Since earning her juris doctorate from AU, Gordon has been active in working to ensure the rights of people with disabilities are respected. Many shrugged off my grand intention as wishful thinking. My work at Labor is with an agency called the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. 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. Shortly thereafter, Claudias mother brought her to the United States in search of opportunities for her daughter. I'm delighted by the growing No one gets here by him or herself so I am grateful to a lot of people. 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. As she became deaf during the summer, the school and her parents decided that Claudia couldn't go back to school in the fall. Aries Model. In 2021, Governor Wolf appointed him to serve on the State Board of Vocational Rehabilitation. Get to know her by reading this post. Previously, Claudia was a Planning & Performance Mo nitoring Officer at HEART Trust/NTA and also held positions at Lexington School for the Deaf, Goje Frozen Yogurt, Department of Homeland Security. She was the vice president of the National Black Deaf Advocates. Want more stories like this? 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 Gordon is the first deaf African American woman to become a lawyer. #21. Shortly thereafter, Claudia's mother brought her to the United States in search of opportunities for her daughter. She was kept at home to do chores instead. Typically, policy changes like this are submitted for public comment after theyve been formulated. 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. See Photos. But I am blessed with supportive family and friends who know that the long hours I spend at work are spent doing something important. View the profiles of people named Claudia Gordon. $200 per post at $10/CPM. [18], Gordon has been active in both the black deaf community and the cross disability community. 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. Born in Jamaica, Gordon went deaf around the age of eight years old after she suddenly developed severe pain in her middle ears. YOU HAVE 20,000 FOLLOWERS: $100 per post at a $5/CPM. How Long Will Joe Goldbergs Rampage Be Left Unchecked? Grounded in Navajo tradition and fluent in Navajo, Benally is an experienced cultural instructor. To be honest, I dont. February 29, 2016 by Sue Ann Rodriquez 1 Comment. Claudia Gordon is the first female African American deaf lawyer in the United States. Claudia L. Gordon is the first deaf African-American female attorney in the United States. 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. Claudia L Gordon is Trustee at Gallaudet University. After becoming deaf, Gordon experienced discrimination in Jamaica as deaf and disabled persons are stigmatized. Opt in to send and receive text messages from President Biden. Join Facebook to connect with Claudia Kordon and others you may know. Facebook gives people the power. 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. Throughout Claudia Gordons life, she has been given many awards and honors. Thank you for this feature! They were always in the background pitching in whenever my Mom was in need. 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. [12], Gordon's career in the public sector started with the National Council on Disability, where she was a consulting attorney. She was one of the only approximately fifty qualified deaf lawyers in the U.S. and Canada back then. At age 11, she attended Lexington School for the Deaf and learned American Sign Language (ASL) there. In 2004, she became Senior Policy Advisor for the Department of Homeland Security, Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. 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. 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. I Need To Know What 'Very Bland' Opinion Got J.K. Rowling Kicked Out of a Harry Potter Forum, Disney Found a Way To Make Us Care About Peter Pan Again, 'The Mandalorian' Makes It Pretty Clear Where Gina Carano's Cara Dune Went, 'Quantumania' Writer Shares Painful Thoughts on All the Negative Reviews, Is Grogu Related to Yoda? In 1995, she graduated form Howard University with a Bachelors in Political Science. She was deaf at the age of eight. 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. 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. What inspired you to pursue your field of interest? In 2004, she was named secretary of the Board for the Lexington Board of Directors. Claudia L. Gordon, Esq. 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW [26] She has served on multiple boards, including American Association of People with Disabilities[27] and Gallaudet University. View the profiles of people named Claudia Kordon. The Obama Administration appointed her to the head of the OFCCP. Currently, Claudia is a Senior Policy Advisor for the Department of Homeland Security, Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. While in her eldest sisters care, Claudia suddenly developed severe pain in her middle ears and was taken to a small clinic. Use WeCos Library. 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. Prior to attending AU, Gordon graduated from Howard University in 1995 with a bachelor of arts in political science. Deseo toda la felicidad del mundo para ti , alegrias , risas y mucha" 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. In 1995, Gordon graduated with honors from Howard University. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Kathleen Martinez. Claudia is a Special Assistant to the Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). 