Claudia L. Gordon, Esq. | |
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Born | March 1972 (age 50) St. Mary, Jamaica |
Nationality | United States |
Education | Howard University, B.A. in Political Science; American University Washington College of Law, Juris Doctor |
Occupation | Lawyer |
The Jamaican subsequently made American history, by becoming the first deaf Black woman in the United States to earn a Juris Doctor (law degree) when she graduated from the American University Washington College of Law in 2000. There, she had specialized in disability rights law and policy.
Born in Jamaica, Gordon went deaf around the age of eight years old after she suddenly developed severe pain in her middle ears. None of the doctors did anything to really help or make clear what was going on. She was given some antibiotics but she eventually became deaf.
In Jamaica, deaf and disabled persons are stigmatized and Gordon remembered that a deaf woman who lived in the area was called “dummy,” by local children who threw rocks at her. That would have been Claudia’s life, except at the age of eleven her mother went to America and she was transferred to Lexington School for the Deaf.
Meet Roger O'Kelly, the first Black, Deaf-blind lawyer in the United States.
Michael ChatoffIn 1982, a deaf lawyer, Michael Chatoff, argued a case before the Supreme Court, assisted by a real-time transcription system. That case concerned whether a school board was required to provide a deaf student with a sign-language interpreter. Chatoff lost the case in a 6-3 ruling.
Claudia Gordon is recognized as one of former President Barack Obama's key advisors for disability issues. She was also the first female deaf African American lawyer to graduate law school and pursue a career devoted to helping individuals with disabilities.
While attending the Cascade Primary School in St. Mary, Gordon began developing severe pain in her ears. The pain resulted from a serious defect in her ear which eventually led to her losing her hearing.
Today, about 250 deaf or hard-of-hearing people are practicing law in the United States.
Belva LockwoodThe Rise of Women Attorneys and the Supreme Court. On March 3, 1879, Belva Lockwood became the first woman admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court. The following year, she became the first woman to argue a case before the Justices.
The Council on Women and Girls is delighted to feature Claudia Gordon from the Department of Labor in our Meet the Women of the Administration series. Claudia is a Special Assistant to the Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP).
Claudia Gordon was born in rural Jamaica. Her mother immigrated to the South Bronx, in New York, so that she could earn a better living, and planned to reunite with her children as soon as she could. Claudia and her younger siblings were left in the care of her eldest sister, Mildred Taylor, a schoolteacher.
After two years of no education, Claudia and her mother immigrated to New York. At age 11, she attended Lexington School for the Deaf and learned American Sign Language (ASL) there. It opened up a new world for her.
She is the first deaf African American woman to become an attorney as well as the first deaf student to graduate from the American University (AU) Washington College of Law in Washington, DC in 2000.
March 1972 (age 50Â years)Claudia L. Gordon / Date of birth
American University Washington College of LawClaudia L. Gordon / EducationThe American University Washington College of Law is the law school of American University. It is located on the western side of Tenley Circle in the Tenleytown section of Northwest Washington, D.C., one block south of the Tenleytown-AU Metro station. Wikipedia
Claudia L. Gordon was born in Jamaica .On May 14, 1972. After having sharp pains in her ears, her aunt, who took care of her at the time, took her to a small clinic, as there were no hospitals. She was deaf at the age of eight. She didn't believe she was deaf because she had been reading peoples lip and thought she was hearing their voice.
Gordon graduated from Howard University in 1995 with a bachelor of arts in political science. At Howard, she was a Patricia Robert Harris Public Affairs Fellow, member of the Golden Keys National Honor Society, and member of the Political Science Honor Society.
In 2004, she was named secretary of the Board for the Lexington Board of Directors.
She was the first DeafBlind person to get a college degree but then four years later Roger was the first black, DeafBlind person to get a college degree. At first, he applied to Gallaudet but they did not accept him ...
It’s Black History Month! To celebrate, we’re sharing videos about Deaf Black Americans who have excelled in their field. Meet Roger O’Kelly , the first Black, Deaf-blind lawyer in the United States. See full video and script below.
At first, he applied to Gallaudet but they did not accept him because he was black. He didn’t let that stop him and he enrolled at Shaw University and graduated in 1908. After he got his legal license he entered Yale University and graduated 1912. He was the second deaf person to ever graduate from Yale.
Born in Jamaica, Gordon went deaf around the age of eight years old after she suddenly developed severe pain in her middle ears. None of the doctors did anything to really help or make clear what was going on. She was given some antibiotics but she eventually became deaf.
That would have been Claudia’s life, except at the age of eleven her mother went to America and she was transferred to Lexington School for the Deaf. There she learned sign language, participated in sports, and rose to the top of her class.
She was the first DeafBlind person to get a college degree but then four years later Roger was the first black, DeafBlind person to get a college degree. At first, he applied to Gallaudet but they did not accept him ...
It’s Black History Month! To celebrate, we’re sharing videos about Deaf Black Americans who have excelled in their field. Meet Roger O’Kelly , the first Black, Deaf-blind lawyer in the United States. See full video and script below.
At first, he applied to Gallaudet but they did not accept him because he was black. He didn’t let that stop him and he enrolled at Shaw University and graduated in 1908. After he got his legal license he entered Yale University and graduated 1912. He was the second deaf person to ever graduate from Yale.
When she was eleven, Gordon attended a public school before enrolling at the Lexington School and Center for the Deaf in New York. At Lexington, she learned sign language for the first time and became the valedictorian of her junior and senior high school graduating classes. She was also active in sports, student organizations, and community activities. One of these activities is the mock trial sponsored by the American Bar Association. For three years, Gordon was a member o…
Gordon was born in St. Mary, Jamaica in March 1972.
She suddenly lost her sense of hearing at the age of eight. At the time, she was in the care of her aunt Mildred Taylor, a teacher. She took her to a clinic as well as healers, to no avail. The clinic nurse couldn't diagnose the pain in Gordon's middle ears, nor could the healers restore her hearing. Her family was then forced to take her out of primary school for almost two years, sinc…
After law school, Gordon was awarded a two-year fellowship with Skadden Fellowship Foundation. With her fellowship project sponsored by the National Association of the Deaf, she "provided direct representation and advocacy for poor deaf persons, with a particular emphasis placed on outreach to members of minority groups".
Gordon's career in the public sector started with the National Council on Disability, where she wa…
• Paul G. Hearne Leadership Award from the American Association of People with Disabilities (2003)
• Hurricane Response Award from the United States Secretary of Homeland Security (2005)
• Gold Medal Award from the Secretary of Homeland Security (2006)
Gordon has been active in both the black deaf community and the cross disability community. She was the national vice president of the National Black Deaf Advocates from 2002 to 2005. She has served on multiple boards, including American Association of People with Disabilities and Gallaudet University.
• ACLU District of Columbia Board of Directors, Executive Committee
• DeafKidz International, Global Ambassador
• Centene National Disability Advisory Council
• Center for Democracy and Technology Project on Disability Rights & Algorithmic Fairness, Advisory Committee
Gordon is a public speaker on a broad range of topics primarily pertaining to disability civil rights law, non-discrimination and equal access; grassroots leadership and advocacy; and disability, youth and women empowerment. Gordon shared her ongoing quest to create spaces in society for seldom-heard voices in her TEDx Talk: Owning Otherness.