About Us

In 2002, a hard-of-hearing Villages resident Gill Pestell met several deaf/hard-of-hearing people, and invited us to a meeting. She wanted to start a deaf club in The Villages, and we agreed with her. And the new club was named Hearing Impaired Persons (HIPs). At first, there were 15 members. Warner & Diane St. John, Maddy Hauth & Lois Cherwinski were volunteers. HIP's met on every Thursday at Paradise Center. The club shared information, news and held social events. In a two year period, the club grew larger.

In 2004, the club changed it's name to Tri-County Association of the Deaf, Inc. (TCAD). TCAD was organized as a non-profit organization and incorporated under the laws of the State of Florida on March 17, 2004 in Lady Lake, FL. Due to people joining TCAD living outside the Villages, TCAD meets on third Wednesday every month from September to May at Seventh Day Adventist Church in Lady Lake. Currently, TCAD has 52 members.

The mission of TCAD is to promote the educational, economic, and social interests and needs of deaf and hard of hearing people. Also it protects the legal rights of the deaf and hard ofhearing people. And it increases the awareness and understanding of deaf and hard-of-hearing people and deaf culture among the general public. TCAD is affiliated with the Florida Association of the Deaf.

The current officers are: Warner St. John, President; Gordon Cline, Vice President; Carol Garretson, Secretary; and Steven Rhodes , Treasurer. The trustees are Ken Howe, Barbara Hagberg, and Henny Samples.

TCAD held business meetings workshops or lectures listed below:

TCAD enjoys a "Get-Together" dinner at a local restaurant every Spring and Fall.