The website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work. Now, she has come on the inside to create change from within government. This discrimination is what inspired her to become a lawyer. Claudia L. Gordon she/her Inclusion and equity champion. Being around other deaf children, and being embraced by a community taught Gordon that her disability was not the end of the road. Love Island 2023 star Claudia finds herself confronting Casey yet again (Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock). When my service to the President is over and I have to face my family, my friends and my communities as an African American, as a woman and as a deaf person what I hope to look back on is not a single moment, but rather a series of opportunities where I used my seat at the table and my voice in the decision-making process to improve the lives of those who seek to redeem the promise of America, the promise that brought my mother here all those years ago. 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. This is long overdue. As CEO, Braddy created an independent living center that became a strong and growing voice for people with disabilities, and started the Living Well with a Disability Initiative. 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 L. Gordon is the first deaf Black female attorney in the United States. What has been your favorite moment since youve been working for the Department of Labor? In 2004, she was named secretary of the Board for the Lexington Board of Directors. Gordon later emigrated to the United States and reunited with her mother, who was living in South Bronx, New York. 2023 TV GUIDE, A FANDOM COMPANY. Disclamer: the number about Claudia L. Gordon's Instagram salary income and Claudia L. Gordon's Instagram net worth are just estimation based on publicly available information about Instagram's monetization programs, it is by no . Facebook gives people the power. She is also the first deaf student to graduate in 2000, from the American University (AU) Washington College of Law, in Washington, DC. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/09/30/president-biden-announces-key-appointments-to-boards-and-commissions-9/?utm_source=link, Office of the United States Trade Representative. Your membership has expired - last chance for uninterrupted access to free CLE and other benefits. The White House 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. 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. 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. In 2000, Gordon became the first deaf student to graduate from the American University, Washington College of Law. So I wanted to highlight Claudia L. Gordon, the first known deaf black American woman to earn aJuris Doctor. Claudia Gordon is the first female African American deaf lawyer in the United States. She provides advice and technical assistance to the leadership and components of DHS that are geared towards implementation and enforcement of disability civil rights laws, regulations, and Executive Orders. February 29, 2016 by Sue Ann Rodriquez 1 Comment. See Claudia L. Gordon full list of movies and tv shows from their career. Leave a comment Her mother immigrated to the South Bronx so that she could earn 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. 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. 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. Claudia was a member of the Obama Administration from December 2009 to January 2017 initially . Claudia Gordon is the third featured guest in the Council on Women and Girls: Meet the Women of the Administration series. 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. Claudia Gordon delivering the opening keynote in American Sign Language at the 50th Biennial Conference of the National Association of the Deaf in Philadelphia, PA. July 6, 2010. Some cited my deafness as an obstacle rendering it impractical if not impossible to pursue a law degree. - Gordon, Obama White House, 30 August 2010[5]. This is historical material frozen in time. Sounds Like Home: Growing Up Black and Deaf in the South by Mary Herring Wright The Hidden Treasure of Black ASL: Its History and Structure by Carolyn McCaskill, (via DeafPeople, image: Exchange Photos via Flikr). In 1988, Braddy was hired as CEO of the Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania, where he served for over 30 years. She is also the first deaf person to work at the White House in an detailee capacity. When I suddenly lost my ability to hear at the age of eight, I was taken out of school and kept at home to perform chores. - 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. In 1995, Gordon graduated with honors from Howard University. At the age of 74, she is still teaching today. By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. 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. In 2002, Gordon received the Paul G. Hearne/AAPD Leadership Award from the American Association of People with Disabilities. "Meet the Women of the Administration: Claudia Gordon." To get to know aboutClaudia, her career, and her inspirations read the following Q and A with her. 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. Some cited my deafness as an obstacle rendering it impractical if not impossible to pursue a law degree. 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. Log In. She most recently served as an Associate Director in the White House Office of Public Engagement as the Biden-Harris Administrations liaison to Disabled Americans and K-12 educators.Voordes personal passions and professional expertise center on justice for individuals with disabilities and equitable access to education. To be honest, I dont. 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 . Get to know her by reading this post. Rifkind received a B.A. Voorde recently returned to her hometown of South Bend, Indiana. At OFCCP Claudia works on ensuring that contractors doing business with the Federal government do not discriminate and take affirmative action. At 11, she moved to the United States and attended Lexington School for the Deaf in New York. As the first deaf black female attorney in the United States, Claudia Gordon recounts her childhood in the West Indies, her search for identity while grappling with audism in a hearing college, and her ongoing quest to create spaces in society for seldom-heard voices. Opt in to send and receive text messages from President Biden. She was the national vice president of the National Black Deaf Advocates from 2002 to 2005. I want to take the opportunity to remind you all; just in case some" How Long Will Joe Goldbergs Rampage Be Left Unchecked? Claudia L. Gordon is the first deaf African-American female attorney in the United States. 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. 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. 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. Gordon was born in St. Mary, Jamaica in March 1972. Thank you for this feature! And so as a result, at age eight Claudia Gordon became deaf. See Claudia L Gordon's compensation, career history, education, & memberships. At Homeland Security, Gordon was the senior policy advisor for the Department of Homeland Security, Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, At Homeland Security, Claudia Gordons focus was activities such as enforcing an executive order for Individuals with Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness. The OFCCP has powerful investigative and regulatory authorities for protecting workers, promoting diversity, and enforcing the law. My aunt Mildred was also a very important role model, along with my grandmother Viola Parsons. Born on April 12 #43. At age 11, she attended Lexington School for the Deaf and learned American Sign Language (ASL) there. She didn't believe she was deaf because she had been reading peoples lip and thought she was hearing their voice. My aunt Mildred is a teacher, and as such she instilled in us the importance of a good education. She was the vice president of the National Black Deaf Advocates. 