COSDA is a consortium of Alabama agencies and organizations whose mission is service to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing; or programs with broader missions that have an identifiable, significant component of services to deaf and/or hard of hearing individuals.

• Provide a communicative network among member organizations
• Establish a list of prioritized goals for concerted actions
• Host an annual conference on Deafness
• Recognize individuals or agencies performing outstanding service to deaf persons

On July 18, 1984 a pre-planning committee met headed by Earl Lindsey, Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, State Coordinator of Deaf Services.  The committee consisted of representatives from the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind, Program for Exceptional Children and Youth, Alabama Association of the Deaf, Speech and Hearing Association of Alabama, Alabama Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf, and what was then the Division of Rehabilitation and Crippled Children Services.  Their intention was to address the need for an organizational forum to discuss issues of common concern.  It was the unanimous decision of this group that such an organization was long overdue.  It was further agreed to host an organizational meeting of the Council of Organizations Serving Deaf Alabamians (COSDA).

The organizational meeting took place on September 18, 1984 at the Independent Living Center in Birmingham.  Twenty-nine agencies and organizations were represented.  Mr. Lindsey recognized the important purpose of the meeting in his opening comments, and was quoted as saying, “Hopefully, this day will be looked upon as the beginning of an effort that will make a tremendous impact on deafness in Alabama.”

At the organizational meeting, the original COSDA bylaws were adopted and the first slate of officers was elected:  Earl Lindsey, President; Doug Patterson, President-Elect; Tammy Adams, Secretary; and Roy Price, Treasurer.