Deaf Education Advocates Foundation / DEAF

 D.E.A.F. is designating 100% of all donations to provide equipment for the new STEAM Lab at the Washington School for the Deaf. 

Washington School for the Deaf (WSD) is building a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math (STEAM) Lab. The school hopes to have the lab fully functional by the 2025-2026 school year and they need our help. 

The STEAM Lab goal:

Students will construct computers to create robots or compete in esports and robotics competitions against both deaf and hearing peers.

A great goal but a STEAM Lab can offer so much more.

• Building and repairing computer
• Apply engineering skills
• Coding with blocks or Python
• Completing STEM labs
• ESports
• Team Freeze Tag
• Robot Soccer
• Bucky Basketball
• VEX Code VR
• Computer science coding
• Deaf Kids Code curriculum - partnership with NTID this summer, TBD
• Using VEX code VR and engaging robotics-based activities, students will learn about project flow, loops, conditionals, algorithms.
• Creating with 3D printers
• Drones
• Making videos of their projects and progress
• Virtual Reality field trips

In order to achieve this goal WSD needs state of the art technology equipment.  That's why D.E.A.F. is designating 100% of our GiveBIG donations to providing WSD with the IT equipment needed for the STEAM Lab. Our goal is to raise $20,000.                                                          

Esports, or electronic sports, is more than playing video games.  It is organized video game competitions between teams, which must adhere to strict rules and guidelines.  

Top 5 Benefits of Scholastic Esports

Community

Esports is a very inclusive and accessible after-school program that allows anyone, male or female, to participate. 

School Pride

Esports programs allow students to feel a connection to their school by competing in tournaments and representing their school.

Confidence

Being a part of a team, practicing together, and competing together makes students feel they are accomplishing something they care about. 

Friendship

An esports program creates an extra opportunity for students to create lasting and meaningful friendships.

Social Skills and Teamwork

Students must work together with their teammates, in-game leaders and coaches to come up with strategies and game plans.

Your donation of any amount, $10, $25, $50, $100, $200, will help us meet our goal.  

Thank you for your support! 

About Us

Deaf Education Advocates Foundation (D.E.A.F.) is a non-profit 501(c)3 charitable organization created in 1989 for the purpose of raising funds necessary to improve and enrich the education of students at the Washington School for the Deaf (WSD).  The donations received have made it possible to fund activities, services, equipment, and experiences that might not be possible through WSD funding alone.  All donations go directly to our on-going projects such as financial support for academic, athletic, residential or community events, scholarships, Special Olympics, artist-in-residence programs and mini-grant awards to staff and students. In the past, D.E.A.F. has provided support for Deaf Academic Bowls, Math Team tournaments, Book Club materials, Youth Leadership camps, Cheer Leading camps, Western States Basketball tournaments, renovations for the concessions stand at the athletic field and many workshops and trainings.  For the students who live in the residential cottages, D.E.A.F. has provided funds for educational materials, books, toys and games, outdoor play equipment and arts and crafts materials. 

D.E.A.F. 2023-2024 fundraising events:
Dutch Bros Coffee's Buck4Kids, Trailblazers 50/50 Raffle, GiveBIG, Annual Fall Fund Drive