RSA/P Regional Survey Report No 2 (English Version) PDF - World ...

The Project was under the auspices of the Swedish National Association of the Deaf (SDR) and the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), Page No 1 

and funded by the Swedish Agency for International Development Cooperation (Sida) and Swedish Organisations of Disabled Persons 

International Aid Association (Shia).

Global Survey Report 

WFD Regional Secretariat for Asia and the Pacific (WFD RSA/P) 

Global Education Pre-Planning Project on the Human Rights of Deaf People 

Compiled by Mr Colin Allen 

Project Co-ordinator 

World Federation of the Deaf and Swedish National Association of the Deaf 

Published May 2008 

Front Page Cover Designer: 

Mr Dušan Nikolić 

Please contact: 

General Secretariat 

World Federation of the Deaf 

PO Box 65 

FIN-00401 

Helsinki, Finland 

Email: info@wfdeaf.org 

Website: www.wfdeaf.org 

Funded by the Swedish Agency for International Development Co-operation (Sida) and Swedish Organisations of 

Disabled Persons International Aid Association (Shia). 

Co-partnered by the Danish Deaf Association (DDL), Finnish Association of the Deaf (FAD), Norwegian Association of 

the Deaf (NDF) and Swedish National Association of the Deaf (SDR). 

© Copyright by the World Federation of the Deaf and Swedish National Association of the Deaf 

All rights reserved. When referring to or quoting any part of the report it is required that the publisher and the original 

publication be mentioned in the following form: ‘Global Survey Report WFD Regional Secretariat for Asia and the Pacific 

(WFD RSA/P) by the World Federation of the Deaf and the Swedish National Association of the Deaf, 2008’. 

ISBN 978-952-9648-07-8 




Table of Contents 

1.0 Appreciation 7 

2.0 Introduction 8 

3.0 Methodology 

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3.1 Development of Survey Questionnaire 

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3.2 Implementation of the Global Education Pre-Planning Project on the 

Human Rights of Deaf People in WFD RSA/P 

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3.3 Reporting 

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3.4 Regional Working Group Meeting 

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4.0 Executive Summary of Survey Results 

4.1 Background of the Country Respondents 

4.1.1 Classification of the Developing Countries/Developed 

Countries 

4.1.2 Contact Details of Country Respondents 

4.1.3 Country Respondent Memberships 

4.1.4 Background of the Country Respondents 

4.2 Population of Deaf People 

4.3 Legislation and Policies 

4.4 Access to Government Services 

4.5 Access to the Media 

4.6 Status of the National Sign Language(s) 

4.7 Access to Education 

4.8 Status of Sign Language Interpreting Services 

4.9 Employment 

4.10 General Comments 

5.0 Recommendations 

5.1 Increase Knowledge of the United Nations Conventions 

5.2 Training on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons 

with Disabilities (CRPD) 

5.3 Organisational Review 

5.4 Organisational Development Training 

5.5 Training for the National Association of the Deaf and Deaf 

Groups/Organisations 

5.6 Advocacy for the Improvement of the Standard of Living for Deaf 

People 

5.7 Information Resources on Technology Access 

5.8 Further Situation Analysis Research in the Asia and Pacific Region 

5.9 Others 

6.0 Geography and Population 

6.1 Australia 

6.2 Bhutan 

6.3 Cambodia 

6.4 Indonesia 

6.5 Japan 

6.6 Laos 

6.7 Malaysia 

6.8 Myanmar 

6.9 Nepal 

6.10 New Zealand 

6.11 Philippines 

6.12 Republic of Korea 

6.13 Sri Lanka 

6.14 Thailand 

7.0 Survey Results 

7.1.0 Contact Details 

7.2.0 National Association of the Deaf 

7.2.1 Please provide the number of members your National Association of the 

Deaf/Deaf Group has in your country. 

7.2.1.1 Deaf Members 

7.2.1.2 Hard of Hearing Members 

7.2.1.3 Hearing Members 

7.2.1.4 Summary Status of the Associations’/Groups’ Memberships 

7.2.2 In what year was your National Association/Deaf Group established? 

7.2.3 Does your Deaf Association/Deaf Group have Statutes/a Constitution? 

7.2.4 Does your government recognise your national organisation as the 

representative of Deaf people in your country? 

7.2.5 Please list some of the areas in which your association/group has 

adopted a policy statement. 

7.2.6 Please list the six highest priority issues/actions in your strategic action 

plan. 

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7.2.7 Please describe the structure of your National Association of the Deaf/ 

Deaf Group (e.g. Congress/annual meeting/board/executive/districts 

/local associations and so forth). 

7.2.7.1 How many affiliated regional and/or local Deaf Associations 

are part of your National Association of the Deaf? 

7.2.8 How many of your board members are Deaf? 

7.2.9 How many members of the board are Deaf women and how many are 

Deaf men? 

7.2.10 Does your National Association of the Deaf/Deaf Group have 

committees for specific areas of interest or affiliation with any other 

relevant independent groups in your country? 

7.2.11 Does your National Association of the Deaf/Deaf Group have any paid 

staff members? 

7.2.11.1 How many of the paid staff members are women and how 

many are men? 

7.2.11.2 How many of the paid staff members are Deaf? 

7.2.12 Is your Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director/Person-In-Charge 

Deaf? 

7.3.0 Population of Deaf People 

7.3.1 Does your country’s government have any official number of Deaf 

people in your country? 

7.3.2 Does your Association/Group have any official or approximate figures 

of the number of Deaf people living in your country? 

7.3.3 Does your Association/Group have any official or approximate 

numbers of Deaf people who use sign language as their primary 

language? 

7.3.4 Does the situation of HIV/AIDS in your country affect Deaf women, men 

and children? 

7.4.0 Legislation and Policies 

7.4.1 Does your country’s government recognise Deaf people as citizens on 

an equal basis as other citizens in your country? 

7.4.2 Does your country’s government have an office responsible for services 

for People with Disabilities? 

7.4.2.1 If yes, what is the name, address and website of the 

government office that is responsible for services for People 

with Disabilities in your country? 

7.4.3 Does your country’s Government have any legislation or policies for 

Deaf people (or People with Disabilities in general)? 

7.4.3.1 If yes, please list some of the policies or legislation that 

relate to Deaf people (or People with Disabilities). 

7.4.4 Does your country’s Government have any anti-discrimination laws for 

Deaf people (or People with Disabilities)? 

7.4.5 Does your country’s government provide any services specifically for 

the Deaf Community through its government departments? 

7.4.5.1 If yes, what types of service are provided specifically for the 

Deaf Community by your country’s government? 

7.4.5.2 What is the general opinion of the current service(s) 

specifically provided for the Deaf Community by your 

country’s government? 

7.4.5.3 If no, why does your country’s government not provide any 

service specifically for the Deaf Community? 

7.4.6 Does your Association/Group have any contact with your current 


7.4.6.1 What type of contact does your Association/Group have with 

your country’s current government? 

7.4.7 Does your Association/Group receive any financial support from your 

country’s current government? 

7.4.7.1 What is the amount of annual financial support from your 


7.4.7.2 What is the purpose of the financial support from your 

country’s government to the Deaf Community? 

7.4.8 Do Deaf people have a right to vote in national, regional and local 

elections? 

7.4.9 Are Deaf people allowed to obtain a driver’s licence? 

7.4.10 Are Deaf people allowed to marry Deaf or other partners? 

7.4.11 Are Deaf people allowed to have children? 

7.4.12 Are Deaf people allowed to adopt children? 

7.4.12.1 If Deaf people are not allowed to drive, please list the 

Government legislation or policy that stops them from being 

allowed to drive. 

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7.4.12.2 If Deaf people are not allowed to adopt children, please list 

any specific Government legislation or policy that stops Deaf 

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7.5.0 Access to Government Services 

7.5.1 Do Deaf people have access to government services such as education, 

health care, employment, social welfare and any general government 

services? 

7.5.1.1 If yes, how do Deaf people access these government services? 

7.5.1.2 Are Deaf people satisfied with the level of access they have to 

the government services? 

7.5.2 Are Deaf people entitled to any financial assistance from your country’s 

government? 

7.5.2.1 What type of financial assistance are Deaf people entitled to 

receive from your country’s government? 

7.6.0 Access to the Media 

7.6.1 Does your country’s government provide sign language services for 

news and/or current affairs programmes on public television? 

7.6.2 Does your country’s government provide subtitles/captions for news 

and/or current affairs programmes? 

7.6.3 Does your country’s government offer governmental documents in your 

country’s sign language(s)? 

7.7.0 Status of the National Sign Language(s) 

7.7.1 Does your country’s government formally recognise your country’s sign 

language(s)? 

7.7.1.1 What legislation/regulation formally recognises your country’s 

sign language(s)? 

7.7.1.2 When did your country’s government formally recognise your 

country’s sign language(s)? 

7.7.1.3 Does your Deaf Association lobby your government for the 

recognition of your country’s sign language(s)? 

7.7.1.4 If no, please explain the reason your Association does not 

lobby your current government for the recognition of your 

country’s sign language(s). 

7.7.2 Does your country have a sign language dictionary? 

7.8.0 Access to Education 

7.8.1 Does your country’s government recognise that Deaf children and Deaf 

students have the right to receive an education? 

7.8.2 Does your country’s government have any legislation or policies on Deaf 

Education? 

7.8.2.1 If yes, please list the specific name of the legislation or 

policies relating to Deaf Education. 

7.8.3 Does your country’s government provide any of the following 

educational settings for Deaf children and Deaf students? 

7.8.4 Does your country’s government provide bilingual education using your 

country’s sign language(s) for Deaf children and Deaf students in your 

country? 

7.8.4.1 If yes, in which educational setting is bilingual education 

offered in your country using your sign language(s)? 

7.8.5 Does your country have any schools specifically for Deaf children and 

Deaf students? 

7.8.5.1 If yes, how many Deaf schools does your country have? 

7.8.5.2 What is the educational approach for communicating with 

Deaf children and students at the Deaf School in your country? 

7.8.6 What is the general opinion of the level of education received 

by Deaf children and Deaf students in your country? 

7.8.7 What is the general opinion of the current literacy level of Deaf 

children and Deaf students in your country? 

7.8.8 Do Deaf people have access to a University education in your country? 

7.8.8.1 If yes, how many Universities provide access to studies for 

Deaf people in your country? 

7.8.8.2 If no, why do Deaf people not have access to a University 

education in your country? 

7.8.9 Do Deaf people have full access to sign language interpreting services 

at University? 

7.9.0 Status of Sign Language Interpreting Services 

7.9.1 Does your country have any sign language interpreters? 

7.9.1.1 How many sign language interpreters does your country have? 

7.9.1.2 Are there any sign language interpreting qualifications 

available in your country? 

7.9.1.3 Who provides the training for people who want to become 

qualified sign language interpreters? 

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7.9.1.4 How many years of training are available to someone who 

wants to become a sign language interpreter? 

