History of KCD
|
1977Knoxville Area Communication Center for the Deaf, Inc (KACCD) was founded in 1977 as a not-for-profit agency devoted to communication services for the Deaf. Graystone Presbyterian Church in South Knoxville loaned KACCD some office space to begin operation with a staff of 2 part-time workers. KACCD assisted deaf, late-deafened, deaf-blind, and hard-of-hearing persons by offering interpreting and telephone message relay services, as well as community services and technology assistance. All services were provided on a limited basis without hope of financial reimbursement.
|
|
1979Only 2 years after its founding, KACCD began providing services outside of Knoxville. Demand for services continued to grow and KACCD continued to expand.
|
|
1989KACCD moved, for the second time, into a larger building in order to offer a meeting room for socialization, recreation, and education.
|
|
1990Telephone Relay Services for the state of Tennessee were taken over by AT&T. After a few months of duplicating this service to ensure a smooth transition, KCD officially ended telephone message relays and interpreting services began in earnest. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was enacted. The ADA, along with other changes in federal and state legislature, allowed KCD's interpreting program to become self-sustaining.
|
|
2000In 2000, KACCD moved, again, into a 10,000 square feet building in South Knoxville and established new services - a VRS station (Video Relay Service) and a computer lab featuring 2 internet connected computers available for responsible community use.
|
|
2005 - PresentIn January of 2005, KACCD changed its name to become the Knoxville Center of the Deaf (KCD). KCD operates as a 501(c)3 Non-Profit agency that is directed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Our Board consists of representatives from the following groups: Deaf, CODAs, Interpreters, Interpreter Trainers, Legal Counselors, Financial Counselors, and Human Resources/Personnel Advisers.
|
