During the Obama-Biden Administration, Gordon served as the Chief of Staff for the U.S. Department of Labors Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and the Associate Director of Public Engagement for the White House Office of Public Engagement.Adding to Gordons professional expertise is her lived experience as an immigrant at the intersections of race, disability, and gender, which is the foundation for the strong emphasis on disabled individuals with multiple marginalized identities that she brings to her work. Many shrugged off my grand intention as wishful thinking. Rifkind is passionate about the arts and serves as Treasurer for the Chicago Cultural Accessibility Consortium. 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. 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. 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. 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). 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. Aries Model. Born on April 12 #43. Claudia Gordon. The Obama Administration appointed her to the head of the OFCCP. Throughout Claudia Gordons life, she has been given many awards and honors. [15], Gordon was part of the Presidential Delegation of Barack Obama sent to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Summer Paralympics. She was deaf at the age of eight. 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. [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. 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. 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. 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 Gordon's birthday is 02/28/1948 and is 74 years old. At OFCCP Claudia works on ensuring that contractors doing business with the Federal government do not discriminate and take affirmative action. When she graduated from the school in 2000, she became the first known deaf black American woman to earn a Juris Doctor. 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. 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. The HandSpeak site is a sign language resource created with by the ASL instructor and native signer in North America. She was the vice president of the National Black Deaf Advocates. 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. By my junior year in high school, I made it known to all that I would go to law school and become an attorney. Not being around or in a community that supported deafness became a problem: I thought I was the only deaf person in the world. In Jamaica, deaf and disabled persons are stigmatized and Gordon remembered that a deaf woman who lived in the area was called dummy, by local children who threw rocks at her. Senior Accessibility Strategy Partner at T-Mobile Speaker, Consultant, Mentor Seen in Obama White House, Google, BBC, Washington Post, and TED Talk ("Owning Otherness"). #21. 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. In 1995, she graduated form Howard University with a Bachelors in . Log In. 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. See Photos. 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. For her unrelenting commitment to advocacy, compliance, civic engagement, and mentoring, Gordon has been recognized by the American Association of People with Disabilities, Google, AT&T Humanity of Connection, National Disability Mentoring Coalition, National Association of the Deaf, National Black Deaf Advocates, and The Root 100. 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. She suddenly lost her sense of hearing at the age of eight. 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. February 29, 2016 by Sue Ann Rodriquez 1 Comment. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Kathleen Martinez. At the age of 74, she is still teaching today. 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. All Rights Reserved. In 1988, Braddy was hired as CEO of the Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania, where he served for over 30 years. 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. At 11, she moved to the United States and attended Lexington School for the Deaf in New York. Being around other deaf children, and being embraced by a community taught Gordon that her disability was not the end of the road. She took her to a clinic and healers, to no avail. Philanthropic organization are vital to the work of advancing disability inclusion and access. She was also the associate director at the White House Office of Public Engagement. My aunt Mildred was also a very important role model, along with my grandmother Viola Parsons. Claudia L. Gordon she/her Inclusion and equity champion. [10] While at WCL, she bagged the Myers Law Scholarship twice as well as the J. Franklin Bourne Scholarship. - Gordon, Obama White House, 30 August 2010[5]. 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. Shortly thereafter, Claudia's mother brought her to the United States in search of opportunities for her daughter. On a personal level, Ive had so many wonderful moments at the Department that its difficult to pick just one. Claudia L. Gordon is the first deaf Black female attorney in the United States. . Claudia received a B. 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. Love Island 2023 star Claudia finds herself confronting Casey yet again (Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock). 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 . 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. See Claudia L Gordon's compensation, career history, education, & memberships. Claudia Gordon a trailblazer who reminds us that immigrants, they get the job done. 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Join Facebook to connect with Claudia Gordon and others you may know. Secretary Hilda Solis has laid out a pretty straightforward mission for our department: Good Jobs for Everyone. Director of Government and Compliance with T-Mobile Accessibility. A colleague of Katz-Hernandez is Claudia Gordon, the first deaf African-American female attorney in the United States. NOT JUST COUNTRY FLORAL & GIFTS LLC is a Texas Domestic Limited-Liability Company (Llc) filed on September 28, 2012. Claudia Gordon is a Senior Accessibility Strategist at T-Mobile based in Bellevue, Washington. August 30, 2010. http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/08/30/meet-women-administration-claudia-gordon, Copyright 1995-2023 Jolanta Lapiak. Born in Jamaica, Gordon went deaf around the age of eight years old after she suddenly developed severe pain in her middle ears. She currently serves as the Senior Accessibility Strategist with T-Mobile US, Inc. View the profiles of people named Claudia Kordon. How to say Claudia L. Gordon in English? Born in Jamaica, Gordon became deaf at the 8 years old after having sharp pains in her ears. