[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). 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. Foreign-born deaf lawyer uses opportunity in America to help those with disabilities during emergencies. Braddy is married to Rovenia Braddy, who is an author and playwright. She won a Skadden Fellowship for2000-2002, and worked as a staff attorney at the NAD Law and Advocacy Center and a consulting attorney with the National Council on Disability. The discrimination, that she experienced in Jamaica and in general, inspired her to become a lawyer. She'll tell you she's the first Black, deaf woman attorney in the United States. What inspired you to pursue your field of interest? By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. In 2002, Gordon received the Paul G. Hearne/AAPD Leadership Award from the American Association of People with Disabilities. Please enable JavaScript to use this feature. 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 . In 1995, Gordon graduated with honors from Howard University. Profile. WeCo Accessibility Services Reach us at: 855-849-5050 accessinfo@theweco.com, 2730 West Lake Street Suite 300 Minneapolis, MN 55416. A. degree from Howard University . Member of National Black Deaf Advocates. 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. [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. At AU, Gordon specialized in disability rights law and policy. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Kathleen Martinez. There she learned sign language, participated in sports, and rose to the top of her class. Deseo toda la felicidad del mundo para ti , alegrias , risas y mucha" 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. 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. How did you become interested in working for the Federal government? Pat spent 26 years as a public interest attorney fighting on behalf of the victims of employment discrimination. 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. 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. #21. I dealt with discrimination and oppression on a daily basis. 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 . Claudia received a B. I thought I was the only deaf person in the world. Prior to attending AU, Gordon graduated from Howard University in 1995 with a bachelor of arts in political science. 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. This is long overdue. 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. Get to know her by reading this post. Find your friends on Facebook. 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. On a personal level, Ive had so many wonderful moments at the Department that its difficult to pick just one. 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. She was also the associate director at the White House Office of Public Engagement. Shortly thereafter, Claudia's mother brought her to the United States in search of opportunities for her daughter. 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. None of the doctors did anything to really help or make clear what was going on. It opened up a new world for her. At age 11, she attended Lexington School for the Deaf and learned American Sign Language (ASL) there. All Rights Reserved. Its always a joy when I get to work closely with my boss, OFCCP Director Patricia A. Shiu. 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. [11], After law school, Gordon was awarded a two-year fellowship with Skadden Fellowship Foundation. Throughout Claudia Gordons life, she has been given many awards and honors. 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. 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. 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." So I wanted to highlight Claudia L. Gordon, the first known deaf black American woman to earn aJuris Doctor. 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. The clinic nurse couldn't diagnose the pain in Gordon's middle ears, nor could the healers restore her hearing. People named Claudia L Gordon. 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 See Photos. Required fields are marked *. 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. . 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. Claudia L. Gordon, Esq. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame, a Masters of Education from the University of Notre Dame, and a Masters of Public Policy in Education from Vanderbilt University. [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. 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. Born in Jamaica, Gordon went deaf around the age of eight years old after she suddenly developed severe pain in her middle ears. [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. 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. Claudia and her younger siblings were left in the care of her eldest sister, Mildred Taylor, a schoolteacher. Claudia L. Gordon, Esq. Many shrugged off my grand intention as wishful thinking. 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. Philanthropic organization are vital to the work of advancing disability inclusion and access. She currently works in the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. 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. In truth, I was raised by a community of women. Facebook gives people the power. #ESQ @tmobile DEI #Obama44 Alum @Howard1867 Alum #AlphaMadeDST #ProudJamaican #Fashionista #TEDx 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. 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. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. At Lexington, she learned sign language for the first time and became the valedictorian of her junior and senior high school graduating classes. 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. In 1995, she graduated form Howard University with a Bachelors in . Log In. Born in Jamaica, Claudia became deaf at age 8. 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. In 2000, Gordon became the first deaf student to graduate from the American University, Washington College of Law. sites@gsu - Blogs for Georgia State University. View the profiles of people named Claudia Kordon. Model Born in Rhode Island. She was the vice president of the National Black Deaf Advocates. Claudia Gordon is the third featured guest in the Council on Women and Girls: Meet the Women of the Administration series. $200 per post at $10/CPM. Handspeak trademarked. If you have questions regarding how this information may affect you or your organization legally, please seek the advice of professional legal counsel. First Name Claudia #8. Washington, DC 20500. 