Our History
JULY 5, 1880
JUNE 1887
1898
1981
1987
1995
- Michigan Deaf Association has its beginning as a reunion for Michigan School for the Deaf Alumni in Detroit.
JUNE 1887
- MDA adopts its constitution and by-laws at the Second Alumni Reunion at the Michigan School for the Deaf.
- E. Morris Bristol, the Deaf school's teacher, was elected the first president.
1898
- The name of the Association, "Alumni Association" is changed to Michigan Association of the Deaf (M.A.D.) to include Deaf people living in Michigan, regardless of where they graduated.
1981
- The name of the organization changes again to Michigan Association of Deaf Citizens (M.A.D.C.)
1987
- The MADC celebrates its 100th Anniversary in Livonia to reflect the year when the organization's constitution and by-laws were adopted.
1995
- The organization changes its name once again to Michigan Deaf Association (MDA) to reflect its community's identity and cultural awareness.
Our work
Recent/Current
- Donated more than 6,000 ClearMasks to the Deaf & Hard of Hearing in Michigan, in collaboration with The ClearMask Project
- Regular donations to local organizations
- Member of the Michigan Coalition of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Installment of the LGBTQ+ Committee
- The most significant accomplishment — founded the Division of Deaf and Deafened in the Michigan Department of Labor in 1937
- Formed the first Michigan Legislative Caucus on Deaf, DeafBlind and hard of hearing
- Defeated a legislative action which would have prohibited Deaf people from driving automobiles
- Eliminated provocative terms such as "dumb" and "mutes" when referring to Deaf people in publications
- Rallied at the State Capitol steps to support sign language as a human right for the Deaf
- Advocacy led to the enactment of the Deaf Person's Interpreter Act (P.A. 204 of 1982 - the right of Deaf individual to obtain certified or qualified interpreters in the courts)
- Inclusion in the telecommunications law to authorize the telephone companies to sell or lease telecommunication devices for the Deaf at cost to Deaf and speech-impaired consumers
- Aided in worthy causes including the unveiling of a handsome monument honoring W.L. M. Breg, a pioneer Deaf teacher of the Michigan School for the Deaf
- Played a leading role in the celebration of the Michigan School for the Deaf's 50th, 100th and 125th anniversaries
- Sponsored Miss Deaf Michigan Pageant bi-annually
- Support local Deaf associations
- Make numerous charitable donations