These position statements were approved by the ESAD board of directors on January 23, 2010 from general members and their views during ESAD’s October 1-3, 2009 biennial conference in Albany, NY. 

NTID President: 

ESAD supports the national search and eventual hiring of a qualified Deaf candidate to lead National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID). ESAD and NTID continue to have a strong relationship that is paramount to members of the Deaf community in New York State.  

4201 Schools and Deaf Education: 

ESAD opposes any efforts to cut NYS school aid to 4201 schools. Furthermore ESAD strongly opposes any further efforts to eradicate Deaf education programs in favor of mainstreaming. 

DMV License Plate Bill: 

ESAD opposes efforts to designate a license plate that indicates persons as being a Deaf driver. Instead, ESAD supports efforts to have a visor designed to indicate drivers who are Deaf when stopped by law enforcement officials.  

Hearing Aid Bill: 

ESAD strongly endorses efforts by the NYS legislature to require insurance companies doing business in NYS to provide hearing aid coverage policies as an alternative to more costly cochlear implants. ESAD also supports any NYS tax credits that can be provided to users of hearing aid devices. 

HR 3101: 

ESAD strongly supports efforts to ensure federal passage of HR 3101 (Communications and Video Accessibility Act) which will benefit countless Deaf residents of New York State with mandating all internet enabled telephone, computer and television products to be accessible including captioning requirements. 

Deaf Truck Driver: 

ESAD opposes efforts by NYSDOT and USDOT in prohibiting Deaf persons pursuing truck driver licensing. ESAD encourages both NYS and USDOT to reconsider archaic policies and develop licensing procedures for Deaf truck drivers towards expanding employment opportunities.