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. While at Lexington, Claudia Gordon learned sign language, participated in sports, and became a top student. 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. Claudia L. Gordon, Esq. Claudia Gordon is the first female African American deaf lawyer in the United States. Being around other deaf children, and being embraced by a community taught Gordon that her disability was not the end of the road. Born in Jamaica, Gordon went deaf around the age of eight years old after she suddenly developed severe pain in her middle ears. 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. 49 Year Old Aries #13. [emailprotected]. She suddenly lost her sense of hearing at the age of eight. 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. Many shrugged off my grand intention as wishful thinking. NOT JUST COUNTRY FLORAL & GIFTS LLC is a Texas Domestic Limited-Liability Company (Llc) filed on September 28, 2012. There she learned sign language, participated in sports, and rose to the top of her class. To be honest, I dont. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. [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. 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. After becoming deaf, Gordon experienced discrimination in Jamaica as deaf and disabled persons are stigmatized. Born on April 12 #43. "Meet the Women of the Administration: Claudia Gordon." sites@gsu - Blogs for Georgia State University. Claudia L. Gordon, Esq. Team Zutara forever. Handspeak trademarked. After two years of no education, Claudia and her mother immigrated to New York. 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. In this role, she drives strategies for a disability inclusive culture and an accessible plus equitable work environment. The OFCCP has powerful investigative and regulatory authorities for protecting workers, promoting diversity, and enforcing the law. 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. Philanthropic organization are vital to the work of advancing disability inclusion and access. This discrimination is what inspired her to become a lawyer. 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. 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. Claudia's ethnicity is Caucasian, whose political affiliation is currently a registered . Claudia Gordon is a Senior Accessibility Strategist at T-Mobile based in Bellevue, Washington. 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. She also is the first deaf student to graduate from the American University (AU) Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C. in 2000. Claudia and her younger siblings were left in the care of her eldest sister, Mildred Taylor, a schoolteacher. Still lives in Brooklyn with her over 500 Pokmon that she has Eevee trained into a mighty army. Claudia Gordon. 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. It comes about when Casey and Rosie get some alone time, a day on from Casey deciding not to . And so as a result, at age eight Claudia Gordon became deaf. What has been your favorite moment since youve been working for the Department of Labor? Claudia remembers how she was treated in Jamaica after going deaf. Born in Jamaica, Claudia became deaf at age 8. She was also active in sports, student organizations, and community activities. 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? One problem we still find is that those who create emergency preparedness plans need to realize that the disability community is not homogeneous. The HandSpeak site is a sign language resource created with by the ASL instructor and native signer in North America. At 11, she moved to the United States and attended Lexington School for the Deaf in New York. 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 currently serves as the Senior Accessibility Strategist with T-Mobile US, Inc. 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. Aries Model. or. While working with impoverished and minority deaf people, she became attracted to the prospect of working in a Federal office. I did not realize until years later that a woman who everyone in my town knew as dummy, and who children my age would incessantly harass with stone throwing, was deaf. Claudia and her younger siblings were left in the care of her eldest sister, Mildred Taylor, a schoolteacher. 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. Gordon was born in St. Mary, Jamaica in March 1972. 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. She is also the first deaf student to graduate in 2000, from the American University (AU) Washington College of Law, in Washington, DC. But I am blessed with supportive family and friends who know that the long hours I spend at work are spent doing something important. Some cited my deafness as an obstacle rendering it impractical if not impossible to pursue a law degree. Claudia received a B. Pronunciation of Claudia L. Gordon with 1 audio pronunciation and more for Claudia L. Gordon. People named Claudia L Gordon. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. At OFCCP Claudia works on ensuring that contractors doing business with the Federal government do not discriminate and take affirmative action. It would also be helpful to create a network of support in your community. She works at the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and has. 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. She is also the first deaf person to work at the White House in an detailee capacity. Friends slowly disappeared and what was usually a cheerful hello was replaced by an awkward smile, curious stares and even outright ridicule. Get to know her by reading this post. It's hard to wrap your mind around it when you see it on paper. She currently works in the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. Claudia L. Gordon is the first deaf Black female attorney in the United States. Shortly thereafter, Claudias mother brought her to the United States in search of opportunities for her daughter. 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 /content/aba-cms-dotorg/en/groups/diversity/disabilityrights/initiatives_awards/spotlight/gordon_c. Sign language on this site is the authenticity of culturally Deaf native-signers. Most of her work involves the implementation of the executive order for Individuals with Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness, which makes sure federal agencies work together to ensure that emergency preparedness plans are inclusive of the needs and expertise of those with disabilities. In 1988, Braddy was hired as CEO of the Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania, where he served for over 30 years. Model Born in Rhode Island. 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. Claudia L. Gordon is the first deaf African-American female attorney in the United States. 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. 