The mission of the Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness, Inc. (GLAD) is to ensure equal access of the deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, and deaf disabled community to the same opportunities afforded their hearing counterparts. The organization’s general purposes and powers are directed around the promotion of the social, recreational, cultural, educational, and vocational well-being of its deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, and deaf disabled constituents. GLAD’s specific and primary purpose is to act as a coordinating agency that addresses the broad social service needs of deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, and deaf disabled people through direct service provision, advocacy, research and dissemination of information regarding deafness to parents, professionals and consumers. GLAD has been improving the lives of the deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, and deaf disabled since its creation as a volunteer organization in 1969. GLAD is committed to the philosophy “…of, by, for and with the deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, and deaf disabled.” In accordance with Chapter 1193, Statutes of 1980, GLAD includes deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, and deaf disabled individuals at all levels of the organization. GLAD is dedicated to improving the overall well-being of the deaf and hard of hearing community, whereby the Executive Director and 51% of the Board and/or staff are deaf or hard of hearing. Recognizing the diversity of the community, GLAD believes firmly in the concept of personal choice. All persons, regardless of hearing loss or communication mode, as well as race, sex or creed, are welcome at GLAD.