Born in Jamaica, Gordon went deaf around the age of eight years old after she suddenly developed severe pain in her middle ears. She is an intelligent and talented attorney who comes from the advocacy world. 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. 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. The former Miss Deaf American and Delta Sigma Theta member, is a member of many organizations including the National Association of the Deaf Law and Advocacy Center and Black Law Students Association. Many shrugged off my grand intention as wishful thinking. 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. - Gordon, Obama White House, 30 August 2010[5]. She later went to the American University Washington College of Law. 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. Senior Accessibility Strategy Partner at T-Mobile Speaker, Consultant, Mentor Seen in Obama White House, Google, BBC, Washington Post, and TED Talk ("Owning Otherness"). She didn't believe she was deaf because she had been reading peoples lip and thought she was hearing their voice. 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." My mother was my most influential role model. Baggetto, Maude. 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. Handspeak trademarked. Claudia L. Gordon she/her Inclusion and equity champion. 49 Year Old Aries #13. 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. Claudia L. Gordon, Esq. My mother taught me that we all control our own destiny and should never become victims of our circumstances. Looking back, I wish I knew her real name. 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. Born in Jamaica, Gordon became deaf at the 8 years old after having sharp pains in her ears. One of these activities is the mock trial sponsored by the American Bar Association. Claudia Gordon a trailblazer who reminds us that immigrants, they get the job done. What inspired you to pursue your field of interest? 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. It comes about when Casey and Rosie get some alone time, a day on from Casey deciding not to . Pat spent 26 years as a public interest attorney fighting on behalf of the victims of employment discrimination. 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. Prior to attending AU, Gordon graduated from Howard University in 1995 with a bachelor of arts in political science. None of the doctors did anything to really help or make clear what. 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. 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. Many shrugged off my grand intention as wishful thinking. 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. Gordon shared her ongoing quest to create spaces in society for seldom-heard voices in her TEDx Talk: Owning Otherness.[35]. Grounded in Navajo tradition and fluent in Navajo, Benally is an experienced cultural instructor. Claudia L. Gordon is the first deaf African-American female attorney in the United States. [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. Senior Accessibility Strategist at T-Mobile . While at Lexington, Claudia Gordon learned sign language, participated in sports, and became a top student. or. 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. 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. The clinic nurse couldn't diagnose the pain in Gordon's middle ears, nor could the healers restore her hearing. In 2004, she was named secretary of the Board for the Lexington Board of Directors. 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. Get to know her by reading this post. 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. Friends slowly disappeared and what was usually a cheerful hello was replaced by an awkward smile, curious stares and even outright ridicule. She was one of the only approximately fifty qualified deaf lawyers in the U.S. and Canada back then. Claudia L. Gordon is the first deaf Black female attorney in the United States. Rifkind received a B.A. 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. Thank you for this feature! Shortly thereafter, Claudia's mother brought her to the United States in search of opportunities for her daughter. Previously city included Lacombe LA. 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. 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. . 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. 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. 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. 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW 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. She wanted to have direct involvement in the enforcement of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, combating in order to make sure that the laws were really being utilized to help those who needed it the most. 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, 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 . Foreign-born deaf lawyer uses opportunity in America to help those with disabilities during emergencies. 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. At OFCCP Claudia works on ensuring that contractors doing business with the Federal government do not discriminate and take affirmative action. YOU HAVE 20,000 FOLLOWERS: $100 per post at a $5/CPM. She taught me about the unbelievable power of faith and love. August 30, 2010. http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/08/30/meet-women-administration-claudia-gordon, Copyright 1995-2023 Jolanta Lapiak. It opened up a new world for her. In pursuing that mission, OFCCP is leading the way to ensure that the reach for good jobs is truly within the grasp of everyone. 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. Emailus. Additionally, he has taught at Temple University and Millersville University as an Adjunct Professor.Two different Governors have appointed Braddy as a Commissioner for the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and to serve on the Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council. 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. You have JavaScript disabled. This is historical material frozen in time. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. Some cited my deafness as an obstacle rendering it impractical if not impossible to pursue a law degree. 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. She was kept at home to do chores instead. Disability is something that often gets overlooked when we talk about the spectrum of representation, so it was very important to me to make sure we do not ignore them in our celebration of black women. 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. 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. She was instrumental in drafting and implementing an executive order on Individuals with Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness. She was the national vice president of the National Black Deaf Advocates from 2002 to 2005. 