. As she became deaf during the summer, the school and her parents decided that Claudia couldn't go back to school in the fall. [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. While working with impoverished and minority deaf people, she became attracted to the prospect of working in a Federal office. Friends slowly disappeared and what was usually a cheerful hello was replaced by an awkward smile, curious stares and even outright ridicule. Profile. Claudia is a Special Assistant to the Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). In 2020, she served on the Disability Inclusion Funds grantmaking committee.Previously, Rifkind was Program Manager at The Chicago Community Trust, where she developed their disability inclusion priorities and practices and managed several disability inclusion initiatives, including the Disabilities Fund, ADA 25 Advancing Leadership, and ADA 25 Chicago. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Maude Baggetto is in the Office of Public Engagement focusing on Women and Girls. Its always a joy when I get to work closely with my boss, OFCCP Director Patricia A. Shiu. People named Claudia L Gordon. 17 Likes, 1 Comments - Virna L Torres (@torresvirnal) on Instagram: "Happy Birthday Claudia!!! Recently, what has been new and exciting about your work? The discrimination, that she experienced in Jamaica and in general, inspired her to become a lawyer. In 1995, she graduated form Howard University with a Bachelors in . Log In. As she became deaf during the summer, the school and her parents decided that Claudia couldn't go back to school in the fall. In 2022, Braddy was selected by Senator Robert Casey, Jr., as one of four Black leaders in Pennsylvania who has demonstrated power and persistency in overcoming challenges and creating meaningful change in the State, and his contribution was acknowledged on the Senate Floor at a Congressional Hearing. Gordon has held senior leadership positions with Sprint Corporation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the National Council on Disability, and the National Association of the Deaf Law and Advocacy Center. [11], After law school, Gordon was awarded a two-year fellowship with Skadden Fellowship Foundation. #ESQ @tmobile DEI #Obama44 Alum @Howard1867 Alum #AlphaMadeDST #ProudJamaican #Fashionista #TEDx In 2004, she was named secretary of the Board for the Lexington Board of Directors. 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. My aunt Mildred is a teacher, and as such she instilled in us the importance of a good education. Pronunciation of Claudia L. Gordon with 1 audio pronunciation and more for Claudia L. Gordon. sites@gsu - Blogs for Georgia State University. Find where to watch Claudia L. Gordon's latest movies and tv shows However, at OFCCP we are going to the public particularly to leaders and grassroots advocates in the disability community before we even craft the policy changes so that they can weigh in on our efforts and shape the laws that will directly impact their lives. He graduated from Temple University with his MSW in 1988 after receiving his BSW from Edinboro University. What has been your favorite moment since youve been working for the Department of Labor? By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. None of the doctors did anything to really help or make clear what. Washington, DC 20500. Claudia and her younger siblings were left in the care of her eldest sister, Mildred Taylor, a schoolteacher. When Hurricane Katrina hit, Gordons efforts to ensure that the needs of disabled people were met in hurricane relief efforts earned her both the Gold Medal Award and the 2005 Hurricane Response Award from the Secretary of Homeland Security, Claudia Gordon has been active in both the black deaf community and the broader disability community. She was also the associate director at the White House Office of Public Engagement. People believed I was unable to learn and succeed simply because I could not hear, she recalls, these experiences convinced me that I wanted to be a vehicle for change. Claudia decided on law school to help her pursue such change, attending American University, Washington College of Law to study disability rights law and policy. 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. I want to take the opportunity to remind you all; just in case some" Looking back, I wish I knew her real name. November 1st, 2016 Its that reality of our jobs knowing that we have a window of opportunity to effect such sweeping and systematic change that makes me proud of the work we do. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Foreign-born deaf lawyer uses opportunity in America to help those with disabilities during emergencies. WASHINGTON Today, President Biden announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to serve as members on the National Council on Disability: National Council on DisabilityNational Council on Disability (NCD) is an independent federal agency charged with advising the President, Congress, and other federal agencies regarding policies, programs, practices, and procedures that affect people with disabilities. I'm delighted by the growing At 11, she moved to the United States and attended Lexington School for the Deaf in New York. She also is the first deaf student to graduate from the American University (AU) Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C. in 2000. Claudia Gordon is a lot of things. 