USA Deaf Sports Federation

"Athletics is one opportunity that our students can bring the best out of themselves other than in the classroom. And that's where we can show their hearing peers that they can do just as well if not better than they do. And that's something that we can't always do in the classroom. and athletics allows us to do that here on campus and off campus."

Deaflympics

Deaflympics - Sofia 2013 - Highlights for the Closing Ceremony

International Committee of Sports for the Deaf

USA Winter

Deaflympics Intro

• August, 1924

-First International Silent Games (held in Paris)

-First games held for athletes with a disability

• 1949

-First Winter Games (held in Seefeld, Austria)

• September 2009

-21st Summer Deaflympics (held in Taipei, Chinese Taipei)

-4,000 deaf athletes and officials participated

-77 nations represented

• February 2007 (held in Salt Lake City, United States)

-16th Winter Deaflympics

-600+ athletes and officials participated

• "Today, 108 national deaf sports federations are members of International Committee of Sports for the Deaf"

USADSF

Underdogs: Ishpeming High School

History

• "..the only national athletic association to coordinate the participation of American deaf and hard of hearing individuals in international competition"
• benefits of recreational opportunities, sports training, & competition

-physically

-mentally

-socially

-spiritually

• environment

-equality

-mutual respect

-acceptance

• "The USADSF is recognized by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) as the sole national association of deaf sports in the United States"

• 1945: American Athletic Union of the Deaf [AAUD]
• 1957: American Athletic Association of the Deaf
• [AAAD] (name change)
• 1997: USA Deaf Sports Federation [USADSF] (name change)
• it is now the USADF instead of the AAAD because the word “athletic” means track and field (the sport) in most languages- people thought the AAAD was only for track and field
• Akron Club of the Deaf in Ohio sponsored the first national basketball tournament; which created the AAUD

USADSF

References

• http://www.usdeafsports.org/about/frequently-asked-questions/

• http://www.nchpad.org/Directories/Organizations/2121/USA~Deaf~Sports~Federation~~USADSF~

• http://www.deaflympics.com//

• Purpose: “to foster and regulate uniform rules of competition and provide social outlets for deaf members and their friends; serve as a parent organization of national sports organizations; conduct annual athletic competitions; and assist in the participation of US Teams in international competition"
• Funded by

-membership fees

-donations

-sponsorships

• Member of United States Olympic Committee [USOC]

-community-based multi-sport Organization

-independent of the US Paralympic Committee

USA Deaf Sports Federation

Joslyn Schwalbe