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. Princess (she/her-bisexual) is a Brooklyn born Megan Fox truther, who loves Sailor Moon, mythology, and diversity within sci-fi/fantasy. My life changed overnight, she said in an interview later in lifewith the White House. Shortly thereafter, Claudia's mother brought her to the United States in search of opportunities for her daughter. [12], Gordon's career in the public sector started with the National Council on Disability, where she was a consulting attorney. 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. 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. Leave a comment Your membership has expired - last chance for uninterrupted access to free CLE and other benefits. 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. 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. Born in Jamaica, Gordon went deaf around the age of eight years old after she suddenly developed severe pain in her middle ears. Her career began as an AmeriCorps member and 2nd grade teacher in Pascagoula, Mississippi. She is also a Member of Disability Lead. 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. Some cited my deafness as an obstacle rendering it impractical if not impossible to pursue a law degree. Baggetto, Maude. 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 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. 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 took her to a clinic and healers, to no avail. See Claudia L Gordon's compensation, career history, education, & memberships. When she graduated from the school in 2000, she became the first known deaf black American woman to earn a Juris Doctor. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy. She was deaf at the age of eight. Join Facebook to connect with Claudia Gordon and others you may know. 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. Director of Government and Compliance with T-Mobile Accessibility. [1] She currently works as a Senior Accessibility Strategy Partner at T-Mobile within its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team. Claudia Gordon was born in rural Jamaica. The White House Claudia L. Gordon she/her Inclusion and equity champion. Find where to watch Claudia L. Gordon's latest movies and tv shows Now, she has come on the inside to create change from within government. 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. [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). What inspired you to pursue your field of interest? Use WeCos Library. 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. To get to know aboutClaudia, her career, and her inspirations read the following Q and A with her. February 29, 2016 by Sue Ann Rodriquez 1 Comment. While in her eldest sisters care, Claudia suddenly developed severe pain in her middle ears and was taken to a small clinic. How Long Will Joe Goldbergs Rampage Be Left Unchecked? 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. 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? [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. 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. First Name Claudia #8. A. degree from Howard University . It's time to renew your membership and keep access to free CLE, valuable publications and more. . Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Kathleen Martinez. She taught me about the unbelievable power of faith and love. Claudia Gordon is a lot of things. 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. She was kept at home to do chores instead. This political appointment made Gordon the first deaf person to work at the White House in a detailee capacity. #21. 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. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. Required fields are marked *. By identifying and developing strategic partnerships, Rifkind positions Members to take on leadership roles that advance their careers, civic engagement, and equity for people with disabilities. My aunt Mildred is a teacher, and as such she instilled in us the importance of a good education. 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". 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. 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. In 1995, Gordon graduated with honors from Howard University. 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. In 1995, she graduated form Howard University with a Bachelors in Political Science. Grounded in Navajo tradition and fluent in Navajo, Benally is an experienced cultural instructor. She didn't believe she was deaf because she had been reading peoples lip and thought she was hearing their voice. In 2004, she was named secretary of the Board for the Lexington Board of Directors. 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." Its always a joy when I get to work closely with my boss, OFCCP Director Patricia A. Shiu. Rifkind is passionate about the arts and serves as Treasurer for the Chicago Cultural Accessibility Consortium. 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. Facebook gives people the power. [14], Gordon became a member of the Obama Administration from 2009 to 2017. 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. @claudia.l.gordon.1. 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. Gordon later emigrated to the United States and reunited with her mother, who was living in South Bronx, New York. Thank you for this feature! https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/09/30/president-biden-announces-key-appointments-to-boards-and-commissions-9/?utm_source=link, Office of the United States Trade Representative. Claudia Gordon a trailblazer who reminds us that immigrants, they get the job done. 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 . August 30, 2010. http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/08/30/meet-women-administration-claudia-gordon, Copyright 1995-2023 Jolanta Lapiak. At the time, she was in the care of her elder sister Mildred Taylor, a teacher. 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. 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. Foreign-born deaf lawyer uses opportunity in America to help those with disabilities during emergencies. As the first deaf black female attorney in the United States, Claudia Gordon recounts her childhood in the West Indies, her search for identity while grappling with audism in a hearing college, and her ongoing quest to create spaces in society for seldom-heard voices. She was the vice president of the National Black Deaf Advocates. [5] She suddenly lost her sense of hearing at the age of eight. Recently, what has been new and exciting about your work? kkitt1, Your email address will not be published. This is historical material frozen in time. Previously city included Lacombe LA. 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. The clinic nurse couldn't diagnose the pain in Gordon's middle ears, nor could the healers restore her hearing. She currently works in the U.S. Department of Labors 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.
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