7.9.1.5 How many sign language interpreters in your country have 

formal interpreting qualifications? 

7.9.1.6 How do Deaf people access sign language interpreters? 

7.9.2 Does your country have sign language interpreting services? 

7.9.2.1 If yes, who provides these sign language interpreting services? 

7.9.2.2 In what areas of life are sign language interpreting services 


7.9.2.3 What is the general opinion of these sign language interpreting 

services? 

7.9.3 Do sign language interpreters receive payment for interpreting services 

in your country? 

7.9.3.1 Who is responsible for paying for a sign language interpreter? 

7.9.3.2 What is the average hourly rate of payment for sign language 

interpreters in your country? 

7.9.3.3 Do your sign language interpreters provide voluntary service 

for all sign language interpreting assignments? 

7.9.4 Does your country have a National Association of Sign Language 

Interpreters? 

7.9.4.1 Is your National Association of Sign Language Interpreters 

independent from your National Association of the Deaf? 

7.9.5 Is there a national Code of Ethics for sign language interpreters 


7.9.6 Is there any legislation or policy in your country which states that the 

government has a responsibility for the provision of sign language 

interpreting services? 

7.9.6.1 If yes, please list the legislation or policies that specifically 

state the government has a responsibility for the provision of 

sign language interpreting services. 

7.10.0 Employment 

7.10.1 Does your country’s government consider that Deaf people have a right 

to be employed and earn a standard salary? 

7.10.2 Does your country’s government have any anti-discrimination laws in 

the area of employment, especially for Deaf people or People with 

Disabilities? 

7.10.2.1 If yes, please write clearly the name of any legislation or 

policy that relates to anti-discrimination in employment. 

7.10.3 Does your Association/Group have any official or approximate figures 

on the number of Deaf people who are in paid employment in your 

country? 

7.10.3.1 If yes, how many Deaf people are in employment? 

7.10.3.2 What are the most common areas of work for Deaf people in 

your country? 

7.10.4 Does your country have any figures on the percentage of Deaf people 

who are unemployed? 

7.10.4.1 If yes, what percentage of Deaf people are unemployed in 

your country? If possible, give percentages of unemployed 

Deaf women and Deaf men. 

7.10.4.2 Why are Deaf people unemployed in your country? 

7.10.5 Does your country provide employment services to assist unemployed 

Deaf people to look for employment? 

7.10.5.1 Who is responsible for providing employment services for 

unemployed Deaf people in your country? 

7.11.0 General 

7.11.1 Which of the following does your National Association of the Deaf/Deaf 

Group consider to be the highest priority for your Deaf Community? 

7.11.2 Does your Association/Group have any other concerns about the 

standard of living of Deaf people in your country? 

8.0 Appendices: 

Appendix No 1 Cover Letter 

Appendix No 2 Global Human Rights Survey 

Appendix No 3 WFD Work in Developing Countries 

Appendix No 4 Work Done by Member Organisations in Developing Countries 

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1.0 Appreciation 

The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and the Swedish National Association of the Deaf (SDR) wish to recognise the cooperation 

and support from organisations and individuals who contributed their valuable time to the second phase of the sevenregion 

Global Education Pre-Planning Project on the Human Rights of Deaf People. This second phase took place in the WFD 

Regional Secretariat for Asia and the Pacific (WFD RSA/P). 

The funding organisations: 

• Swedish Organisations of Disabled Persons International Aid Association (Shia) 

• Co-partners Danish Deaf Association (DDL), Finnish Association of the Deaf (FAD), Norwegian Association of the Deaf 

(NDF) and Swedish National Association of the Deaf (SDR) 

The members of the Project Steering Committee: 

• Mr Tomas Hedberg, Sign Language Policy Co-ordinator, Swedish National Association of the Deaf (SDR) 

• Mr Feliciano Sola Limia, Vice President, World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) 

• Ms Nanny Nordstrom, Project Manager, World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), (July – December 2007) 

• Ms Meri Hyrske-Fischer, Project Manager, World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) (beginning in February 2008) 

• Ms Anneli Joneken, Project Co-ordinator, Swedish Organisations of Disabled Persons International Aid Association (Shia) 

The members of WFD RSA/P, who co-operated so efficiently: 

• Mr Ichiro Miyamoto, Regional Director, WFD RSA/P 

• Mr Raphael Domingo, Regional Co-ordinator, WFD RSA/P Global Human Rights Pre-Planning Project 

• Mr Surachet Lertsajayan, President, National Association of the Deaf in Thailand 

• Ms Sirin Chareetsatien, Assistant to President and Interpreter, National Association of the Deaf in Thailand 

The members of Regional Working Group of the Global Human Rights Pre-Planning Project in WFD RSA/P: 

• Mr Surachet Lertsajayan, Thailand 

• Ms Patricia Levitkze-Gray, Australia 

• Ms Sherjeena Singh, Nepal 

The ten Ordinary Members of WFD RSA/P who responded to the survey: 

1. Deaf Australia 

2. Indonesian Association for the Welfare of the Deaf 

3. Japanese Federation of the Deaf 

4. Korean Association of the Deaf 

5. Malaysian Federation of the Deaf 

6. Nepal National Federation of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing 

7. Deaf Association of New Zealand 

8. Philippine Federation of the Deaf 

9. Sri Lanka Federation of the Deaf 

10. National Association of the Deaf in Thailand 

The four countries in Asia and the Pacific who are not WFD Ordinary Members, who also responded to the survey: 

1. Deaf Education Unit, Bhutan 

2. Maryknoll Deaf Development Programme, Cambodia 

3. Deaf-Mute Unit of The Lao Disabled People’s Association, Laos 

4. Yangon Deaf Association and Mandalay Deaf Association, Myanmar 

Not least, others who have supported the project: 

• Mr Markku Jokinen, President, World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) 

• Ms Liz Scott Gibson, President, World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI) 

• Mr Knud Søndergaard, Finance Officer, World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) 

• Staff members of the Albanian National Association of the Deaf (ANAD) 

• Ms Phillipa Sandholm, Administrative Assistant, World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) 

• Ms Carol-lee Aquiline, English Grammar Editor for the Project Reports 

• Ms Corrie Tijsseling, WFD Expert in Deaf Education 

• Ms Vera Jovanović, Ms Desanka Žižić and Mr Boba Milošević, Film Production Team for the DVD in International Sign 

• Western Australian Deaf Society 

• Everyone who contributed time to the Global Human Rights Pre-Planning Project 




2.0 Introduction 

The Swedish National Association of the Deaf (SDR) is the national organisation of Deaf people in Sweden and an Ordinary 

Member of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD). SDR has been involved in 20 international projects with Deaf people in 

Africa, Asia, Central America and the Russian Federation, with expertise in the fields of Deaf Education, Sign Language, Deaf 

Women and Children, Sign Language Interpreters, Organisational Development and Income Generating Activities. SDR is a 

member of Shia (Swedish Organisations of Handicapped International Aid Association) an umbrella organisation for 

developmental co-operation of Disability Organisations. Shia was founded in 1981 in connection with “The UN Year of People 

with Disabilities” and when the Disability Decade began. Today there are 28 member organisations affiliated with Shia. 

SDR has had contact with many Deaf organisations in developing countries and recognises that approximately 90% of the world's 

Deaf people have never been to school and are thus more or less illiterate. Sign language is repressed in many countries and its 

use is not permitted in education. The consequence is that Deaf people are not aware of the rights they have in society, but live 

as a highly marginalised group in most developing countries. There is usually no access to information for Deaf people, which 

means that they do not even know what is happening in their immediate society and even less so in the world. Of the world's 

Deaf people only about five percent (5%) can read and write. This is due to the fact that Deaf people have not been educated in 

sign language. Improving the status of sign language has consequences for all areas of life for Deaf people; it opens up 

possibilities for participation, information and influence, and reduction of poverty. 

SDR approached WFD to become a partner organisation because WFD is an international organisation with global coverage 

although not all countries in the world are members. In order to reach as many Deaf people as possible in this project, WFD is a 

natural choice for SDR, as it is one of WFD's member organisations. 

WFD was established in 1951 and acts as an interest group representing Deaf people who use sign language. WFD works in 

partnership with the United Nations (UN) and its agencies and member states, other international organisations, national 

organisations of Deaf people, Regional Secretariats and experts. With these partners WFD pursues the rights of Deaf people to 

participate in society, the State and other areas of life as equal citizens. 

WFD has a large network with seven Regional Secretariats, national organisations of Deaf people in 130 member countries and 

experts within different areas: training, sign language, technology and accessibility, women's issues, human rights, health, 

employment and developing countries. 

SDR approached the Nordic Council of the Deaf to request that the four Nordic Ordinary Members of WFD become involved as 

co-partners in the project; these four members are the Danish Deaf Association (DDL), Finnish Association of the Deaf (FAD), 

Norwegian Association of the Deaf (NDF) and Swedish National Association of the Deaf (SDR). SDR forwarded a project proposal 

to Shia to carry out pre-planning survey work in conjunction with seven of WFD's regions; the proposal was granted funding for a 

pre-planning survey in the 

• Eastern Europe and Middle Asia Regional Secretariat of the WFD (WFD EEMARS) 

• WFD Regional Secretariat for Asia and the Pacific (WFD RSA/P) 

• WFD Regional Secretariat for South America (WFD RSSA) 

• WFD Regional Secretariat for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean (WFD MCAC) 

• WFD Regional Secretariat for Eastern and Southern Africa (WFD RSESA) 

• WFD Interim Regional Secretariat for Western and Central Africa Region (WFD WCAR) 

• WFD Interim Regional Secretariat for the Arab Region (WFD RSAR) 

Goals of the pre-planning survey 

• Compilation of an analysis of the situation for Deaf people in each of the seven regions according to a common 

questionnaire. Data is to be produced from three of the regions during the first year of pre-planning and from four of 

the regions during the second year of pre-planning. 

• Production of documentation of assessment of the capacity of the national organisations and the regional structure in 

each region. 

• Production of an education plan for three of the regions during the first year of pre-planning and for four of the regions 

during the second year of pre-planning. 

• Development of training materials, methodologies and pre-planning organisational work to be used in the project. 

• Compilation of a global training plan on human rights for the WFD organisations to use as the basis for a complete 

project application to be submitted to Shia during autumn 2008 for consideration for budget 2009. 

Project Steering Committee 

A Project Steering Committee was formed to overview the survey work carried out by the Project Co-ordinator. The members of 

the Steering Committee are: 

• Mr Tomas Hedberg, Swedish National Association of the Deaf (SDR) 

• Mr Feliciano Sola Limia, World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) 

• Ms Nanny Nordstrom, World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) (replaced by Ms Meri Hyrske-Fischer in February 2008) 

• Ms Anneli Joneken, Swedish Organisations of Disabled Persons International Aid Association (Shia) 





SDR and WFD approached the Finnish Association of the Deaf (FAD) to manage the project; and FAD appointed Mr Colin Allen to 

take on the role of Project Co-ordinator and oversee project management within the seven regions between July 2007 and 

December 2008. Mr Allen is based in Belgrade, Serbia where he has been associated with other FAD projects within the Balkan 

Region. 