49 Year Old Aries #13. Shortly thereafter, Claudias mother brought her to the United States in search of opportunities for her daughter. Most of her work involves the implementation of the executive order for Individuals with Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness, which makes sure federal agencies work together to ensure that emergency preparedness plans are inclusive of the needs and expertise of those with disabilities. Grounded in Navajo tradition and fluent in Navajo, Benally is an experienced cultural instructor. Claudia's ethnicity is Caucasian, whose political affiliation is currently a registered . Sign language on this site is the authenticity of culturally Deaf native-signers. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. She'll tell you she's the first Black, deaf woman attorney in the United States. 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. It would also be helpful to create a network of support in your community. 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. Claudia remembers how she was treated in Jamaica after going deaf. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Kathleen Martinez. Claudia L. Gordon The first deaf African American female attorney in the United States Birthday: Claudia L. Gordon was born on May 14, 1946 Background Information Childhood: Claudia L. Gordon was born in rural Jamaica. At the time, she was in the care of her elder sister Mildred Taylor, a teacher. kkitt1, Your email address will not be published. While working with impoverished and minority deaf people, she became attracted to the prospect of working in a Federal office. Deseo toda la felicidad del mundo para ti , alegrias , risas y mucha" Claudia Gordon is the third featured guest in the Council on Women and Girls: Meet the Women of the Administration series. The Obama Administration appointed her to the head of the OFCCP. It was there that I confronted the truth that passing legislation is one thing but actual implementation with enforcement is another. [18], Gordon has been active in both the black deaf community and the cross disability community. How did you become interested in working for the Federal government? [5] She suddenly lost her sense of hearing at the age of eight. Born in Providence, RI #12. /content/aba-cms-dotorg/en/groups/diversity/disabilityrights/initiatives_awards/spotlight/gordon_c. 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 . Profile. Born in Jamaica, Gordon became deaf at the 8 years old after having sharp pains in her ears. [16], Before joining T-Mobile to lead strategies for disability-inclusive culture and accessible work environment,[17] Gordon was a Senior Manager of Government and Compliance at Sprint. 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. 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. While in her eldest sisters care, Claudia suddenly developed severe pain in her middle ears and was taken to a small clinic. 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. 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. 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. Growing up, I witnessed her hard work and sacrifices as she struggled to raise my two siblings and me, all on her own, deep in the rural countryside of Jamaica, W.I. In pursuing that mission, OFCCP is leading the way to ensure that the reach for good jobs is truly within the grasp of everyone. 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. Pat spent 26 years as a public interest attorney fighting on behalf of the victims of employment discrimination. 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. Secretary Hilda Solis has laid out a pretty straightforward mission for our department: Good Jobs for Everyone. Gordon is also associated with the National Coalition for Disability Rights , where she is part of their national governance. 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. Claudia L. Gordon is the first deaf Black female attorney in the United States. 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. 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. 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. She was one of the only approximately fifty qualified deaf lawyers in the U.S. and Canada back then. 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. At DHS Claudia is able to address misconceptions people have about those with disabilities, some of them similar to the stereotypes and erroneous beliefs she faced in Jamaica. Your email address will not be published. Handspeak trademarked. 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. A resource blog for SLIP students by SLIP students. Claudia L. Gordon is the first deaf African-American female attorney in the United States. 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. It's hard to wrap your mind around it when you see it on paper. Since earning her juris doctorate from AU, Gordon has been active in working to ensure the rights of people with disabilities are respected. [1] She currently works as a Senior Accessibility Strategy Partner at T-Mobile within its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team. As she became deaf during the summer, the school and her parents decided that Claudia couldn't go back to school in the fall. Prior to attending AU, Gordon graduated from Howard University in 1995 with a bachelor of arts in political science. Have a tip or story idea? 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. She currently works in the U.S. Department of Labors Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. Quick search hundreds of articles, documents and resources. Her family was then forced to take her out of primary school for almost two years since her school couldn't accommodate her needs as a deaf student. If you have questions regarding how this information may affect you or your organization legally, please seek the advice of professional legal counsel. In this role, she drives strategies for a disability inclusive culture and an accessible plus equitable work environment. Its hard to pick a single moment that stands out in the eight months Ive been here.Every day I get to be a part of a team of nearly 750 dedicated public servants working in every part of the country who are responsible for holding those who do business with the Federal government contractors and subcontractors to the very reasonable standard that they cannot discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran. Claudia and her younger siblings were left in the care of her eldest sister, Mildred Taylor, a schoolteacher. Also, mentoring youth and young adults with disabilities keeps me motivated. On a personal level, Ive had so many wonderful moments at the Department that its difficult to pick just one. 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. 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 Rifkind is passionate about the arts and serves as Treasurer for the Chicago Cultural Accessibility Consortium. [10] While at WCL, she bagged the Myers Law Scholarship twice as well as the J. Franklin Bourne Scholarship. With her fellowship project sponsored by the National Association of the Deaf, she "provided direct representation and advocacy for poor deaf persons, with a particular emphasis placed on outreach to members of minority groups". Her career began as an AmeriCorps member and 2nd grade teacher in Pascagoula, Mississippi. 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Former staff attorney of nonprofit National Association of the Deaf Law and Advocacy Center. 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. Facebook gives people the power. While there she developed and executed technical assistance and training to JFO staff and coordinate resolutions of discrimination and accessibility issues.