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. Senior Accessibility Strategy Partner at T-Mobile Speaker, Consultant, Mentor Seen in Obama White House, Google, BBC, Washington Post, and TED Talk ("Owning Otherness"). . All Rights Reserved. Facebook gives people the power. American University Washington College of Law, American University, Washington College of Law, United States Department of Homeland Security, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, American Association of People with Disabilities, United States Secretary of Homeland Security, List of first women lawyers and judges in the United States, "Employee Spotlight: Disability Awareness Starts with All of Us and Benefits All of Us TMobile Newsroom", "Meet the Women of the Administration: Claudia Gordon", "Claudia Gordon: America's First Deaf Black Woman Lawyer is Jamaican Born", "Claudia Gordon: 1st African American Female Deaf Lawyer", "NCD Applauds Appointment of Claudia Gordon as Public Engagement Advisor at the White House", "Skadden Fellows | Skadden Fellowship Foundation", "Disability Rights Campaigner, Claudia Gordon, joins DeafKidz International as Global Ambassador", "Trustee Appointed to White House Office of Public Engagement", "President Obama Announces Presidential Delegation to Attend the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Paralympic Summer Games", "Previous AAPD Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Award Recipients", "| U.S. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. At the age of 15, he became a person with a disability due to a high school football accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Former staff attorney of nonprofit National Association of the Deaf Law and Advocacy Center. grew up in Jamaica, and when she went deaf at the age of eight, she was pulled from school because it was believed that her disability prevented her from learning. Baggetto, Maude. She currently serves as the Senior Accessibility Strategist with T-Mobile US, Inc. Claudia's ethnicity is Caucasian, whose political affiliation is currently a registered . 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. [18], Gordon has been active in both the black deaf community and the cross disability community. Texas Zero Property Tax Bill Has Extreme, Discriminatory Catches, Eurovision 2023 Tickets Announced on Ticketmaster, Celebrating Womens History With Qiu Jin, Chinese Revolutionary, The Penguin Tells a Batverse Scarface Story. 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. In 2021, Governor Wolf appointed him to serve on the State Board of Vocational Rehabilitation. While at Lexington, Claudia Gordon learned sign language, participated in sports, and became a top student. First Name Claudia #8. When she graduated from the school in 2000, she became the first known deaf black American woman to earn a Juris Doctor. This allowed Gordon to provide Direct representation and advocacy for poor deaf persons with a particular emphasis on outreach to those who are members of minority groups. Claudia Gordon became a consultant to the National Council on Disability, then joined the Department of Homeland Security. The Registered Agent on file for this company is Claudia L Gordon and is located at 108 W James Street, Blue Ridge, TX 75424. Progress has been made due to a combination of an increase of concern for safety in a post-9/11 world and the success of the disability rights movement; however, there are still some gaps that need to be filled. Emailus. At age 11, she attended Lexington School for the Deaf and learned American Sign Language (ASL) there. A resource blog for SLIP students by SLIP students. During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, Voorde served as an Associate Director with the University of Notre Dames Sara Bea Center for Students with Disabilities. It would also be helpful to create a network of support in your community. Despite various obstacles in America, individuals with disabilities comparatively have better opportunities here than in most other countries. Previously she held a position in the White House Office of Public Engagement as the Public Engagement Advisor to the Disability Community for less than a year 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. She later went to the American University Washington College of Law. from Johns Hopkins University.Emily Voorde, Member, National Council on DisabilityEmily Voorde is an Associate Director with NEWCO Strategies, a full-service strategic consulting firm that helps progressive campaigns, organizations, and companies achieve their goals. She took her to a clinic and healers, to no avail. She was deaf at the age of eight. My interest in working for the Federal government was sparked while working as a Skadden Fellow and staff attorney at the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) Law and Advocacy Center from 2000-2002. 