Chris Wagner

Talk

Strategic Partnerships: Cooperation Among Stakeholders in Sign Language Interpreting Isn’t Enough 

Chris’s talk will explore how developing strategic partnerships among the Deaf and Community and the sign language interpreting community is more than a cooperative effort; it’s one of accountability.

Bio

Elected in 2012, Chris Wagner is the current President of the National Association of the Deaf, the nation’s premier civil rights organization of, by and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States.  Prior to his election, Wagner served as Vice President of the NAD for six years.   Chris is currently the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Business Operations for CSDVRS, LLC, a video telecommunications company providing solutions for deaf and hard of hearing individuals as well as foreign language speakers.

Previously, Chris served as the Executive Director / CEO of non-profit agencies serving deaf and hard of hearing individuals in Tampa Bay for several years. With a background in healthcare administration, he was responsible for the implementation and operation of the first assisted living facility and nursing rehabilitation facility for the deaf and hard of hearing in Florida. Instrumental in the creation of the Florida Coordinating Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (FCCDHH), Chris was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush as the first member and Chairman of the Council. During his tenure as Chair of FCCDHH, Chris implemented the Medical Accessibility Task Force, which led to collaboration with the Florida Hospital Association to develop a series of training resources for Florida hospitals.  He also currently serves or has served on numerous boards, which include stints as President of Florida Association of the Deaf, Inc. (FAD), Vice Chair of the Governor’s American with Disabilities Act Working Group (ADAWG), Member of the Florida Telecommunications Access System Act Advisory Board, State of Florida Disability Task Force for Emergency Preparedness, currently Chair of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) Foundation Board and as the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. Prior to his election as FAD President, he served as the first president of the Florida Coalition for Disability Rights.  Chris has received many awards for his outstanding leadership and advocacy efforts on both state and national levels.