WFD RSA/P Regional Co-ordinator and Regional Working Group 

The position of a Regional Co-ordinator was established for each survey region. The Steering Committee agreed to appoint Mr 

Raphael Domingo as Regional Co-ordinator for the WFD RSA/P region. Mr Domingo, who is based in Manila, Philippines, was 

responsible to establish a communication network with the members of WFD RSA/P as well as to co-ordinate the meeting for the 

Regional Working Group. 

Each survey region also had their own Regional Working Group and the WFD RSA/P Regional Working Group had three members: 

• Mr Surachet Lertsajayan, Thailand 

• Ms Patricia Levitkze-Gray, Australia 

• Ms Sherjeena Singh, Nepal 

The members of the Regional Working Group were responsible to acknowledge the Survey Results as they were received from 14 

country members and non-members of WFD RSA/P. They had a pivotal role in preparing a list of recommendations for the 

training project work to be carried out for their region in the next stage of the project. 

Please note: 

Mr Surachet Lertsajayan Mr Raphael Domingo Ms Patricia Levitkze-Gray Ms Sherjeena Singh 

The pre-planning survey is a basic situational analysis that aims to collect information from relevant representatives and is not 

intended to be a complete in-depth analysis of the situation of Deaf persons in WFD RSA/P. The data and issues presented in 

this report are based on the information received from these representatives and members of WFD RSA/P. 

Additional notes: 

Terminology used in this report is taken from the survey. 

Each country’s exchange rate into Euro Currency is based on the rate given on 31 st January 2008 on the website 

www.oanda.com/convert/classic. 




3.0 Methodology 

3.1 Development of Survey Questionnaire 

According to the framework of the Global Education Pre-Planning Project on the Human Rights of Deaf People, the Project Coordinator 

developed a survey questionnaire to collect information on the standard of living of Deaf people in all of the seven 

WFD Regional Secretariats, focussing on the areas of: 

1. Status of the National Deaf Association 

2. Population of Deaf People 

3. Legislation and Policies 

4. Access to Government Services 

5. Access to the Media 

6. Status of the National Sign Language(s) 

7. Access to Education 

8. Status of Sign Language Interpreting Services 

9. Employment Status of Deaf People 

The Project Co-ordinator had prior experience in survey work with Deaf people in developing countries, having conducted the 

FAD – Balkan Survey Project in the countries of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey between 

2004 and 2006. Therefore, some of the Balkan Survey Questions were simply modified for this Global Survey work. The Project 

Co-ordinator also liaised with the President of the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI) for her guidance on 

relevant questions regarding the Status of Sign Language Interpreting Services. 

The questionnaire was intended to ensure that all appropriate data was received from each member within the Regional 

Secretariat. The survey questions were approved by the Project Steering Committee prior to commencement of the Global 

Education Pre-Planning Project on the Human Rights of Deaf People. The questionnaire is available at the end of this report – 

Appendix No 2. 

3.2 Implementation of the Global Education Pre-Planning Project on the Human Rights of Deaf People in WFD RSA/P 

Subsequent to the appointment of the Regional Co-ordinator for WFD RSA/P, the Project Co-ordinator and Regional Co-ordinator 

co-operated in confirming contact addresses for the 20 country members of WFD RSA/P, one member of WFD that is not a 

member of WFD RSA/P and seven non-members of WFD RSA/P. The Project Co-ordinator filmed the survey questions in 

International Sign on a DVD that was disseminated along with the survey questionnaire in written English. The Regional Coordinator 

prepared the survey package and arranged for it to be mailed from Manila, Philippines, to 

Twenty-one (20) WFD Ordinary (Country) Members in Asia and the Pacific: 


2. Bangladesh National Association of the Deaf 

3. China Association of the Deaf 

4. Fiji Association of the Deaf 

5. Hong Kong Association of the Deaf 

6. All India Federation of the Deaf 


8. Iranian National Centre for the Deaf 



11. Macau Deaf Association 


13. Mongolian Association of the Deaf 



16. Pakistan Association of the Deaf 


18. Singapore Association of the Deaf 



One (1) WFD Ordinary (Country) Member that is not a member of WFD RSA/P 

1. Afghanistan National Association of the Deaf 

And seven (7) Countries in Asia and the Pacific that are not WFD Ordinary Members: 


2. Deaf Community in Brunei 


4. Deaf-Mute Unit of The Lao Disabled People’s Association, Laos 


6. National Association of the Deaf in Taiwan 

7. Vietnam Hanoi Deaf Club 




3.3 Reporting 

The Regional Co-ordinator was the central contact point for collection of the survey. The Project Co-ordinator designed a basic 

data programme with Excel software to record respondent country answers for all surveys received from the Regional Coordinator, 

i.e. 14 respondent countries. He was then responsible for summarising the results into categorised sections of the 

report, available under “Survey Results” on page 35. The Project Co-ordinator also prepared the “Executive Summary”, found 

on page 12. 

Once the report was drafted the Regional Working Group gave comments and feedback, which were then taken into 

consideration in the editing phase of the report. 

A copy will be sent to all members of WFD RSA/P, WFD, Danish Deaf Association (DDL), Finnish Association of the Deaf (FAD), 

Norwegian Association of the Deaf (NDF), Swedish National Association of the Deaf (SDR), World Association of Sign Language 

Interpreters (WASLI), Shia and other interested organisations. A compilation of the most relevant information from all reports 

will be available at the end of the project. 

3.4 Regional Working Group Meeting 

The members of the Regional Working Group and the Regional Co-ordinator met with the Project Co-ordinator in Bangkok, 

Thailand, on 13 th – 15 th February 2008. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the major findings from the Survey Results 

and enable the Working Group to identify priority issues to be acknowledged. The members of the Working Group also had 

training on issues such as: 

a) Background of the World Federation of the Deaf 

b) Human Rights through Sign Languages 

c) Introduction of the Global Education Pre-Planning Project on the Human Rights of Deaf People 

d) Brief Introduction to International Human Rights Instruments: 

1. Universal Declaration of Human Rights 

2. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 

3. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 

4. Convention on the Rights of the Child 

5. Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women 

e) Periodic reporting, the new system of Universal Periodic Reviews and also shadow/alternative reports from NGOs 

f) UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 

The Regional Working Group summarised the high priority issues to be addressed for further training for the members of WFD 

RSA/P. These can be found under “Recommendations” on page 25. 




4.0 Executive Summary of Survey Results 

The Executive Summary of Survey Results is categorised into ten sections and is based on the detailed data results found later in 

the report: 

1. National Associations of the Deaf 

2. Population of Deaf People 

3. Legislation and Policies 

4. Access to Government Services 

5. Access to the Media 

6. Status of the Country Sign Language(s) 

7. Access to Education 

8. Status of Sign Language Interpreting Services 

9. Employment 

10. General Comments 

The target members of WFD RSA/P who returned completed surveys were: 











And non-members who returned surveys were: 



3. Deaf-Mute Unit of the Lao Disabled People’s Association, 


Please note, two countries (Bhutan and Myanmar) did not answer every survey question while Cambodia and Laos completed 

most of the questions. Therefore throughout the Executive Summary, survey results are summarised as being from either 12 or 

14 countries. 

The majority of the surveys were not received by the first deadline of 9 November 2007. It took approximately five reminders 

and four deadline postponements to receive most surveys. The final reminder was sent out on 26 March 2008 with an absolute 

final deadline of 31 March 2008. Mr Ichiro Miyamoto, Regional Director, WFD RSA/P, assisted in sending an email to each country 

with reminders. The members of the Regional Working Group also assisted the Project Co-ordinator by contacting their sister 

country organisations in the region. 

It is suspected that the Deaf Association in Hong Kong has perhaps closed down; and that the survey also did not reach the Deaf 

Associations in China and Mongolia. The survey package sent to the Iranian National Centre for the Deaf was returned to the 

Regional Co-ordinator. 

The Working Group indicated a potential difficulty for the countries which did not return surveys may be the fact that the 

survey was only available in English. It was acknowledged that there are a large number of written languages in Asia and the 

Pacific, and that it was not possible to make the survey available in every language of the region. The project also did not reach 

every Deaf organisation or Deaf Group in the region due to lack of contact details because many countries in the region are not 

members of WFD. 

4.1 Background of the Country Respondents 

4.1.1 Classification of Developing Countries/Developed Countries 

Reference: - 

(http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/DATASTATISTICS/0,,contentMDK:20420458~menuPK:64133156~pagePK:6413315 

0~piPK:64133175~theSitePK:239419,00.html) 

Based on the World Bank’s definition, four classifications were used for this analysis. Four of the 14 country respondents in Asia 

and the Pacific are classified as Low Income (Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Nepal); five are classified under Low Middle Income 

(Bhutan, Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand); one as Upper Middle Income (Malaysia); and four are under the 

category of High Income (Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Korea). 




Australia 

Bhutan 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Japan 

Laos 

Malaysia 

Myanmar 

Nepal 

Country Low Income Low Middle Income Upper Middle Income High Income 

New Zealand 

Philippines 

Republic of Korea 

Sri Lanka 

Thailand 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total 4 (29%) 5 (36%) 1 (7%) 4 (29%) 

Based on 14 respondents 

4.1.2 Contact Details of Country Respondents 

Fourteen country respondents supplied their contact details. It was interesting to note that only eight have websites (Australia, 

Cambodia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Korea and Sri Lanka). 

4.1.3 Country Respondent Memberships 

Only 12 country respondents provided the number of Deaf members; the largest number of Deaf members is from Japan, with 

23,905 out of a total of 48,177 Deaf members in the entire WFD RSA/P region. The lowest number of Deaf members provided 

was actually 22 Deaf school children in Bhutan. Only one country (Indonesia) did not supply the number of Deaf members in 

spite of a follow-up attempt to obtain this data, to which they did not respond. 

Only two country respondents (Cambodia and Nepal) supplied numbers of hard of hearing members and four country 

respondents provided the number of hearing people who are members. 

Country 

Total Deaf Members 

Total Hard of Hearing 

Members 

 

Total Hearing 

Members 

 

 

 

 

Total Members 

Australia 331 (74%) 0 119 (26%) 450 

Bhutan 22 (79%) N/A 6 (21%) 28 

Cambodia 200 (94%) 2 (1%) 10 (5%) 212 

Indonesia N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Japan 23,905 (100%) 0 0 23,905 

Laos 82 (100%) 0 0 82 

Malaysia 4,100 (100%) 0 0 4,100 

Myanmar N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Nepal 1,600 (86%) 90 (5%) 175 (9%) 1,865 

New Zealand 900 (100%) 0 0 900 

Philippines 484 (100%) 0 0 484 

Republic of Korea 8,000 (100%) 0 0 8,000 

Sri Lanka 4,500 (100%) 0 0 4,500 

Thailand 4,053 (100%) 0 0 4,053 

Total 48,177 92 310 48,579 




4.1.4 Background of the Country Respondents 

Ten out of 14 country respondents (Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Korea, Sri Lanka and 

Thailand) are Ordinary Members (OMs) of WFD and were established between 1946 to 1997; the oldest National Association in 

WFD RSA/P is the one of the Republic of Korea, which was established in 1946, with the most recently-established being the one 

in the Philippines (1997). 