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from Brigham Young University,Theo W. Braddy, Member, National Council on DisabilityTheo W. Braddy has advocated on behalf of people with disabilities for over 40 years. By the time she reached her junior year in high school, Gordon knew that she wanted to become a lawyer. Find where to watch Claudia L. Gordon's latest movies and tv shows 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 While working with impoverished and minority deaf people, she became attracted to the prospect of working in a Federal office. 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. Claudia Gordon is the first female African American deaf lawyer in the United States. The OFCCP has powerful investigative and regulatory authorities for protecting workers, promoting diversity, and enforcing the law. 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. Her career began as an AmeriCorps member and 2nd grade teacher in Pascagoula, Mississippi. They were always in the background pitching in whenever my Mom was in need. A one-size-fits-all emergency preparedness and response approach for people with disabilities does not take into account that, for example, that those who are deaf have one set of needs when a catastrophe strikes, while those with mobility impairments have a whole other set of needs, Gordon stated, this misperception can be corrected by having planners understand that you cant indentify someone as simply having a disability. You need to go beyond their essence, look at the functional limitations their disability creates, and then make a plan to address those practical limitations., For those with disabilities, Claudia offers the following emergency preparedness advice: Make sure you and your family are prepared. Pat spent 26 years as a public interest attorney fighting on behalf of the victims of employment discrimination. Claudia Gordon is the third featured guest in the Council on Women and Girls: Meet the Women of the Administration series. One of these activities is the mock trial sponsored by the American Bar Association. My mother was my most influential role model. I'm delighted by the growing Find your friends on Facebook. Dec 3, 2022 As we mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities today, let's double down on our commitment to making sure people with disabilities are included in every single policy decision we make so we are always working towards building a more inclusive country. 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. 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. Claudia L. Gordon Director of Government and Compliance with Sprint Accessibility Claudia L. Gordon is the Director of Government and Compliance with Sprint Accessibility, a Business Unit within Sprint Corporation that offers communication products and services to reduce or eliminate communication barriers for customers with disabilities. sites@gsu - Blogs for Georgia State University. Claudia remembers how she was treated in Jamaica after going deaf. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy. In this role, she drives strategies for a disability inclusive culture and an accessible plus equitable work environment. Your email address will not be published. There she learned sign language, participated in sports, and rose to the top of her class. In 2004, she became Senior Policy Advisor for the Department of Homeland Security, Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. Prior to attending AU, Gordon graduated from Howard University in 1995 with a bachelor of arts in political science. Handspeak trademarked. [1] She currently works as a Senior Accessibility Strategy Partner at T-Mobile within its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team. Gordon later emigrated to the United States and reunited with her mother, who was living in South Bronx, New York. Claudia is a Special Assistant to the Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). Opt in to send and receive text messages from President Biden. #ESQ @tmobile DEI #Obama44 Alum @Howard1867 Alum #AlphaMadeDST #ProudJamaican #Fashionista #TEDx 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. Profile. She was one of the only approximately fifty qualified deaf lawyers in the U.S. and Canada back then. While in her eldest sisters care, Claudia suddenly developed severe pain in her middle ears and was taken to a small clinic. The White House She taught me about the unbelievable power of faith and love. Despite various obstacles in America, individuals with disabilities comparatively have better opportunities here than in most other countries. It would also be helpful to create a network of support in your community. 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. 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. In 1995, Gordon graduated with honors from Howard University. 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 2021, Governor Wolf appointed him to serve on the State Board of Vocational Rehabilitation. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. Claudia was appointed as the Public Engagement Advisor for the Disability Community in the Office of Public Engagement at the White House in 2013. Deseo toda la felicidad del mundo para ti , alegrias , risas y mucha" WeCo Accessibility Services Reach us at: 855-849-5050 accessinfo@theweco.com, 2730 West Lake Street Suite 300 Minneapolis, MN 55416. 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. First Name Claudia #8. 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. Shortly thereafter, Claudias mother brought her to the United States in search of opportunities for her daughter. She took her to a clinic and healers, to no avail. 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. 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. Typically, policy changes like this are submitted for public comment after theyve been formulated. Become a subscriber and support the site! She was given some antibiotics but she eventually became deaf. [3][4], Gordon was born in St. Mary, Jamaica in March 1972.