Officials at the Department of Social Services, Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, provided a travel subvention to officials of two of the country’s organizations that advocate on behalf of the deaf and hearing impaired, to ensure their attendance at the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) United States Leadership Training Conference (NLTC).

Held in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America, October 16-19, the NAD Leadership Training Conference seeks to foster the enhanced development of leadership within state associations, organizations, and corporations.

Recognized as the USA’s premier civil rights organization of, by, and for deaf and hearing impaired individuals, the NAD’s mission is to provide guidance and support to the deaf and hard of hearing community to take on society’s challenges and succeed in a more equal and accessible world.

The 2019 Leadership Training Conference facilitated 24 “exciting workshops” in addition to two plenary presentations, a Racial Justice pre-conference, and Caucus sessions. Workshop tracks included Education Advocacy, Legislative Advocacy, Organizational Leadership, Civil Rights Advocacy, and Government Employee Training and Professional Development

The two officials -- Mr. Johnathan Cooper, a member of the Deaf Association of Grand Bahama, and Mr. Shelmerdine Cartwright, a member of the Bahamas Association for the Physically Disabled and The Bahamas National Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing -- met with Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Frankie A. Campbell, prior to their departure from the Lynden Pindling International Airport.

Minister Campbell said the provision of the travel subvention was in keeping with the Ministry’s objective of building greater institutional and intellectual capacity in-country.

“As the Minister responsible for the community of persons with disabilities, and one who promotes inclusion, equity, equality and access to all of the same opportunities that are available to those persons who do not live with disabilities, I felt that it was important, that it was necessary, for the Department of Social Services to provide the travel subvention to Mr. Cartwright and Mr. Cooper to ensure that they would be able to attend the conference and have the opportunity to network with their peers from throughout the United States of America, other parts of the region, and indeed the various global communities in order to share best practices while simultaneously build local capacity.

“I am satisfied that any exposure we get as a people that will help build capacity -- whether institutional and/or intellectual capacity -- benefits us all as a nation,” Minister Campbell added.

 

Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Frankie A. Campbell, at the Lynden Pindling International Airport with (at left): Mr. Johnathan Cooper of the Deaf Association Grand Bahama and Mr. Shelmerdine Cartwright of The Bahamas Association for the Physically Disabled and The Bahamas National Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Ms. Maria Kelley, Secretary, Secretariat, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities is at far right.