Four country respondents, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar are not Ordinary Members of WFD, although Cambodia is an 

Associate Member. Information supplied from these countries was from a Deaf School (Bhutan), a Deaf Programme (Cambodia) 

and Deaf Groups (Laos and Myanmar). 

All ten OMs have their own organisational statutes/constitutions and all are recognised by their country’s government as the 

association representing Deaf people. Three of the four non-member respondents (Bhutan, Cambodia and Laos) stated their 

country’s government recognised their organisation; only in Myanmar is the Deaf Group not yet recognised by the current 

government. 

All ten WFD OMs described their organisational charts; a brief overview of their structures is: 

• Most of the Associations hold an annual General Assembly Meeting although some hold a General Meeting every two 

years 

• A large number of the Associations handle their own affairs and run annual meetings with their local regional members 

Two non-members (Cambodia and Laos) provided organisational backgrounds; Cambodia is planning to create a foundation for a 

national association of Deaf people. 

A full explanation of the organisational structures is provided on page 44. 

Six of the 14 country respondents (Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand and Thailand) outlined clear policy 

statements in the areas of: 

• Sign Language 

• Interpreting 

• Human Rights of Deaf People 

• Educational Settings for Deaf Youth 

• Deaf Culture/Deaf Awareness 

• Cochlear Implants 

Other country respondents have not developed policy statements or did not provide this information. 

Only ten of the country respondents outlined the six highest priority issues or actions in their strategy action plans; the most 

common issues being: 

• Deaf Education 


• Sign Language Interpreters 

• Advocacy 

• Social Services 

• Deaf Culture/Deaf Awareness 

• Information Technology/Telecommunications 

• Employment/Vocational Training 

• Deaf Women 

• Deaf Community Development 

• Information Resources 

The questions then focused on numbers of Regional and Local Deaf Associations in each country. The largest number of Regional 

Deaf Associations is in the Republic of Korea (146) and the largest number of Local Deaf Associations is in Indonesia (69). New 

Zealand does not have either Regional or Local Associations. 

Eight of ten WFD OMs supplied information about the number of board members of their Association. The number of board 

members ranges between seven and 25; Japan has the largest number with 25 members on the board. Indonesia did not supply 

this information. Of the non-members, only Laos has a Deaf Unit under the auspices of the Lao Disabled People’s Association of 

the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare; there are five Deaf members in this Unit. 

One question specifically asked for the number of Deaf people serving as a member on the national board. Eight of nine country 

respondents (Australia, Japan, Laos, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand) have 100% Deaf people on the 

board. Malaysia has the least number of Deaf people on the board, with eight out of nine members being Deaf. The general 

average of Deaf people serving as a board member in countries in WFD RSA/P is 99%. 

Another question queried the number of Deaf women serving on boards. Australia has five Deaf women out of a total of seven 

board members (71%) and Japan has the smallest female representation with two out of 25 members being women (8%). Only 




two countries (Australia and Philippines) have more Deaf female board members than Deaf male members. The approximate 

average of Deaf women serving on Deaf Association Boards in WFD RSA/P is 23%. 

Twelve of 14 country respondents have committees for specific areas of interest or affiliation with other relevant independent 

groups as follows: 

• Nine (75%) Countries have committees on Sign Language Interpreting, Sports Groups and Deaf Women’s Groups 

• Seven (58%) Countries have committees on Sign Language Research, Deaf Education and Deaf Youth 

• Six (50%) Countries have a committee for Parents of Deaf Children 

• Five (42%) Countries have a committee for Cultural Groups of Deaf People 

• Four (33%) Countries have committees on Deaf Seniors, Deaf People with Other Disabilities and other committees 

• Two (16%) Countries have a committee for Children of Deaf Adults 

• One (8%) Country has a committee for Deafblind 

• One (8%) Country has a committee for Lesbian, Gay, Transgender and Bisexual 

In reference to the employment of staff members, ten countries (Australia, Cambodia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, New 

Zealand, Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand) supplied this information while two countries (Indonesia and Philippines) do not have 

any staff members. New Zealand has the largest number of staff members, both Deaf and hearing, at 52. Australia has 100% 

Deaf employees within the organisation while Japan has a small group of Deaf employees (20%). 

The final question in this section queried whether any of the countries had a Deaf Chief Executive, Executive Director or Deaf 

Person-In-Charge of the National Association of the Deaf. Eight countries reported in the affirmative: Australia, Indonesia, 

Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines (Volunteer), Korea and Thailand. 

4.2 Population of Deaf People 

Seven of the country respondents (Bhutan, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand) stated that their 

government has an official number of Deaf people in their country as shown below: 

Country 

Does your country’s government have any official number of Deaf people in your 

country? 

Total Deaf people 

Bhutan Yes 6,170 

Japan Yes 312,000 

Malaysia Yes 29,522 

Philippines Yes 121,000 

Republic of Korea Yes 180,000 

Sri Lanka Yes 73,343 

Thailand Yes 90,000 

Total 7 Yes (50%) 812,035 


Only two governments (Japan and Sri Lanka) stated the number of Deaf women and men: 

Country Deaf Women Deaf Men Gender Unknown 

Japan 169,000 138,000 5,000 

Sri Lanka 32,759 40,584 

Total 201,759 178,584 5,000 

The following shows the number of Deaf people as recorded by seven country respondents themselves (Australia, Cambodia, 

Japan, Nepal, New Zealand, Korea and Thailand): 

Country 

Does your Association have any official or approximate figures of the number of 

Deaf people living in your country? 


Australia Yes 16,000 

Cambodia Yes 85,000 


Nepal Yes 192,000 

New Zealand Yes 9,000 



Total 7 Yes (50%) 925,905 





It was interesting to note the discrepancy in numbers of Deaf people in Japan, the Republic of Korea and Thailand as provided 

by the National Association of the Deaf and by the national government as follows: 

Country 

The National Government’s official number of Deaf 

people 

The Association’s/Group’s number of Deaf 

people 

Japan 312,000 23,905 

Republic of Korea 180,000 300,000 

Thailand 90,000 300,000 

Total 582,000 623,905 

The next question in the survey provides an essential record of Deaf people who use sign language as their primary language. 

Five out of 14 countries reported their number of Sign Language Users as below: 

Country 

Does your Association have any official or approximate numbers of Deaf people 

who use sign language as their primary language? 

Total Sign Language Users 



Laos Yes 155 


Philippines Yes 975 

Total 5 Yes (36%) 24,373 


It was interesting to compare official numbers of Deaf people with the number of Deaf people who use sign language as their 

native language: 

Country 

The National Government’s official 

number of Deaf people 

The Association’s/Group’s official 

or approximate number of Deaf 

people 

Total of Sign Language Users as 

stated by the Deaf 

Association/Group 

Australia N/A 16,000 16,000 

Cambodia N/A 85,000 1,500 

Nepal N/A 192,000 5,743 

Philippines 121,000 N/A 975 

Total 121,000 293,000 24,218 

An analysis of the survey data indicates that the average percentage of Deaf people who use sign language in three countries in 

the region of Asia and the Pacific is 8%. 

Country Total Deaf people (Associations’ estimates) Total Sign Language Users Average 

Australia 16,000 16,000 100% 

Cambodia 85,000 1,500 2% 

Nepal 192,000 5,743 3% 

Total 293,000 23,243 8% 

The survey approached all 14 countries with a clear question as to whether HIV/AIDS affected the Deaf women, men and 

children in their country. Six country respondents (Australia, Cambodia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal and Thailand) stated “Yes”; 

further explanation of the situation of HIV/AIDS in the Deaf Communities in these countries can be found on page 53. Three 

countries (Laos, New Zealand and Philippines) stated they do not have any information about this and three countries (Laos, 

Korea and Sri Lanka) answered “No”. Two countries (Bhutan and Myanmar) did not supply this information. It is a significant 

concern that more than half of the country respondents have no reliable information about the situation of HIV/AIDS within 

their own Deaf Community. 

4.3 Legislation and Policies 

On the first day of the Regional Working Group Meeting, the Project Co-ordinator introduced the United Nations Convention on 

the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) concentrating on the key articles relating to the Deaf Community as follows: 

Article 2: 

Article 9: 

Article 21: 

Article 24: 

Article 30: 

Definition 

Accessibility 

Freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information 

Education 

Participation in cultural life, recreation leisure and sport 




At the time of the meeting, only 11 countries (Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, 

Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand) out of 14 survey respondents had signed the convention and only three countries (Cambodia, 

Nepal and Philippines) had signed the protocol. 

The total number of countries targeted by the survey was 28; from all of these, only 14 countries (those on the list above and 

Bangladesh, China and India) have signed the convention. Only two of 28 (Bangladesh and India) have ratified the convention, 

and neither of these countries returned completed surveys for this project. 

This section focussed on essential data collection about any legislation or policy relating to Deaf people in each country. The 

first question asked whether each country’s government recognised Deaf people as citizens on an equal basis as other citizens; 

12 of 13 countries (93%) responded ‘Yes’ with a ‘No’ from Myanmar. The Regional Working Group, during its meeting in Bangkok, 

strongly emphasised their belief that this question was a difficult one to collect accurate data with – they felt the country 

members would not really be able to provide an accurate answer. They agreed that ‘Yes’ responses from countries classified 

under the definition of Developing Countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand) should be 

changed to ‘No’. 

The next question asked whether each country has an office responsible for services for People with Disabilities, to which 13 of 

14 countries answered ‘Yes’; Myanmar ticked ‘No’. Part of this question asked each country to provide contact details for this 

government office, which can be found on page 54. 

Thirteen of 14 countries confirmed their government has legislation or policy for Deaf People or People with Disabilities in 

general, and supplied a list of the laws or policies (see page 56). Once again Myanmar stated their current government does not 

have legislation covering Deaf people or People with Disabilities. All of these laws or policies classified Deaf people under the 

larger group of People with Disabilities, and none of them addressed the needs of Deaf people as a group in itself. 

Only nine of 13 countries (Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Korea and Thailand) have 

anti-discrimination legislation for People with Disabilities (including Deaf people). 

Eight of 13 countries (Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand) stated their national 

governments provide services specifically for the Deaf Community through government departments; five countries (Cambodia, 

Laos, Myanmar, Nepal and Philippines) said their government does not provide any services for the Deaf community. For those 

countries where the government does provide services, the types of services are: 

• Sign Language Interpreting Services 

• Social Support 

• Free Hearing Aids 

• Vocational/Rehabilitation Training 

• Employment Services 

• Captioning on Television 

• Concession Tickets for Transportation 

The general opinion of current services offered by national governments ranges between ‘not satisfied’ and ‘average’; all 

respondents, however, made the comment that access to government services needs to be improved. 