[5]. 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. None of the doctors did anything to really help or make clear what. Sign language on this site is the authenticity of culturally Deaf native-signers. Meet other fascinating administration women by checking out our post on Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs Rebecca Blank and our post on Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Kathleen Martinez. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. Claudia Gordon. [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. Her mother immigrated to the South Bronx so that she could earn 49 Year Old Aries #13. She was the national vice president of the National Black Deaf Advocates from 2002 to 2005. Its always a joy when I get to work closely with my boss, OFCCP Director Patricia A. Shiu. He graduated from Temple University with his MSW in 1988 after receiving his BSW from Edinboro University. I want to take the opportunity to remind you all; just in case some" At AU, Gordon specialized in disability rights law and policy. 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. At the time, she was in the care of her elder sister Mildred Taylor, a teacher. [18], Gordon has been active in both the black deaf community and the cross disability community. 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. Baggetto, Maude. NCD is comprised of a team of Presidential and Congressional appointees, an Executive Director appointed by the Chair, and a full-time professional staff.NCDs mission is to be a trusted advisor, in collaboration with people with disabilities, to: the President; Congress; Federal entities; State, tribal communities, and local governments; and other entities and organizations. I dealt with discrimination and oppression on a daily basis. Her deafness gave her an opportunity to discover her identity, strengths, and personal growth with many positive qualities. Foreign-born deaf lawyer uses opportunity in America to help those with disabilities during emergencies. A. degree from Howard University . 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. Member of National Black Deaf Advocates. 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. What has been your favorite moment since youve been working for the Department of Labor? Get to know her by reading this post. After law school, she was a staff attorney for the National Association of the Deaf Law and Advocacy Center and a consulting attorney with the National Council on Disability. She later went to the American University Washington College of Law. 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." It opened up a new world for her. 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. What inspired you to pursue your field of interest? She was also active in sports, student organizations, and community activities. $140 per post at $7/CPM. Grounded in Navajo tradition and fluent in Navajo, Benally is an experienced cultural instructor. 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. As she became deaf during the summer, the school and her parents decided that Claudia couldn't go back to school in the fall. Model Born in Rhode Island. 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. In an interview she makes a point that there was a deaf intern working in the White House before her, and that there are currently other deaf people working in less prestigious positions in the White House, Claudia Gordon has been active in both the black deaf community and the broader disability community. She is also the first deaf person to work at the White House in an detailee capacity. Facebook gives people the power. Gordon is also associated with the National Coalition for Disability Rights , where she is part of their national governance. 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. Claudia was a member of the Obama Administration from December 2009 to January 2017 initially . She currently works in the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. 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. I felt that a job with the Federal government would more effectively allow me to affect the actual enforcement of laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, thereby alleviating the blatant discrimination that people with disabilities continue to face. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. It's time to renew your membership and keep access to free CLE, valuable publications and more. But I am blessed with supportive family and friends who know that the long hours I spend at work are spent doing something important. [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. Maude Baggetto is in the Office of Public Engagement focusing on Women and Girls. 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. A domestic servant with only an eighth grade education, she literally scrubbed her way to America one garment at a time. Like (316) Claudia Gordon was born in rural Jamaica. A resource blog for SLIP students by SLIP students. The website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work. Princess (she/her-bisexual) is a Brooklyn born Megan Fox truther, who loves Sailor Moon, mythology, and diversity within sci-fi/fantasy. I thought I was the only deaf person in the world. 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. For each of the 28 days of February, we at The Mary Sue will have a post about a black woman you should know aboutsome you may have heard of, some a little bit more obscure, and some fictional who still deserve a lot of love. She was instrumental in drafting and implementing an executive order on Individuals with Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness. It's hard to wrap your mind around it when you see it on paper. She has worked as a staff attorney for the National Association for the Deaf, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as a Public Engagement Advisor and in the White House. Washington, DC 20500. 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. /content/aba-cms-dotorg/en/groups/diversity/disabilityrights/initiatives_awards/spotlight/gordon_c. Claudia L. Gordon, Esq. Claudia L. Gordon is the first deaf Black female attorney in the United States. She currently works in the U.S. Department of Labors Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.
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