The Council of Organizations Serving the Deaf, ( C.O.S.D.) served as a clearing house, a contact point for information, and a combined action by National Organizations serving the deaf.

Following a year long study by the National Health Council, under a grant from the Social and Rehabilitation Service of the U.S. officially incorporated on January 27, 1967.

The C.O.S.D. papers which consist of approximately 3,400 pages, date from 1967-1977. The bulk of the collection is made up of financial documents, specifically: accounts, ledger, and vouchers relating to the Council’s activities from the years 1967-1974.

The Council was composed of four classes of members:

Active members – consisted of organizations which existed to serve deaf people, were national in scope, and were supported primarily by voluntary dues or contributions. Depending on size, each organization was entitled to one or two votes on the Council of Directors. Associate Members – organizations with an interest in deafness, yet did not meet active membership qualifications. Members could participate in programs, but did not receive representation on the Board, yet could participate in the program. Individual Members – people interested in supporting the Council’s work. These members could participate in the program, yet could not vote unless elected to the Board of Directors at Large. Committee members met at least three times a year, and also maintained communication through newsletters, memoranda and board letters. These correspondence report national as well as international developments relating to deafness. Such correspondence can be found among the papers.

Also included in the collection are minutes, agendas and documentation of expenses from C.O.S.D. meetings, workshops and conventions.

An Annual Forum was sponsored by the Council each spring in conjunction with the election meeting of the Board of Delegates, to discusstopics of interest for deaf people.

Each Annual Forum provides an opportunity for professionals to exchange information and experience, to report new developments to a wide audience, and to identify action potentials for the Council and participants.

Correspondence and documentation relating to the planning, organizing, and financing of each forum are include in the papers.

Throughout its history, the C.O.S.D. was in receipt of Federal Grants.

Grantee reports, grant applications and proposals for the years 1968-76 have been kept among the papers.

In 1973, The C.O.S.D. received its last Federal Grant. Without the support of the Federal Government, the Council could not afford to operate, and disbanded on May 9, 1977.

Organization Members of C.O.S.D.

Alexander Graham Bell Association American Athletic Association of the Deaf American Instructors of the Deaf Board of Missions for the Deaf, The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod Canadian Association of the Deaf Conference on Services for Elderly Deaf People Conference of Church Workers Among the Deaf Conference of Executives of American Schools for the Deaf Congressional Committee, 1975 Continuing Education Program Council on Exceptional Children Educational Commission of the United States Episcopal Conference for the Deaf Gallaudet College International Catholic Deaf Association Lions International Convention National Advisory Committee on Education of the Deaf National Association of the Deaf National Association of Hearing and Speech Agencies National Congress of Jewish Deaf National Fraternal Society of the Deaf National Grange Convention Operation Tripod Professional of Rehabilitation Workers with the Adult Deaf Project Dawn The Presidents Committee on Employment of the Handicapped U.S. Offices of Education Conference on Program Objective World Federation of the Deaf