All 13 respondents have contact with their country’s current government. The type of contact is linked to co-ordination of laws, 

regulations, policies and service provision reviews concerning Deaf people, or contact with Ministries and/or Government 

Agencies concerning Deaf people’s welfare needs. Six countries (Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Korea and Sri Lanka) have 

membership status within the governmental committee on issues for People with Disabilities. Only Australia has contact with 

the current government on the status of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 

Eight of 13 country respondents (Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand) receive 

funding from their national government with five (Cambodia, Japan, Laos, Nepal and Philippines) not receiving any government 

financial support at all. Those countries receiving government funding provided the annual amount they received (see page 59) 

and explained the purpose of the financial support. 

The last five questions of this section were to ascertain whether Deaf people have a right to vote in national, regional and local 

elections; are permitted to obtain a driver’s licence; can marry Deaf or other partners; are allowed to have children; and can 

adopt children. The results are as follows: 

Yes 

Right to vote in 

national, 

regional and 

local elections? 

13 Countries 

(100%) 

No 0 

Allowed to obtain 

a driver’s licence? 

10 Countries 

(77%) 

3 Countries 

(23%) 

Allowed to marry 

Deaf or other 

partners? 

13 Countries 

(100%) 

Allowed to have 

children? 

13 Countries 

(100%) 

0 0 

Not Available 0 0 0 0 


Allowed to adopt 

children? 

9 Countries 

(69%) 

2 Countries 

(15%) 

2 Countries 

(15%) 





When asked whether Deaf people have access to government services such as education, health care, employment, social 

welfare and other general government services, 13 of 14 country respondents ticked ‘Yes’. To the question how Deaf people 

access these government services, the responses were quite diverse: each Deaf person made their own personal contacts; a sign 

language Interpreter is provided by the government for relevant appointments; sign language Interpreters are provided by a 

Local Deaf Association or through the National Association itself if they offer community welfare service. 

Another aspect of access to government services was whether Deaf people were entitled to any financial assistance from the 

government, to which only eight of 12 country respondents (Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, 

Korea and Thailand) answered ‘Yes’. The national government does not offer any financial assistance for Deaf people in 

Cambodia, Laos, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The types of financial assistance offered to Deaf people are shown in the table below: 


Disability Allowance General Pension Disability-Specific Pension Other 

7 Countries 

(58%) 

6 Countries 

(50%) 

3 Countries 

(25%) 

4 Countries 

(33%) 


Following are the results of access to the media for Deaf people in these 14 countries, based on three main questions: 

1) Does the government provide sign language services for news and/or current affairs programmes on public television? 

Seven countries (Cambodia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand) stated their government provides 

sign language services for News Programmes on television. The length of time for sign language programmes on 

television ranged between once every week for a half hour news bulletin to a news programme every 2 – 3 hours. 

2) Does the government provide subtitles/captions for news and/or current affairs programmes? 

Only five countries (Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand and Korea) have access to subtitles/captions for news 

bulletins and movies, with the hours of captioning access ranging from just two hours daily to approximately 137 hours 

per week. 

3) Does the government offer any governmental documents in sign language? 

Only one country (Thailand) stated the government provides access for Deaf people to receive governmental 

documents in their sign language. 

4.6 Status of the National Sign Language(s) 

These questions aimed to gather vital data on the status of national sign language(s) with findings as follows: 

• Seven of 12 countries (Australia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand) stated their 

national sign language is formally recognised by their government 

• Four of 12 countries (Cambodia, Laos, Nepal and Korea) stated their sign language is not recognised by their 

government 

• One of 12 countries (Bhutan) stated the policy on sign language is currently being developed 

• For the seven countries whose sign languages are recognised, recognition falls under the following categories: 

Country Constitution Legislation Policy 

Australia 

 

Japan 

Malaysia 

 

New Zealand 

 

Philippines 

 

Sri Lanka 

Thailand 

 

New Zealand is the only country in WFD RSA/P with a sign-language-specific law, the New Zealand Sign Language Act, passed in 

2006. 

• Ten countries (Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand) 

continue to actively lobby their national government to recognise their sign languages 




• Two countries (Laos and Philippines) do not lobby for recognition of their sign language due to the Deaf leadership’s 

lack of expertise in lobbying or because of lack of sufficient funding to research the national sign language(s) 

Eleven of 13 countries (Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Korea, Sri Lanka and 

Thailand) have a dictionary of their national sign language. 


The most important part of this survey was to ascertain whether every Deaf person was entitled to and had access to good 

quality education. There were eight questions, the first of which asked whether governments recognised that Deaf children and 

Deaf students have the right to receive an education. Thirteen of 14 countries stated ‘Yes’ with only the Republic of Korea 

saying ‘No’. Eleven of 14 countries responded ‘Yes’ to the question asking if the government has legislation or a policy on Deaf 

Education; Bhutan, Myanmar and the Republic of Korea stated ‘No’. All 11 countries were able to provide the specific name of 

the legislation or policy relating to Deaf Education, the list of which is available on page 68. 

The next aim was to collect information on educational settings for Deaf children and Deaf students in each country (14 

countries) as shown below: 

Early Intervention Kindergarten Primary Education Secondary Education 

6 Countries 

(43%) 

7 Countries 

(50%) 

13 Countries 

11 Countries 

(93%) 

(79%) 


University 

Education 

6 Countries 

(43%) 

Vocational Education 

/ Training 

9 Countries 

(64%) 

Five countries (Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand and Thailand) have educational settings from Early Intervention right 

up to University Education, as well as Vocational Education and Training. The only country where education for Deaf children is 

limited to primary education is Myanmar. Three of the 14 countries (Laos, Nepal and Korea) offered two educational levels - 

Primary and Secondary; and Cambodia only offers Vocational Education/Training. 

In regards to the question asking if the “country government provide[s] any of the following educational settings”, the Regional 

Working Group was concerned that respondents may have been confused or unable to confirm the real situation of educational 

settings because the question focussed on whether the government was responsible. Nowadays it is common for educational 

settings for Deaf children or Deaf students to be controlled by private organisations or non-governmental organisations. For 

instance, in Cambodia the Primary and Secondary Education available is currently provided by a private organisation, with the 

aim of encouraging the government to eventually take over responsibility for Deaf schools. 

Another question addressed Bilingual Education offered by the government, and use of the national sign language(s) for Deaf 

children and Deaf students. Five out of 14 countries (Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Thailand) provided 

information about which levels of education are provided bilingually: 

Early Intervention 

3 Countries (60%) 

Kindergarten 

4 Countries 

(80%) 

Primary 

Education 

Secondary 

Education 

University 

Education 

Vocational 

Education/Training 

5 Countries 

(100%) 

5 Countries (100%) 3 Countries (60%) 5 Countries (100%) 

Based on five respondents 

The next question had the aim of recording the number of schools specifically for Deaf children and Deaf students; all 14 

countries provided replies. The largest number of Deaf schools is in the Philippines, which has 152; and the smallest number is 

in Bhutan, which has only one. The total number of Deaf schools in all 13 countries is 488; as well there are 162 schools that 

could be considered as Integrated Schools for Deaf children or Deaf students. 




Another question approached the type of educational communication methods for Deaf children and Deaf students at the Deaf 

schools. Only 13 countries provided this information; the summarised results are: 

Bilingual Education 1 Oral Method 2 Cued Speech 3 Oral and Sign Language 

(Total Communication) 4 Auditory Verbal 5 Other 

5 Countries 

(38%) 

7 Countries 

(54%) 

2 Countries 

(15%) 

11 Countries 

(85%) 

4 Countries 

(31%) 

4 Countries 

(31%) 


Overall, the dominant educational communication method in the WFD RSA/P region is Oral Education, indicated by the averages 

between 54% and 85% for the Oral Method, and Oral and Sign Language. 

The following questions were asked: ‘What is the general opinion of the level of education received by Deaf children and Deaf 

students?’ and ‘What is the general opinion of the current literacy level of Deaf children and Deaf students?’ Full details as 

provided by 12 out of 13 countries can be found on page 72. 

Most notably, there are several comments stating that the current educational level is insufficient because of lack of availability 

of sign language settings; because teachers of Deaf students are not skilled in sign language; or because educational settings for 

Deaf children or Deaf students have just been established. Only two countries (Indonesia and New Zealand) stated that 

education is satisfactory. Eleven countries (Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, 

Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand) provided various opinions on the current level of literacy; however the common opinion is that it 

is low or unsatisfactory. Australia stated that school children finish secondary school at the age of 16, and upon completion of 

their education their approximate reading and writing skills are at the level of a seven or eight year old; Sri Lanka stated that 

only non-trained teachers are available to teach literacy skills using sign language. 

At the higher level of education, the survey questions sought information as to whether Deaf people have access to University 

education and also asked each country to supply information about the number of Universities which offer study placements for 

Deaf people. Only nine of 14 country respondents (Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Korea, Sri 

Lanka and Thailand) have places for Deaf people to access University education. The number of Universities that are accessible 

for Deaf people in countries in the WFD RSA/P Region range widely from two State Universities in Indonesia to all Universities in 

Japan and New Zealand; full details can be found on page 73. 

In those countries (Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos and Nepal) where Deaf people do not have access to University education, four 

different reasons were provided: 

1. Deaf students currently in school are not able to reach this level yet 

2. No Deaf students have completed Secondary Education 

3. Funding is not available for Sign Language Interpreting Services 

4. Unavailability of sign language interpreting services for Deaf students 

The last question of the Education part of the survey asked about Sign Language Interpreting Services offered for Deaf students 

in University. Only two countries (New Zealand and Thailand) stated that Deaf people have full access to sign language 

interpreting services for University. 

1 Bilingual Education: Sign language is considered to be the natural language (‘mother tongue’) that will be acquired as a first 

language. Spoken language, which is not acquired naturally by Deaf children, will be learned as a second language as the child 

becomes cognitively/developmentally ready. Both languages are used throughout the child’s entire education. 

2 Oral Education: Spoken language is assumed to be the basis for standard social and academic communication, and the human 

system is assumed to be designed (pre-wired) to learn language expressed in speech. Children learn about and from spoken 

language. Also known as auditory-oral, aural/oral education. Emphasis on speech. 

3 Cued Speech: A visual mode of communication that uses hand shapes and placements in combination with the mouth 

movements of speech to make the phonemes of a spoken language look different from each other, resulting in a visual 

counterpart of a spoken language. 

4 Total Communication: All forms and modes of communications are used. This includes natural gestures, sign language, 

manually-coded spoken languages, sign systems, mime, audition and speech. 

5 Auditory Verbal Education: Supposes that even minimal amounts of residual hearing can lead to the development of 

spontaneous speech and language, if that residual hearing is stimulated. Children learn to process language through amplified 

hearing. A method of oral education with an emphasis on listening. 