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. Senior Accessibility Strategist at T-Mobile . She currently serves as the Senior Accessibility Strategist with T-Mobile US, Inc. While at Lexington, Claudia Gordon learned sign language, participated in sports, and became a top student. In truth, I was raised by a community of women. Gordon is also associated with the National Coalition for Disability Rights , where she is part of their national governance, Sources: http://deafness.about.com/od/deafwomen/p/claudiagordon.htm http://www.deafpeople.com/dp_of_month/Gordon.html, Sylvia Walker: A Champion for Disability Rights, Filed Under: Access Awareness, General, Making a Case for Accessibility, [] at the National Association of the Deaf Law and Advocacy Center, giving her the opportunity to provide direct representation and advocacy for poor deaf persons with a particular emphasis on outreach []. Teaming up with others who have similar disabilities and being vocal about your needs are necessary in order to be properly prepared., American Bar Association 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. [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. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. 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. Model Born in Rhode Island. Claudia L. Gordon is the first deaf African-American female attorney in the United States. from Johns Hopkins University.Emily Voorde, Member, National Council on DisabilityEmily Voorde is an Associate Director with NEWCO Strategies, a full-service strategic consulting firm that helps progressive campaigns, organizations, and companies achieve their goals. She works at the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and has. Her deafness gave her an opportunity to discover her identity, strengths, and personal growth with many positive qualities. 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 . 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. 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. She later went to the American University Washington College of Law. If you have questions regarding how this information may affect you or your organization legally, please seek the advice of professional legal counsel. The White House Now, she has come on the inside to create change from within government. Friends slowly disappeared and what was usually a cheerful hello was replaced by an awkward smile, curious stares and even outright ridicule. Claudia was appointed as the Public Engagement Advisor for the Disability Community in the Office of Public Engagement at the White House in 2013. 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). 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. Born in Jamaica, Gordon went deaf around the age of eight years old after she suddenly developed severe pain in her middle ears. Claudia's ethnicity is Caucasian, whose political affiliation is currently a registered . She also is the first deaf student to graduate from the American University (AU) Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C. in 2000. This discrimination is what inspired her to become a lawyer. After two years of no education, Claudia and her mother immigrated to New York. By the time she reached her junior year in high school, Gordon knew that she wanted to become a lawyer. 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. [emailprotected]. Rifkind received a B.A. 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. While there she developed and executed technical assistance and training to JFO staff and coordinate resolutions of discrimination and accessibility issues. Benally is also involved with the National Congress of American Indians, Disability Sub-Committee. Handspeak trademarked. The discrimination, that she experienced in Jamaica and in general, inspired her to become a lawyer. She is also the first deaf student to graduate in 2000, from the American University (AU) Washington College of Law, in Washington, DC. 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. On a personal level, Ive had so many wonderful moments at the Department that its difficult to pick just one. 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. Log in or sign up for Facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. She was given some antibiotics but she eventually became deaf. 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. 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 L. Gordonwas born in Jamaica. 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. [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. I want to contribute to a better society where there is more understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities and where the same opportunities are provided for all." In 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. She is also the first deaf person to work at the White House in an detailee capacity. She was the national vice president of the National Black Deaf Advocates from 2002 to 2005. [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. A. degree from Howard University . 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 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. Claudia Gordon a trailblazer who reminds us that immigrants, they get the job 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. or. In 2004, she was named secretary of the Board for the Lexington Board of Directors. Your email address will not be published. . See Claudia L. Gordon full list of movies and tv shows from their career. Thanks to the values that were instilled in me during my formative years, I understood then that those voices of doubt neither dictated my worth nor my capacity. She currently works in the U.S. Department of Labors Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. Many shrugged off my grand intention as wishful thinking. Born in Jamaica, Claudia became deaf at age 8. 49 Year Old Aries #13. Born in Providence, RI #12. 234 Likes, 63 Comments - Claudia L. Gordon (@cascade4ever) on Instagram: "Happy Valentines Day friends!! 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. 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. 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. She took her to a clinic and healers, to no avail. The website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work. 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.