History

In 2001, the Canadian Association of the Deaf (CAD), a consumer advocacy for health and education organization, recognized the need to develop a national network of and for Deaf women. To address the issues and concerns identified by CAD, the first national Deaf Women’s Conference was held in Vancouver, B.C., August 13-18, 2007.

Janice Jickels, a Deaf woman leader from Vancouver, led this conference. The mandate of the newly established Deaf Women’s Conference was to provide leadership by sharing knowledge, thereby empowering Deaf Canadian women to be well informed related to health and to improve their quality of life.

At this conference, it was recognized that women must be proactive by taking action to close the gap between the current reality and the ideal situation for Deaf Canadian women. Women also have a responsibility to communicate and share information with each other and to access information about health through sign language such as American Sign Language and langue des signes quebecoise.

Vision Statement

The Deaf Women’s Conference focuses on human rights, health, sports, education and eliminating systemic violence against women and children.

We need to empower more Deaf women to take charge through informed decision-making and creating opportunities that will help to shape their lives’ directions. What can we do to help more Canadian Deaf Women fulfill their aspirations? Critical to this process is the collective knowledge shared by influential Deaf women leaders and mentorship programs. Dialogue through sign language, personal growth, shared experiences and inspirational stories are emphasized at this national conference. Through networking, workshops, mentoring, public relations, research and development and information sharing, this conference will help address the current gap for Canadian Deaf women to be empowered.

The next conference sponsored by the Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf (CCSD) will be held July 24-28, 2011 at the Hilton, Niagara Falls, Ontario. “CHERISH LIFE” is the title of the Canadian Deaf Women’s Conference, 2011.

For more information, please contact Maryann Chmiel.