4.8 Status of Sign Language Interpreting Services 

To questions focusing on the status of sign language interpreting services, 12 out of 14 countries reported that they have sign 

language interpreters. The next question asked them to provide the number of sign language interpreters, to which the 

response ranged from three in Laos and Sri Lanka to 20,000 in Japan. 

The survey next aimed to gain specific information as to whether any of these sign language interpreters are appropriately 

qualified, to which eight out of 12 countries responded (Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Korea 

and Thailand). When asked where people go to obtain training to become a qualified sign language interpreter the answers 

were: 

University Community College National Association of the Deaf Others 

4 Countries (50%) 2 Countries (25%) 4 Countries (50%) 3 Countries (38%) 

Based on eight respondents 

The length of training ranges from one and half years up to four years (further details on page 76). 

The current number of sign language interpreters with formal interpreting qualifications starts with only two qualified 

interpreters in Malaysia up to 1,789 interpreters in Japan. Only Indonesia did not report the number of qualified sign language 

interpreters in their country. 

When queried about how Deaf people access sign language interpreting, 12 out of 14 countries stated such services are accessed 

through a Sign Language Interpreting Booking Service, Deaf School and/or Regional Deaf Associations of the National Deaf 

Association. Another question designed to collect information about who is responsible for providing sign language interpreting 

services for the Deaf Community, answered by 11 countries (Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, New 

Zealand, Philippines, Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand) resulted in the following findings: 

Government National Association of the Deaf Private Sector Other 

5 Countries 

(45%) 

6 Countries 

(54%) 


2 Countries 

(18%) 

2 Countries 

(18%) 

The types of sign language interpreting services offered to the Deaf community in 11 countries (Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, 

Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand) are: 

Sign Language Interpreting Services 

Social Services 9 (81%) 

Court Services 9 (81%) 

Health/Medical Services 8 (72%) 

Educational Services 8 (72%) 

Counselling Services 8 (72%) 

Employment Services 7 (63%) 

Funerals/Weddings 6 (54%) 

Financial Institutions 5 (45%) 

Entertainment 5 (45%) 


Country/Average Percentage 

Eleven out of 14 respondents provided their general opinion of these sign language interpreting services. The broad opinion is 

that there is a lack of quality in formal training or qualifications; interpreting services themselves are weak; the number of 

interpreters is not enough and supply cannot meet demand; and the general community has limited awareness about available 

services. 

Eleven out of 12 respondents stated that sign language interpreters receive payment for their interpreting assignments, with the 

responsibility for remitting payment as follows: 

Government National Association of the Deaf Deaf People Others 

5 Countries (45%) 5 Countries (45%) 5 Countries (45%) 8 Countries (72%) 


• Five country’s governments, in Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Thailand, are responsible for payment of 

interpreting services 

• In five countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines and Sri Lanka) the National Association of the Deaf provides 

funding for the service 




• Five countries (Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines and Sri Lanka) stated that Deaf people themselves pay for the 

service 

Eight countries detailed the provision of funding for interpreting services from other sources; this information can be found on 

page 79. 

Nine out of 12 countries (Australia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand) responded 

to the question asking the average rate per hour for sign language interpreters. The lowest rate is 1.70€ paid for one hour of 

service in Laos; and the highest hourly payments are 28.00€ per hour in Australia and 26.00€ in New Zealand. (Payment scales 

can be found on page 79). 

Three countries (Cambodia, Indonesia and Myanmar) stated their sign language interpreters provide voluntary services for all 

assignments and five other countries (Japan, Laos, Nepal, Philippines and Korea) stated that their interpreters do voluntary 

services sometimes; three countries (Australia, New Zealand and Thailand) state that their sign language interpreters never 

provide voluntary services for interpreting assignments. 

The question seeking whether each country has a National Association of Sign Language Interpreters brought to light that only 

seven countries (Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines and Thailand) have a national organisation for Sign 

Language Interpreters. Eight of the 13 countries (Australia, Cambodia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Sri Lanka and 

Thailand) have their own national Code of Ethics for Sign Language Interpreters. 

The last question for this section sought information about legislation or policies which state the government has a 

responsibility for the provision of sign language interpreting services. Seven out of 13 countries (Australia, Japan, Malaysia, New 

Zealand, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand) reported in the affirmative and provided the title of their legislation, which can 

be found on page 81. 


This survey sought to gather information on employment settings for Deaf people in the region of WFD RSA/P. The first question 

was to confirm whether the government considers that Deaf people have a right to be employed and earn a standard salary. 

Three out of 12 countries (Laos, Nepal and Thailand) stated ‘No’; the other nine countries (Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, 

Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Korea and Sri Lanka) stated ‘Yes’. The next question was whether any of the 

national governments have anti-discrimination laws in the area of employment, especially for Deaf people or People with 

Disabilities. Only four countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos and Sri Lanka) do not have laws against discrimination of Deaf 

people or People with Disabilities. Eight countries (Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Korea and 

Thailand) provided a list of the legislation or policies relating to anti-discrimination in employment (found on page 82). It is 

interesting to note that there may be a conflict with Nepal and Thailand, who both stated their governments do not consider 

that Deaf people have a right to be employed and earn a standard salary, when both countries have anti-discrimination 

legislation for People with Disabilities. 

To the question about official figures about the number of Deaf people who are in paid employment, only one country (Nepal) 

provided this information: 

Country 

Total Number of Deaf people 

employed 

Nepal 250 

Another question asked for information on the number of Deaf people who are unemployed, and two countries (Indonesia and 

Nepal) out of 12 responded: 

Country 

Total Number of Deaf People unemployed 

Indonesia 60% 

Nepal Based on the Association members, approx 85% are unemployed (1,360) 

Eleven countries (Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Korea, Sri Lanka and 

Thailand) ticked the most common areas of work for Deaf people in their country with the results being: 

Most Common areas of work for Deaf people in WFD RSA/P 



Farm Work 9 Countries (81%) 

Hairdresser 8 Countries (72%) 

Tailoring 8 Countries (72%) 

Carpentry 7 Countries (63%) 

Welding 7 Countries (63%) 

Building 7 Countries (63%) 

Painter 7 Countries (63%) 




Cleaning 7 Countries (63%) 

Bakery 7 Countries (63%) 

Catering 7 Countries (63%) 

Education 6 Countries (54%) 

Sign Language Work 6 Countries (54%) 

Social Services 6 Countries (54%) 

Jeweller 6 Countries (54%) 

Car Mechanic 6 Countries (54%) 

Printer 6 Countries (54%) 

Office Administration 5 Countries (45%) 

Management 5 Countries (45%) 

Shoe Repairing 5 Countries (45%) 

Theatre/Arts 4 Countries (36%) 

Research Projects 4 Countries (36%) 

Engineering 4 Countries (36%) 

Panel Beating 3 Countries (27%) 

Financial Industry 2 Countries (18%) 

Other 5 Countries (45%) 

One question aimed to find out reasons for Deaf people’s unemployment; nine countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, 

Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand) provided justifications as follows: 

• Most job training is not accessible for Deaf people 

• Education and job training for Deaf people is available in few parts of the country 

• Barriers in communication 

• Discrimination towards Deaf by hearing people 

• Deaf people live in villages 

• Lack of Vocational Training for Deaf people 

• Lack of Deaf Awareness and access to Sign Language Interpreters in the work place 

• Some Deaf people prefer to stay at home and rely on a parent’s support 

The final question asked if there were any employment services to assist unemployed Deaf people to find positions and also 

asked who is responsible for this service. Eleven out of 13 countries (Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, New 

Zealand, Philippines, Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand) have specialised services offered by both the Government Employment 

Service and the National Association of the Deaf to assist Deaf people to gain employment. Neither Myanmar nor Nepal has 

employment services for Deaf people. 

4.10 General Comments 

Five issues of common concern faced by every National Association of the Deaf/Deaf Group globally were listed, and 12 

countries (Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Korea, Sri Lanka and 

Thailand) prioritised these issues for the Deaf community in their country. Please note: the majority of the countries ticked 

more than one ‘highest priority’. The results are: 

Highest Priority Issues 

Better quality of Deaf Education 8 Countries (67%) 

Better Sign Language Interpreting quality and services 7 Countries (58%) 

Recognition of your country’s Sign Language(s) by your country’s Government 6 Countries (50%) 

Equal Opportunity in Employment 5 Countries (42%) 

Improved quality and access to Government and Community Services 4 Countries (33%) 



Others 3 Countries (25%) 

• To ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 

• To amend the current Law to Support the Independent Living of the Disabled (nullify the payment of 10% of the cost of 

service) 

• To increase the number of hours of TV programmes offered in sign language 

• New Zealand has moved beyond the point of listing highest priorities for the Deaf Community as New Zealand has 

achieved a lot in the last 5 years (i.e. Relay Services, NZSL Act) 

• Basically DANZ is patching up the gaps in the current legislations to ensure equal access for all Deaf/Hearing-impaired 




The final part of the survey provided the opportunity for each country to list any other concerns about the standard of living of 

Deaf people. 11 countries (Cambodia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Korea, Sri Lanka and 

Thailand) took the opportunity and expressed the following common areas of concern: 

Government 

• Major reform is needed to the national welfare policy in the area of sign language interpreting services 

• Access to government services needs to be improved 

• Better communication services between Government Agencies and the Deaf community is needed 

• Financial Assistance or a Welfare Service System should be put in place for the Deaf community 

• Health information should be made accessible and available in sign language or subtitles 

• Health Services should offer Sign Language Interpreting Services 

• Access to Sign Language Interpreting Services is needed for Court matters 

Education 

• A large number of Deaf people are illiterate 

• Quality of Education needs to be improved 

• Parents need to recognise the importance of Deaf Education for their Deaf children 

Sign Language 

• Deaf people have no sign language skills 

• Government does not recognise the sign language 

• Sign language materials and courses should be provided for Deaf people who have not learned their own language 

• The promotion of Human Rights through Sign Languages needs to be strengthened 

• Need to standardise the national sign language 

Sign Language Interpreters 

• Training for sign language interpreters 

• Provision of sign language interpreting services 

• Recognise the needs of sign language interpreters 

Employment 

Other 

• Equal opportunity for Deaf people in the employment sector 

• Low salary for Deaf people 

• Opportunities for employment 

• Vocational Training for Deaf people 

• Deaf people are isolated - 98% of them have never met another Deaf person 

• Decreased membership within the national organisation because of the general decrease in the birth rate 

• Decreased membership in Youth Groups 

• Lack of Deaf Awareness by hearing society leads to oppression or discrimination against Deaf people especially in 

villages 

• Small number of Regional Deaf Associations - an association needs to be established for every district 

• Deaf women are doubly oppressed as Women and Deaf 

• Rights of Deaf Women 

• Immigration and Refugees Issues, and Global Warming 

• Strengthen Deaf organisation’s stability as a self-help organisation 




5.0 Recommendations 

This section is based on the recommendations prepared by the members of the Regional Working Group that met in Bangkok, 

Thailand, on 13 th – 15 th February, 2008 to pursue the issues highlighted in the report. The current economic situation in the WFD 

RSA/P region, especially for the countries categorised under the World Bank Classification as Low Income or Low Middle Income 

(Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand), has an impact on any of their 

governments’ abilities to fund programmes to support these initiatives. 

