As President and Chairman of the Board of World Deaf Architecture, Inc., Robert Nichols and his colleagues have established a new group - World Deaf Architecture (WDA)- which is affiliated with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Knowledge Community since 2015. WDA is specifically for professional architects and designers who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing (designated as D/HH). WDA endeavors to bring together American and International D/HH architects and designers to provide opportunities for networking, professional development, and education worldwide.

The WDA group’s objective is to support any D/HH professionals by embedding with AIA conventions to provide opportunities for networking, professional development and assistance in education worldwide. The purpose of WDA is to inform all D/HH professionals by social media like a Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, etc. and to act as a platform for all discussions. To Join WDA, applicant needs to be at least an associate member, student member and member of AIA.

Within the AIA organization, education and activities, WDA goals also include the following:
•Bring together D/HH professionals to share common experiences, knowledge, and expertise.
•Conduct forums for both D/HH and hearing professionals on how they can work together effectively.
•Educate hearing professionals about the benefits of hiring, developing, and promoting D/HH professionals.
•Provide D/HH professionals with resources to develop, market, and grow their own practices.
•Improve access to information and education for deaf/hard of hearing professionals (language modification, interpreting, and captioning).
•Provide deaf/hard of hearing student mentoring.
•To establish a collaborative group initiative where deaf/hard of hearing architects can gather to foster relationships with other professional designers with hearing loss in the design industry. Together we will establish a network of peers where career building and job enhancement with the special accommodation as well as sign language interpreter, CART, and other communication access devices will be supported as we increase the visibility of deaf/hard of hearing in the field of architecture.
•A professional Interest Area of the AIA Local/State Chapter and International Chapter that serves as a both statewide and international organizational unit to coordinate programming and collaboration between WDA/AIA and allied design committees of the AIA chapter will be determined.

As the organization reaches an advance stage, the WDA will be served with AIA members and affiliated members in the field of architecture and engage a variety of resources to provide job-search services, continuing education, scholarship and internship programs. The WDA is led by a Directors of Board and volunteer advisory group of AIA local and state chapters in the nation and a key liaison of international societies of architects.

The mission of WDA/AIA is to serve as the profession in architecture and the resource for our members in service to society. The World Deaf Architecture can help foster new membership with hearing loss from registered professionals, students, interns and allied members. Growth in the relationship and cooperation with the other members is ultimately vital to the overall success of the American Institute of Architects.

by

Robert Nichols

2934 Fessenden St NW

District of Columbia

P: +12025408889

F: +12022378908

Robert Nichols is AIBA member since 2017, with 2032 AIBA rating.