What RAAD Is Building
RAAD is creating infrastructure that connects Deaf culture and addiction recovery systems.
Pillar A
ASL-Proficient Counselor Workforce
Status: Building
The Gap
No consistent national path exists for addiction counselors to gain ASL skills specific to treatment settings.
What RAAD Is Developing
- Structured ASL training pathway
- "Recovery in ASL" Counselor Scholarships
- Incentives toward ASL certification
Pillar B
Staff ASL Training
Status: Building / Pilot
The Gap
Staff rarely receive structured ASL training for treatment contexts.
What RAAD Is Developing
- Practical ASL classes for counselors, nurses, peers
- Treatment-specific vocabulary (intake, crisis language, group rules)
Pillar C
Interpreter Network
Status: Building
The Gap
Programs lack centralized access to recovery-savvy interpreters.
What RAAD Is Developing
- Volunteer interpreter database
- Recovery-context orientation
Pillar D
D/HH Treatment Access Fund
Status: Seeking Funding
The Gap
Travel, interpreter hours, and technology barriers block treatment access.
What RAAD Is Developing
- Grants for out-of-pocket treatment costs
- Interpreter hour coverage
- VRI and captioning support
Core Focus
Pillar E
Recovery-to-Counselor Pathway (Core)
Status: Early Development / Vision Stage
The Gap
No dedicated pipeline exists for D/HH adults in recovery to enter the counseling workforce.
What RAAD Is Developing
- D/HH Recovery Fellows Program
- Scholarships and exam fees
- Mentorship and supervised placements