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Nepal National Federation of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing is
non-government, non-profit social organization which has been working to enhance
rights and interests of the deaf and hard of hearing people living in different
parts of Nepal. The organization aims to channel its activities for the welfare
of such people to make them capable, efficient and self-dependent citizens.
The organization is registered at District Administration Office, Kathmandu, by
the Government of Nepal in 1995 according to the "Organization Act." It is also
affiliated to "Social Welfare Council", "World Federation of the Deaf (WFD),
Community Based Rehabilitation, National Network-Nepal (CBR-N) & RBA-forum of
the Disabled person’s organizations.
When NFDH was formed in 1995 it had 8 founder members and created several
policies to advocate for the rights of deaf people. The deaf community of Nepal
was weak and deaf movement was just in its first foot steps. In this context
when Swedish National Association of the Deaf provided support from 1998 to Deaf
people of Nepal through Nepal National Federation of the Deaf & Hard of hearing
was a very historical event. We can note heartily, that the SDR have extended to
support NFDH also have further strengthen the cooperation to stand NFDH strongly
to work for deaf rights.
Before establishment of the Federation in the Kathmandu Valley, the Welfare
Association of the Deaf (later, Kathmandu Association of the Deaf), had impact
for different deaf activities since 1980, it is believed that Kathmandu
association of the Deaf is the first self-help organization established by the
people with Disabilities with their own leadership in Nepal. The influence of
the Kathmandu Association of the Deaf, inspired the deaf youths of different
parts of country for the activities, this endeavor to establish the deaf
association outside of the valley, the result was the establishment of the
Federation in mutual effort of the eight deaf associations in 1995.
Now, NFDH has made some ground for the deaf movement, and is further
strengthened with the deaf cultural environment around to establish a strong,
sound and in dependable true deaf community, at local levels to national level.
There are now 24 district level Deaf association members and the number is
increasing. This makes the deaf community through the village, district to
National Level. The future plans are to cover all the villages & municipal in
the 75 districts to include all the deaf in deaf activities, which will create a
deaf community.
1. Sign Language
A medium of communication of deaf people, perfect and
approval to all, in all walk of life. Let us give sign language to all deaf. Let
us unite our effort for this.
2. Deaf Community
Deaf also is an animal being. They need to stay in its own
community. For the deaf, hearing community is a matter of mainstream, but the
life (deaf) must allow to grow fist in deaf community. So let us build our own
deaf community, no compromise, no mistake.
The first step of making a deaf community start from 1980 in Kathmandu by
opening up a deaf club in a small size of deaf people. Now, the local deaf
organization are in 21 district. Each organization is carrying deaf community
programme.
To strengthen the deaf community the deaf individual need to be abled and to
enable ling the deaf individual. The deaf community must be sound.
To enabling the deaf individual – The deaf education is source of strength skill
for deaf and income generation are all basic requirements. However a sound deaf
community can bring the opportunities.
Enabling Deaf Community:-
The most of the programme should to designed and implement to strengthen deaf
community, so the below mentioned are some necessary to introduce to carry on
and exercise in the programme. This we in Nepal are carrying.
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1. |
Deaf Education |
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2. |
Skill training |
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3. |
Leadership development |
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4. |
Sign language development |
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5. |
Counseling to the deaf members |
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6. |
Interpreter services |
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7. |
Deaf culture – improving it and establishing it.
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8. |
Job placement |
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9. |
Deaf sports |
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10. |
Deaf youth activities |
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11. |
Deaf female activities |
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12. |
Awareness on deaf people right. |
3. Deaf Individual
Deaf person is first in all. Deaf need signs for
communication, to improve it need deaf community. Deaf community is a source of
prosperity of deaf individual. So let us shape it that to the benefit of deaf
individual.
4. Deaf Organization
It is true that the problem of deaf people can solve by
deaf people themselves. So the issues above are the problems of deaf people.
Hence, deaf leadership is most important. Deaf must allow to take the leadership
to look after their own problems. So the deaf organization is import to
coordinate. |