17 Likes, 1 Comments - Virna L Torres (@torresvirnal) on Instagram: "Happy Birthday Claudia!!! 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. [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. After two years of no education, Claudia and her mother immigrated to New York. To be honest, I dont. Born in Jamaica, Gordon became deaf at the 8 years old after having sharp pains in her ears. Benally is also involved with the National Congress of American Indians, Disability Sub-Committee. The Registered Agent on file for this company is Claudia L Gordon and is located at 108 W James Street, Blue Ridge, TX 75424. 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. - 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. Born on April 12 #43. Love Island 2023 star Claudia finds herself confronting Casey yet again (Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock). 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. 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. Despite various obstacles in America, individuals with disabilities comparatively have better opportunities here than in most other countries. Previously city included Lacombe LA. Claudia Gordon is the first deaf African American woman to become a lawyer. 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). As she became deaf during the summer, the school and her parents decided that Claudia couldn't go back to school in the fall. 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. 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. 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. I have an innate desire to give back. 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 HandSpeak site is a sign language resource created with by the ASL instructor and native signer in North America. 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. 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. She suddenly lost her sense of hearing at the age of eight. 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, Esq. 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. 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. Her deafness gave her an opportunity to discover her identity, strengths, and personal growth with many positive qualities. 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. Claudia Gordon was born in rural Jamaica. Claudia L. Gordon is 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. 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. Maude Baggetto is in the Office of Public Engagement focusing on Women and Girls. 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. Claudia Gordon a trailblazer who reminds us that immigrants, they get the job done. /content/aba-cms-dotorg/en/groups/diversity/disabilityrights/initiatives_awards/spotlight/gordon_c. While at Lexington, Claudia Gordon learned sign language, participated in sports, and became a top student. He graduated from Temple University with his MSW in 1988 after receiving his BSW from Edinboro University. Get to know her by reading this post. Her mother immigrated to the South Bronx so that she could earn In this role, she drives strategies for a disability inclusive culture and an accessible plus equitable work environment. [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. This is historical material frozen in time. Like (316) 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. 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. February 29, 2016 by Sue Ann Rodriquez 1 Comment. [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. After two years of no education, Claudia and her mother immigrated to New York. 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. 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. 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. At the time, she was in the care of her elder sister Mildred Taylor, a teacher. She didn't believe she was deaf because she had been reading peoples lip and thought she was hearing their voice. After becoming deaf, Gordon experienced discrimination in Jamaica as deaf and disabled persons are stigmatized. 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. In 2021, Governor Wolf appointed him to serve on the State Board of Vocational Rehabilitation. 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. Claudia was appointed as the Public Engagement Advisor for the Disability Community in the Office of Public Engagement at the White House in 2013. or. The Obama Administration appointed her to the head of the OFCCP. She is an intelligent and talented attorney who comes from the advocacy world. 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. Claudia L. Gordon she/her Inclusion and equity champion. 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. Some cited my deafness as an obstacle rendering it impractical if not impossible to pursue a law degree. While there she developed and executed technical assistance and training to JFO staff and coordinate resolutions of discrimination and accessibility issues. 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. 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. 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. $140 per post at $7/CPM. 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. Friends slowly disappeared and what was usually a cheerful hello was replaced by an awkward smile, curious stares and even outright ridicule. She was the national vice president of the National Black Deaf Advocates from 2002 to 2005. She is also the first deaf person to work at the White House in an detailee capacity. Daily Practice 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. The OFCCP has powerful investigative and regulatory authorities for protecting workers, promoting diversity, and enforcing the law. Claudia Gordon was born in rural Jamaica. She was deaf at the age of eight. It was there that I confronted the truth that passing legislation is one thing but actual implementation with enforcement is another. She currently serves as the Senior Accessibility Strategist with T-Mobile US, Inc. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy. No one gets here by him or herself so I am grateful to a lot of people. One of these activities is the mock trial sponsored by the American Bar Association. 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. Find where to watch Claudia L. Gordon's latest movies and tv shows 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. My mother taught me that we all control our own destiny and should never become victims of our circumstances.