Developed countries in the Asia and Pacific Region, such as Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia and New Zealand, 

are encouraged to become familiar with WFD’s policy statement “WFD Work in Developing Countries”, especially the following 

sections: 

Development of Co-operation between Deaf associations in Developing and Developed Countries 

The WFD will work towards a situation whereby: 

1. Deaf Associations in developed countries are encouraged to enter into a partnership/co-operation with counterparts 

in the south. 

2. The co-operation should as much as possible be based on the principle of mutual respect for cultural, language and 

social economic realities, e.g. in sign language work. The objective should not be to export the sign language of the 

developed countries, but for developing countries to research and/or develop their own sign languages based on 

cultural realities. 

3. Deaf people from developing countries should be encouraged to receive training in specific areas (e.g. sign language 

and management) in developed countries. However, the training should be tailored to enable them to work with the 

languages in their own countries. 

4. The co-operation should have a strong component providing for involvement of Deaf people in developing countries in 

such matters as initiation of programmes, decision-making, monitoring and evaluation of programmes. 

5. Information of such co-operation is widely shared with the global Deaf community. 

Education and Sign Language Work in Developing Countries 

Education and sign language work in developing countries is of vital importance. WFD will work towards: 

1. Encouraging international funding agencies to support Deaf education and sign language programmes in developing 

countries as a priority. 

2. Provide or facilitate experts in these fields to help promote Deaf education and sign language in developing countries. 

3. Provide expert information to differentiate between the social cultural view, clinical pathological view and disability 

view for professional education in order to identify how each of these views influence the values, working habits of 

teachers and treatment of Deaf pupils. 

Strengthening or Establishing Deaf Associations in Developing Countries 

WFD encourages Deaf Associations to advocate for the rights of Deaf people in their respective countries at all levels. To this 

effect, WFD will: 

1. Share information to help strengthen Associations of Deaf people. 

2. Facilitate experts to assist the establishment or strengthening of Associations in developing countries. 

3. Provide or help arrange organisational and management training seminars and workshops. 

4. Ensure that member Associations in developing countries work towards the establishment of Associations that respect 

the basic principles of accountability and democratic participation of all individual members. 

Regional Co-operation in Developing Countries 

The WFD encourages regional cooperation between Deaf Associations in developing countries and works towards: 

1. Building the capacity of regional management through training, sharing of information and networking of 

development agencies including donors. 

2. Establishing Regional Secretariats where they do not exist, and linking all National Associations to the Secretariats. 

3. Development of a network of regional experts to serve the regions in selected areas, e.g. sign language research, 

education and organisational development. 

4. Co-operation with other international organisations based in the region to promote mutual understanding and hence 

contribute to the development of Deaf programmes in the region. 

Interpreting Services 

In the views of member Associations in developing countries where the level of interpretation service has not reached 

the stage of professionalism in the field, WFD experts in interpretation should develop a modified version of the 

ethics of interpreters to suit the environment of developing countries. 

The full policy statement “WFD Work in Developing Countries” and its companion policy “Work Done by Member Organisations 

in Developing Countries” are attached at the end of the report. Appendix No 3 and 4 




It may be necessary for the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and Swedish National Association of the Deaf (SDR) to seek 

external support for the region, i.e. to seek project support and funding via partnerships with Shia and other relevant 

organisations. The Japanese Federation of the Deaf (JFD) has an “Asian Deaf Friendship Fund” to support Deaf Groups or Deaf 

Organisations within the Asian Region; therein is a potential opportunity for JFD to become a co-partner with WFD and SDR for 

the Asian Region. 

The Regional Working Group discussed the general overview of the Survey Results and identified training needs for members in 

the Asia and Pacific Region. Some of the recommendations may not be relevant for every country (notably Australia, Japan, 

Malaysia and New Zealand); however it is highly recommended that these developed countries be contacted to arrange for 

specialised trainer(s) from these countries to co-operate with members in developing countries, mainly for organisational 

development training. 

The Regional Working Group recommended that any and all training should be available in sign language and conducted by Deaf 

Trainers and Experts. The Regional Working Group has identified the major needs as being: 

5.1 Increase Knowledge of the United Nations Conventions 

After receiving training on the various conventions of the United Nations, the Regional Working Group considered knowledge of 

current conventions a powerful tool for each country’s Deaf Community. Training should be provided about the: 

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights 

• International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 

• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 

• Convention on the Rights of the Child 

• Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women 

• Periodic reporting, the new system of Universal Periodic Reviews and also shadow/alternative reports from NGOs 

5.2 Training on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) 

Ideally each member of WFD RSA/P should receive full training in understanding the CRPD in its entirety, to enable them to 

prepare for their advocacy role within areas such as: 

1. How to lobby Government to sign and ratify CRPD (who, how, what) 

2. How the National Association of the Deaf can become an expert with their national government for the five articles of 

the CRPD specifically related to the Deaf Community 

3. How to prepare and advise the national government about the five articles of the CRPD relating to the Deaf Community 

including budget preparation, advisory roles, and appropriate systems/appointments/procedures 

5.3 Organisational Review 

Essentially, a re-evaluation of the overall vision to provide clear direction for the organisation as a whole, in accordance with 

the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) aims. The process should focus on the following areas: 

• Political strength 

• Vision, Mission and Aims of an organisation of Deaf people 

• Clear definitions of roles and responsibilities in a structure with National, Regional and Local Deaf Associations 

• Community relationship and communication structure to be developed and put into place (including the importance of 

transparency) 

• Representation and the role of Deaf, hard of hearing and hearing people within the organisation 

The Project Co-ordinator believes it is necessary to develop a blueprint of a national strategy for the Deaf community for each 

National Association of the Deaf in the region of WFD RSA/P. 

5.4 Organisational Development Training 

The members of the Regional Working Group raised the strong need to provide organisational management training for all WFD 

RSA/P Board Members and Senior Management Staff as follows: 

1. How to prepare Policy Statements 

2. Advocacy to and lobbying of the government for services, legislation and policy for the Deaf Community 

3. Financial Management/Fundraising/Grants and Project Funding from or by the governments 

4. Strategy Development to lobby governments to recognise national sign language(s) 

5. General Information about Sign Language Interpreters Training Programmes:- 

• Appointment of appropriate Interpreter Trainers for the training 

• How to prepare interpreter training programmes 

• How to provide interpreting services 

• How to accredit interpreters 

• General policies on Sign Language Interpreter Services 

• Code of Ethics 

6. Membership Issues regarding hearing people’s involvement with an Association of the Deaf run by Deaf people 

7. Understanding the different definitions of Deaf and Hearing Impaired 




8. Information about HIV/AIDS for the Deaf Community, including the urgent need for an HIV/AIDS Education Training 

Programme for the Deaf Community and an appropriate training kit 

9. Training for the Deaf Youth Community and Leadership Training for Deaf Youth 

10. Training for Deaf Women 

5.5 Training for the National Association of the Deaf and Deaf Groups/Organisations 

The process would ideally also include training of individual members and board members of every National Association of the 

Deaf and Deaf Group/Organisation in the region of WFD RSA/P, and include subjects such as: 

• WFD Policies 

• International Network and Roles of the United Nations, WFD, WFD Regional Secretariats 

• Global Models of Deaf Communities and Organisations, e.g. WFD, and their work 

• Human Rights 

• Gender Issues 

• Deaf Education/Bilingualism for Deaf Students 

• Review of Deaf Education 

• Sign Language Work 

• Sign Language Interpreting 

• Media for Deaf People 

• Deaf Employment/Vocational Training 

• National Legislation/Local Government Systems 

• Leadership 

• Empowerment and Democracy 

• Advocacy by the National Association of the Deaf 

• Deafhood (the Deaf collective existence; a process by which Deaf individuals come to actualise their Deaf identity) 

This training will endeavour to provide empowerment and self-reliance to the National Association of the Deaf and Deaf 

Groups/Organisations as they act in accordance with their obligations to advocate and improve the status of the Deaf 

community in their country. 

5.6 Advocacy for the Improvement of the Standard of Living for Deaf People 

It can be seen that sports and cultural activities are prominent in National Association of the Deaf work, and that essential 

lobbying for the improvement of the standard of living for Deaf people is sometimes lacking or difficult to achieve. 

A recommendation on how to address this issue is to seek partnership to conduct comprehensive data collection on the living 

standards of a representative sample of individual Deaf people, including vital aspects such as: 

• Socio-economic status 

• Education 

• Literacy skills 

• Employment 

• Access to sign language interpreting services 

• Access to health services 

• Access to government services 

• Access to the media 

An essential part of this advocacy process is to utilise existing tools such as legal documents, reports and international human 

rights documents relevant to Deaf people, in order to make valid proposals and arguments to better equality and living 

conditions. (The WFD Fact Sheet on Human Rights can be found on http://www.wfdeaf.org/pdf/fact_humanrights.pdf) 

5.7 Information Resources on Technology Access 

It is necessary to provide an information resources package in International Sign as well as to conduct training with key 

members within each country’s Association/Organisation, to share information about Technology Access such as: 

• National Relay Services 

• Video Relay Services 

• Text Message Relay Services 

• Remote Distance Interpreting Services 




5.8 Further Situation Analysis Research in the Asia and Pacific Region 

At present, there are at least 17 countries in the Asia and Pacific Region with no national body representing Deaf people who 

use sign language. The Regional Working Group proposed to seek funding to carry out situation analysis research in the following 

countries: 

1. Bhutan 

2. Brunei 

3. Cambodia 

4. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 

5. Lao PDR 

6. Maldives 

7. Marshall Islands 

8. Federated States of Micronesia 

9. Myanmar 

10. Nauru 

11. Papua New Guinea 

12. Samoa 

13. Solomon Islands 

14. Timor-Leste 

15. Tonga 

16. Vanuatu 

17. Viet Nam 

5.9 Other 

1. WFD RSA/P needs to have its own website to share information with all members in the region 

2. To develop and expand a strong network for all members of WFD RSA/P, it is suggested that each National Association 

of the Deaf and Deaf Organisation/Deaf Group appoint a contact person with responsibility to communicate with other 

members of the region 

3. WFD RSA/P should provide training on the internal relationship between members of WFD RSA/P 

4. WFD RSA/P should review the annual Regional Secretariat Meeting and Conference to maintain each country member’s 

interest to participate at the Meeting and Conference 

5. The Regional Director of WFD RSA/P needs to collect all current legislation/policies relating to the Deaf community 

from all members of WFD RSA/P 

6. It would be ideal to provide International Sign training for each country, to improve their capability to communicate 

within the region; and at WFD’s General Assembly Meeting or World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf 




6.0 Geography and Population 

All of the following information was obtained from the Central Intelligence Agency – World Factbook 

(https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html) 

6.1 Australia 

Population: 

20,434,176 (July 2007 est.) 