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. 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? 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. Get to know her by reading this post. 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. I thought I was the only deaf person in the world. She also is the first deaf student to graduate from the American University (AU) Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C. in 2000. A domestic servant with only an eighth grade education, she literally scrubbed her way to America one garment at a time. 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. Claudia Gordon was born in rural Jamaica. Her mother immigrated to the South Bronx so that she could earn 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. 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. [10] While at WCL, she bagged the Myers Law Scholarship twice as well as the J. Franklin Bourne Scholarship. 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. 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 Gordon's birthday is 02/28/1948 and is 74 years old. Born in Jamaica, Gordon went deaf around the age of eight years old after she suddenly developed severe pain in her middle ears. WeCo Accessibility Services Reach us at: 855-849-5050 accessinfo@theweco.com, 2730 West Lake Street Suite 300 Minneapolis, MN 55416. 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. 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. A resource blog for SLIP students by SLIP students. Claudia Gordon is the third featured guest in the Council on Women and Girls: Meet the Women of the Administration series. Sign language on this site is the authenticity of culturally Deaf native-signers. She is also the first deaf student to graduate in 2000, from the American University (AU) Washington College of Law, in Washington, DC. Gordon was born in St. Mary, Jamaica in March 1972. Claudia was a member of the Obama Administration from December 2009 to January 2017 initially . All Rights Reserved. [3][4], Gordon was born in St. Mary, Jamaica in March 1972.[5]. In 1995, Gordon graduated with honors from Howard University. 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. After becoming deaf, Gordon experienced discrimination in Jamaica as deaf and disabled persons are stigmatized. Benally is also involved with the National Congress of American Indians, Disability Sub-Committee. NOT JUST COUNTRY FLORAL & GIFTS LLC is a Texas Domestic Limited-Liability Company (Llc) filed on September 28, 2012. 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 . Her career began as an AmeriCorps member and 2nd grade teacher in Pascagoula, Mississippi. This is long overdue. Its always a joy when I get to work closely with my boss, OFCCP Director Patricia A. Shiu. More awards and honors came at American University, where Gordon was an Equal Justice Foundation Fellow, had the Myers Law Scholarship, and the J. Franklin Bourne Scholarship. On a personal level, Ive had so many wonderful moments at the Department that its difficult to pick just one. Claudia remembers how she was treated in Jamaica after going deaf. 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. 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. 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 given some antibiotics but she eventually became deaf. 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. Born in Providence, RI #12. Please enable JavaScript to use this feature. Have a tip or story idea? She took her to a clinic and healers, to no avail. In 1995, she graduated form Howard University with a Bachelors in Political Science. 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. Rifkind is passionate about the arts and serves as Treasurer for the Chicago Cultural Accessibility Consortium. In 1995, she graduated form Howard University with a Bachelors in . 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 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. See Photos. This political appointment made Gordon the first deaf person to work at the White House in a detailee capacity. 17 Likes, 1 Comments - Virna L Torres (@torresvirnal) on Instagram: "Happy Birthday Claudia!!! Model Born in Rhode Island. 2023 TV GUIDE, A FANDOM COMPANY. 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. 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. Born in Jamaica, Gordon became deaf at the 8 years old after having sharp pains in her ears. Born on April 12 #43. @claudia.l.gordon.1. No one gets here by him or herself so I am grateful to a lot of people. - 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. "Meet the Women of the Administration: Claudia Gordon." My aunt Mildred is a teacher, and as such she instilled in us the importance of a good education. She'll tell you she's the first Black, deaf woman attorney in the United States. 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. 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. 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. Throughout Claudia Gordons life, she has been given many awards and honors. 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. 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. Claudia Gordon. 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. In 2004, she was named secretary of the Board for the Lexington Board of Directors. kkitt1, Your email address will not be published. While there she developed and executed technical assistance and training to JFO staff and coordinate resolutions of discrimination and accessibility issues. The Registered Agent on file for this company is Claudia L Gordon and is located at 108 W James Street, Blue Ridge, TX 75424. 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. Opt in to send and receive text messages from President Biden. 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. Love Island 2023 star Claudia finds herself confronting Casey yet again (Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock). She was the vice president of the National Black Deaf Advocates. Quick search hundreds of articles, documents and resources. It's time to renew your membership and keep access to free CLE, valuable publications and more. A. degree from Howard University . And so as a result, at age eight Claudia Gordon became deaf. Claudia L. Gordon, Esq. 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". If you have questions regarding how this information may affect you or your organization legally, please seek the advice of professional legal counsel. To be honest, I dont. Philanthropic organization are vital to the work of advancing disability inclusion and access. Shortly thereafter, Claudias mother brought her to the United States in search of opportunities for her daughter. 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. I want to take the opportunity to remind you all; just in case some"