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. Claudia was a member of the Obama Administration from December 2009 to January 2017 initially serving as Special Assistant to the Director of the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and then as OFCCP's Chief of Staff. The NAD operates on a shoe-string budget and the law center staff fluctuates from two to four full time attorneys working tirelessly to keep pace with incoming discrimination claims and requests for technical assistance from among the 36 million deaf and hard of hearing individuals in America. Princess (she/her-bisexual) is a Brooklyn born Megan Fox truther, who loves Sailor Moon, mythology, and diversity within sci-fi/fantasy. [14], Gordon became a member of the Obama Administration from 2009 to 2017. Model Born in Rhode Island. Gordon received the Skadden Fellowship (for law graduates working with disabled people) that helped her pay to work at the National Association of the Deaf Law and Advocacy Center. Join Facebook to connect with Claudia Gordon and others you may know. It comes about when Casey and Rosie get some alone time, a day on from Casey deciding not to . [2] Prior to joining the telecom industry, Gordon held various roles in the public sector from 2002 to 2017most notably as the associate director in the White House Office of Public Engagement, where she advised White House offices and senior officials including former President Barack Obama on disability issues. Join Facebook to connect with Claudia Kordon and others you may know. Senior Accessibility Strategist at T-Mobile . Secretary Hilda Solis has laid out a pretty straightforward mission for our department: Good Jobs for Everyone. She has received the 2005 Hurricane Response Award, the Paul G. Hearne Leadership Award, the 2010 Deaf Life Magazine Deaf Person of the Year award, and the 2011 Amos Kendall Award. Your government can only do so much, so it is important to make sure you have a personalized plan and know how to initially proceed during an emergency. Claudia Gordon is the third featured guest in the Council on Women and Girls: Meet the Women of the Administration series. I Need To Know What 'Very Bland' Opinion Got J.K. Rowling Kicked Out of a Harry Potter Forum, Disney Found a Way To Make Us Care About Peter Pan Again, 'The Mandalorian' Makes It Pretty Clear Where Gina Carano's Cara Dune Went, 'Quantumania' Writer Shares Painful Thoughts on All the Negative Reviews, Is Grogu Related to Yoda? | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy. Claudia L. Gordon, Esq. My life changed overnight, she said in an interview later in lifewith the White House. But I am blessed with supportive family and friends who know that the long hours I spend at work are spent doing something important. 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. She assisted in the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness, monitoring how Federal agencies worked together to ensure that deaf and disabled persons were included in emergency-preparedness plans. As the Director of Civic Engagement and Marketing for Disability Lead, she propels the organization to realize its vision to have people with disabilities lead with power and influence. Pat spent 26 years as a public interest attorney fighting on behalf of the victims of employment discrimination. She was kept at home to do chores instead. After becoming deaf, Gordon experienced discrimination in Jamaica as deaf and disabled persons are stigmatized. Now she is able to correct these misperceptions, and ensure that the needs of the disability community are considered when government entities create their emergency preparedness plans. When she immigrated to America -- the South Bronx --she kept right on working to ensure that within a few years she would be reunited with her three children, whom she had left in the care of her eldest sister, my aunt Mildred Taylor. From July 2013 to March 2014 Claudia was assigned to the White House Office of Public Engagement where she served as the liaison to the disability community and advised on disability policies. She was the national vice president of the National Black Deaf Advocates from 2002 to 2005. WeCo Accessibility Services Reach us at: 855-849-5050 accessinfo@theweco.com, 2730 West Lake Street Suite 300 Minneapolis, MN 55416. She was the vice president of the National Black Deaf Advocates. Aries Model. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Kathleen Martinez. Claudia Gordon a trailblazer who reminds us that immigrants, they get the job done. Yes, its a cumbersome name thats all-too-typical of Federal speak. And though its not as well known as its sister agencies like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice, OFCCP has powerful investigative and regulatory authorities for protecting workers, promoting diversity and enforcing the law.The agency was born out of the landmark civil rights laws of the 1960s and over its 45-year history has expanded in authority to include protections for women, veterans and people with disabilities. At AU, Gordon specialized in disability rights law and policy. Gordon went on to earn adegree in Political Science at Howard University, then went on to study disability-rights law and policy at American Universitys Washington College of Law. 