Education: Professional Organizations

Council of American Instructors of the Deaf (CAID)

The Council of American Instructors of the Deaf (CAID) is the oldest national organization for all teachers, administrators, educational interpreters, residential personnel, and other professionals involved in the education of deaf children. Established in 1850, CAID serves as a clearinghouse for information on education of deaf children and as a forum for educational developments and research findings in the field. CAID also publishes the oldest educational journal in the United States for Deaf education and related areas, American Annals of the Deaf. Through biennial conferences, the organization collaborates with local, state, regional, and national organizations to support teachers in best practices, classroom ideas, technology application, networking, advocacy, professional development opportunities, and dissemination of information and research findings.

Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf (CEASD)

Established in 1868, the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf (CEASD) is an association of schools and programs committed to ensuring the excellence of the education of deaf students. Its mission is to develop organizational leaders of center schools and educational programs for deaf students to maximize educational outcomes. CEASD established a voluntary accreditation of member schools in the 1950s, with goals of developing visionary leaders of center schools and programs for deaf students committed [Page 349]to shaping educational policy and practice to achieve successful educational outcomes. CEASD’s accreditation process includes a set of rigorous protocols and research-based processes for reviewing a school’s organizational effectiveness.

Alexander Graham Bell Association (AG Bell)

The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) was founded in 1890 by Alexander Graham Bell, who envisioned an organization that would educate its membership and the general public about advances in hearing technology designed to maximize the speaking and listening potential of people with hearing conditions. The association collaborates with a diverse membership, including parents of children with hearing loss, educators, adults with hearing loss, and hearing health professionals with a philosophy of oral/aural deaf education.

Association of College Educators–Deaf & Hard of Hearing (ACE–DHH)

The Association of College Educators–Deaf & Hard of Hearing (ACE–DHH) is an organization of university professors who prepare future teachers of deaf children. ACE–DHH holds annual conferences throughout North America. Its mission is to provide a place for university faculty, candidates for doctoral degrees, field vendors, and sign language interpreters to share research and collaborate on strategies for improving teacher education programs.

Council on Education of the Deaf (CED)

In 1930, CEASD established and administered a program of mutually agreed-upon standards for teachers of deaf children. The program was transferred to the Council on Education of the Deaf (CED) in July 1969 by mutual agreement of the member organizations. CED’s fundamental mission is to accredit university programs that prepare teachers of deaf students, certifying highly qualified teachers who meet its standards, and collaborating with national, state, and local associations and agencies in a variety of activities, committees, and workgroups. CED’s executive board comprises appointed representatives from five member organizations: AG Bell, CEASD, ACE–DHH, National Association of the Deaf (NAD), and American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC).

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