--- title: "Home" description: "Empowering the Deaf Community in Maine The Maine Association of the Deaf (MeAD) is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving […]" url: "https://deafmaine.org/" date_modified: "2026-07-15T19:08:42-04:00" --- # Empowering the Deaf Community in Maine ## The Maine Association of the Deaf (MeAD) is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community in Maine. [Learn More](/about-us) [Donate](/donate) --- ## Our Mission ## The Maine Association of the Deaf, Inc. is dedicated to promoting the social, recreational, educational, civic, and economic welfare of all Deaf citizens within the State of Maine. We also collaborate with other associations to advance the cause of the Deaf community on a national scale. --- ## Latest News Maine Heads to NAD 2026: MeAD Sends Second-Largest State Delegation in the Country MeAD is sending 5 people to the 58th NAD Biennial Conference in San Francisco — making Maine the second-largest state delegation nationwide, behind only Pennsylvania. Read More Turn Your Bottles and Cans into Support for Maine’s Deaf Community — Donate to MeAD via CLYNK Did you know you can donate your bottle and can returns directly to MeAD through CLYNK? Here's how to do it in just a few steps. Read More Honoring Billy Brackett: MeAD’s Memorial Cornhole Tournament Lives His Dream Billy Brackett was the first Deaf cornhole player in Maine — and it was his dream to have Deaf tournaments. MeAD is making sure that dream lives on. Read More ASL Health Science Weekend: An Immersive Signing Experience at Pine Tree Camp — October 16–18 Join Atomic Hands for a weekend of hands-on health science learning through ASL — anatomy, science, and language combined into an overnight immersion experience at Pine Tree Camp in Rome, Maine. Read More MeAD 2025: What We’re Working On From emergency alert reform to interpreter workforce development, MeAD has been busy in 2025. Here's a look at what we're working on and how you can get involved. Read More MeAD and New England Partners Launch Legal Interpreter Training Initiative Deaf people in Maine's legal system deserve qualified interpreters. MeAD is working to make that a reality through a new legal interpreter training initiative. Read More Transforming Interpreting in Maine: MeAD’s Role in the TIME Project Maine has a serious shortage of ASL interpreters — and MeAD is helping lead the statewide effort to fix it. Here's what the TIME project is, what it found, and what comes next. Read More MeAD 2025 Biennial Conference Recap: Empowered Health, Vibrant Living Over 110 Deaf community members gathered in Bangor for MeAD's 2025 Biennial Conference — three days of health education, advocacy updates, outdoor access, and a banquet show that had hotel staff stopping in their tracks. Read More [See More at Blog](/resources#blog) --- [Video](https://youtu.be/5WiD_zRehC8) [Video](https://youtu.be/5WiD_zRehC8) --- ## Ways to Get Involved Make a donation Your support, whether large or small, will ensure that MeAD continues to provide high-quality services for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Donate Now! Become a member By becoming a member, you’ll support MeAD on a larger scale and gain access to member-exclusive benefits, such as discounted event fees, early notification of the latest social and recreational events, and more. Apply now! Join our interpreting team The Maine Sign Language Interpretive Collective (MSLIC) is dedicated to providing high-quality sign language interpretation services across the state of Maine. If you’re an ASL interpreter interested in joining MSLIC or want to learn more, please contact us! Participate in our workshops To promote effective and quality communication through interpreting, we offer workshops and training sessions for interpreters. Shop with us to support our mission Show your support with MeAD merchandise! All proceeds go towards the operations of our organization and its projects. Visit our shop. --- ## Our Membership [Video](https://youtu.be/5WiD_zRehC8) ### Membership Benefits For The Community As a member of the Maine Association of the Deaf, you’ll enjoy numerous benefits, including access to social events, educational workshops, and advocacy initiatives. You’ll be part of a supportive network that promotes the welfare and rights of the Deaf community in Maine. - Access to social and recreational events - Participation in educational workshops and trainings - Advocacy for Deaf rights and welfare - Networking opportunities with other community members - Discounted event fees [Join or Renew Now](/membership#target) [Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHOmBV4js_E) ### Membership Benefits For Interpreters For interpreters, MeAD membership provides professional development opportunities, access to specialized training, and a chance to collaborate with other professionals in the field. Stay connected with the latest developments in ASL interpreting and enhance your skills. - Professional development workshops - Specialized ASL interpreting training - Networking with other interpreters - Access to MeSLIC (Maine Sign Language Interpreter Committee) - Support for certification and continuing education [Join or Renew Now](/membership#target) [Learn More](/membership) --- ## Upcoming Events [Video](https://youtu.be/5WiD_zRehC8) [Video](https://youtu.be/5WiD_zRehC8) 07 Aug Reducing Mental Health Stigma in the Deaf Community Learn More No Tags Friday, August 07 2026 06:00 pm – 08:00 pm State of Maine Building, 109 Capitol Street Augusta, ME 04332 United States   Dr. Tiffany Bridgett will present at the Deaf Mental Health Workshops on the weekend of August 7–8. She is […] Learn More 08 Aug Destigmatizing Mental Health in Our Work as Professionals Learn More No Tags Saturday, August 08 2026 09:30 am – 04:00 pm State of Maine Building, 109 Capitol Street Augusta, ME 04332 United States   Dr. Tiffany Bridgett will present at the Deaf Mental Health Workshops on the weekend of August 7–8. She is […] Learn More 15 Aug ASL Play-Mean Girls Jr. Learn More No Tags Saturday, August 15 2026 02:00 pm – 03:30 pm Winthrop Performing Arts Center, 211 Rambler Road Winthrop, Maine 04364 United States Enjoy family-friendly summer productions presented by MCPKids! Featuring talented elementary, middle, and high school performers. Select performances include ASL interpretation. […] Learn More [See Full Calendar](/events) --- ## Shop Select options MEAD Merch MEAD Dry BagsRated 0 out of 5 $15.00 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page Select options MEAD Merch MEAD BeanieRated 0 out of 5 $15.00 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page Add to cart MEAD Merch MEAD Logo StickerRated 0 out of 5 $2.00 Add to cart [Visit Our Shop](/shop) --- ## Join Our Community ## Discover the Benefits of MeAD Membership [Donate](/donate) --- ## Workshops ## Our workshops cater to both the Deaf community and interpreters, providing a diverse range of learning opportunities. From Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for interpreters to community-focused workshops, we strive to enhance skills, foster connections, and promote understanding. - CEU Workshops for Interpreters: Stay current with industry standards and enhance your interpreting skills through specialized training sessions. - Community Workshops: Engage in sessions designed to empower the Deaf community, covering topics like advocacy, accessibility, and personal development. [Learn More](/workshops) ![](https://deafmaine.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/image-placeholder.png) --- [Video](https://youtu.be/5WiD_zRehC8) ## Sign Language Interpreting ### Promoting Effective Communication Through Skilled Interpreting Services ## The Maine Association of the Deaf is dedicated to providing access to high-quality sign language interpreting services to ensure effective communication for the Deaf community. Explore the rich history of interpreting in Maine and learn how you can get involved or find the support you need. [For Interpreters](/for-interpreters/) [For Community](/for-community/) --- ## Learn more about ## Maine Sign Language Interpreting Collective [Learn More](/interpreting/) --- ## Stay Connected ## Subscribe to receive the latest updates from the Maine Association of the Deaf, Inc. Stay in the loop and be the first to know about events, workshops, and important news! Full Name Email Address Subscribe [Video](https://youtu.be/5WiD_zRehC8)