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. In truth, I was raised by a community of women. At 11, she moved to the United States and attended Lexington School for the Deaf in New York. The HandSpeak site is a sign language resource created with by the ASL instructor and native signer in North America. Benally is also involved with the National Congress of American Indians, Disability Sub-Committee. 234 Likes, 63 Comments - Claudia L. Gordon (@cascade4ever) on Instagram: "Happy Valentines Day friends!! He is currently employed with the Native American Disability Law Center as the Community and Government Liaison engaged in Disability Systems Advocacy with the Navajo Nation and other Native American Tribes. At the age of 74, she is still teaching today. 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW After having sharp pains in her ears, her aunt, who took care of her at the time, took her to a small clinic, as there were no hospitals. Director of Government and Compliance with T-Mobile Accessibility. [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. In Jamaica, Gordon could not get an education, so she moved to the United States where she attended first a public school, then the Lexington School and Center for the Deaf in New York. We'll be in touch with the latest information on how President Biden and his administration are working for the American people, as well as ways you can get involved and help our country build back better. How did you become interested in working for the Federal government? - 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. Get to know her by reading this post. Member of National Black Deaf Advocates. Claudia L. Gordon she/her Inclusion and equity champion. It's hard to wrap your mind around it when you see it on paper. She went from being the brightest and most outgoing kid in my class, to being pulled out of school, isolated from her friends, and became an object of ridicule. Prior to DOL she was a Senior Policy Advisor with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. The OFCCP has powerful investigative and regulatory authorities for protecting workers, promoting diversity, and enforcing the law. She is an intelligent and talented attorney who comes from the advocacy world. Deseo toda la felicidad del mundo para ti , alegrias , risas y mucha" [5] She suddenly lost her sense of hearing at the age of eight. Your membership has expired - last chance for uninterrupted access to free CLE and other benefits. Love Island 2023 star Claudia finds herself confronting Casey yet again (Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock). Quick search hundreds of articles, documents and resources. I thought I was the only deaf person in the world. The company's filing status is listed as Forfeited Existence and its File Number is 0801661939. 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. Many shrugged off my grand intention as wishful thinking. Claudia L. Gordon is the first deaf Black female attorney in the United States. 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. At Howard, Gordon was a Patricia Robert Harris Public Affairs Fellow, a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society, and the Political Science Honor Society. [3][8], It was in high school when Gordon knew she wanted to be a lawyer, with the discrimination she experienced in Jamaica as her inspiration. She is also the first deaf person to work at the White House in an detailee capacity. Leave a comment The information provided by WeCo (The Wehrman Collaborative, LLC) is not intended or designed to be used as, or take the place of, legal advice. Read the latest blog posts from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Check out the most popular infographics and videos, View the photo of the day and other galleries, Tune in to White House events and statements as they happen, See the lineup of artists and performers at the White House, Eisenhower Executive Office Building Tour, Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs Rebecca Blank. This is historical material frozen in time. Please enable JavaScript to use this feature. [1] She currently works as a Senior Accessibility Strategy Partner at T-Mobile within its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team. Many shrugged off my grand intention as wishful thinking. For three years, Gordon was a member of the only deaf mock trial team in New York and the only deaf high school to ever win the competition. Grounded in Navajo tradition and fluent in Navajo, Benally is an experienced cultural instructor. Claudia was a member of the Obama Administration from December 2009 to January 2017 initially . Claudia L. Gordon is the first deaf African-American female attorney in the United States.