Ethnic groups: English 79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%, 

unspecified 5.8% (2001 Census) 

Religions: 

Catholic 26.4%, Anglican 20.5%, other Christian 20.5%, Buddhist 

1.9%, Muslim 1.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 12.7%, none 15.3% 

(2001 Census) 

Languages: English 79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%, 

unspecified 5.8% (2001 Census) 

6.2 Bhutan 

Population: 2,327,849 

note: the Factbook population estimate is inconsistent with the 

2005 Bhutan census results; both data are being reviewed and 

when completed, the results will be posted on The World 

Factbook Web site 

(https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook) later this year 

(July 2007 est.) 

Ethnic groups: 

Religions: 

Languages: 

Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas - one of 

several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15% 

Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced 

Hinduism 25% 

Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, 

Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects 

6.3 Cambodia 

Population: 

13,995,904 note: estimates for this country take into account the 

effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower 

life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower 

population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of 

population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected 


Ethnic groups: Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4% 

Religions: Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5% 

Languages: 

Khmer (official) 95%, French, English 




6.4 Indonesia 

Population: 

234,693,997 (July 2007 est.) 

Ethnic groups: Javanese 40.6%, Sundanese 15%, Madurese 3.3%, Minangkabau 2.7%, Betawi 2.4%, Bugis 2.4%, Banten 2%, 

Banjar 1.7%, other or unspecified 29.9% (2000 census) 

Religions: 

Languages: 

Muslim 86.1%, Protestant 5.7%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 1.8%, other or unspecified 3.4% (2000 census) 

Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch, local dialects (the most widely spoken of 

which is Javanese) 

6.5 Japan 

Population: 

127,433,494 (July 2007 est.) 

Ethnic groups: Japanese 98.5%, Koreans 0.5%, Chinese 0.4%, other 0.7% 

note: up to 230,000 Brazilians of Japanese origin migrated to 

Japan in the 1990s to work in industries; some have returned to 

Brazil (2004) 

Religions: 

Languages: 

Observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including 

Christian 0.7%) 

Japanese 

6.6 Laos 

Population: 


Religions: 

Languages: 

6,521,998 (July 2007 est.) 

Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung 

(highland) including the Hmong and the Yao 9%, ethnic 

Vietnamese/Chinese 1% 

Buddhist 65%, animist 32.9%, Christian 1.3%, other and 

unspecified 0.8% (1995 census) 

Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages 




6.7 Malaysia 

Population: 


Religions: 

Languages: 

24,821,286 (July 2007 est.) 

Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%, others 7.8% (2004 est.) 

Muslim 60.4%, Buddhist 19.2%, Christian 9.1%, Hindu 6.3%, Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese 

religions 2.6%, other or unknown 1.5%, none 0.8% (2000 census) 

Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, 

Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai 

note: in East Malaysia there are several indigenous languages; most widely spoken are Iban and Kadazan 

6.8 Myanmar 


note: estimates for this country take into account the effects 

of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life 

expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower 

population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of 

population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected 


Ethnic groups: Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, 

Indian 2%, Mon 2%, other 5% 

Religions: Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), 

Muslim 4%, animist 1%, other 2% 

Languages: 

Burmese, minority ethnic groups have their own languages 




6.9 Nepal 

Population: 


Religions: 

Languages: 

28,901,790 (July 2007 est.) 

Chhettri 15.5%, Brahman-Hill 12.5%, Magar 7%, Tharu 6.6%, Tamang 5.5%, Newar 5.4%, Muslim 4.2%, Kami 

3.9%, Yadav 3.9%, other 32.7%, unspecified 2.8% (2001 census) 

Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census) 

note: only official Hindu state in the world 

Nepali 47.8%, Maithali 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu (Dagaura/Rana) 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 

3.3%, Awadhi 2.4%, other 10%, unspecified 2.5% (2001 census) 

note: many in government and business also speak English (2001 est.) 

6.10 New Zealand 

Population: 

4,173,460 (July 2008 est.) 

Ethnic groups: European 69.8%, Maori 7.9%, Asian 5.7%, Pacific islander 4.4%, 

other 0.5%, mixed 7.8%, unspecified 3.8% (2001 census) 

Religions: Anglican 14.9%, Roman Catholic 12.4%, Presbyterian 10.9%, 

Methodist 2.9%, Pentecostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3%, other 

Christian 9.4%, other 3.3%, unspecified 17.2%, none 26% (2001 

census) 

Languages: 

English (official), Maori (official), Sign Language (official) 




6.11 Philippines 

Population: 

91,077,287 (July 2007 est.) 

Ethnic groups: Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%, Ilocano 9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%, 

Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%, other 25.3% (2000 

census) 

Religions: 

Languages: 

Roman Catholic 80.9%, Muslim 5%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 

2.3%, Aglipayan 2%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.8%, unspecified 

0.6%, none 0.1% (2000 census) 

Filipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English (official); eight major 

dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, 

Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan 

6.12 Republic of Korea 

Population: 


49,232,844 (July 2008 est.) 

homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese) 

Religions: Christian 26.3% (Protestant 19.7%, Roman Catholic 6.6%), 

Buddhist 23.2%, other or unknown 1.3%, none 49.3% (1995 census) 

Languages: 

Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high school 

6.13 Sri Lanka 


note: since the outbreak of hostilities between the government and armed 

Tamil separatists in the mid-1980s, several hundred thousand Tamil 

civilians have fled the island and more than 200,000 Tamils have sought 

refuge in the West (July 2007 est.) 


Sinhalese 73.8%, Sri Lankan Moors 7.2%, Indian Tamil 4.6%, Sri 

Lankan Tamil 3.9%, other 0.5%, unspecified 10% (2001 census 

provisional data) 

Religions: Buddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, 

unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data) 

Languages: 

Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national 

language) 18%, other 8% 

note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently 

by about 10% of the population 




6.14 Thailand 


note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account 

the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in 

lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death 

rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the 

distribution of population by age and sex than would 

otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.) 

Ethnic groups: Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11% 

Religions: Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.6%, Christian 0.7%, other 0.1% (2000 

census) 

Languages: 

Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and 

regional dialects 




7.0 Survey Results 

7.1.0 Contact Details 

Country 

Australia (WFD Ordinary Member) 

Country Classification High Income 

Name of Association 

Deaf Australia 

Address 

247 Stafford Road 

Postal Address PO Box 1083 

City, Post Code Stafford QLD, 4053 

Country 

Australia 

Website 

www.deafau.org.au 

Email 

info@deafau.org.au 

Telephone Landline Number +61 7 3357 8277 TTY 

Telephone Mobile Number +61 413 045 791 

Fax Number +61 7 3357 8377 

Country 

Bhutan (Not a WFD Ordinary Member) 

Country Classification Lower Middle Income 


Deaf Education Unit 

Address 

Paro 

City, Code 

Paro 

Country 

Bhutan 

Website 

N/A 

Email 

kundruk@yahoo.com 

Telephone Landline Number +975 827 1546 

Telephone Mobile Number +975 1760 3530 

Fax Number +975 8271546 

Country 

Cambodia (Not a WFD Ordinary Member) 

Country Classification Low Income 


Maryknoll Deaf Development Programme 

Address #7A, Street 101 

Postal Address PO Box 2469 

City, Code 

Phnom Penh 

Country 

Cambodia 

Website 

www.ddp-cambodia.org 

Email 

info@ddp-cambodia.org 

Telephone Landline Number +855 (23) 987 931 

Telephone Mobile Number +855 (12) 199 3321 

Fax Number +855 (23) 211 731 




Country 

Indonesia (WFD Ordinary Member) 



Indonesian Association for the Welfare of the Deaf (IAWD) 

Address 

Jln. R.C. Veteran no. 178 – d/a Departemen Pertahanan - Bintaro 

City, Code Jakarta, 12330 

Country 

Indonesia 

Website 

N/A 

Email 

iawd1981@yahoo.com 

Telephone Landline Number N/A 

Telephone Mobile Number N/A 

Fax Number 

N/A 

Country 

Japan (WFD Ordinary Member) 



Japanese Federation of the Deaf 

Address 

S.K. Building 8F 130 Yamabuki-cho Shinjuku-ku 

City, Code Tokyo, 162-0801 

Country 

Japan 

Website 

http://www.jfd.or.jp/en/index.html 

Email 

inquiry@jfd.or.jp 

Telephone Landline Number +81-3-3268-8847 


Fax Number +81-3-3267-3445 

Country 

Laos (Not a WFD Ordinary Member) 



Deaf-Mute Unit of The Lao Disabled People’s Association (LDPA) 

Address Lao-Thai (P.O Box 6751) 

Postal Address P.O Box 6751 

City, Code 

Sisattanat District 

Country 

Laos PDR 

Website 

N/A 

Email 

LaoVigo@yahoo.com 

Telephone Landline Number +856 21 312 510 

Telephone Mobile Number +856 20 7860 589 for Head of Deaf-Mute Unit 

Fax Number +856 21 351923 




Country 

Country Classification 


Address 

Malaysia (WFD Ordinary Member) 

Upper Middle Income 

City, Code Selangor, 47100 

Country 

Website 

Email 

Telephone Landline Number 

Telephone Mobile Number 

Malaysian Federation of the Deaf 

No 6 - 13A Menara Klh, Bandar Puchong Yaja 

Malaysia 

http://www.mfd.org.my/public/index.asp 

www.epekak.net.my 

info@epekak.net.my 

+603 8070 9308 

+603 8070 8930 

N/A 

Fax Number +603 8076 1090 

Country 

Myanmar (Not a WFD Ordinary Member) 



Yangon Deaf Association and Mandalay Deaf Association 

Address Building 32B, Room 7, Kan Street, Quarter 9 

City, Code 

Hlaing Township, Yangon 

Country 

Myanmar 

Website 

N/A 

Email 

drcygn@myanmar.com.mm (Yangon Disabled Resource Centre, Myanmar) 

Telephone Landline Number N/A 


Fax Number 

N/A 

Country 

Nepal (WFD Ordinary Member) 



Nepal National Federation of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NFDH) 

Address 

Dhobidhara, Ward No. 31 (Near Kumari Cinema Lane) 

Postal Address P.O. Box 11338 

City, Code 

Kathmandu 

Country 

Nepal 

Website 

www.nfdh.org.np 

Email 

info@nfdh.org.np 

Telephone Landline Number +977–1-4426168 


Fax Number +977-1-4434714 




Country 

Country Classification 


Name of Association in 

National Language 

Address 

Postal Address 

Country 

Website 

Email 

New Zealand (WFD Ordinary Member) 

High Income 

Deaf Association of New Zealand 

Te Roopu Turi o Aotearoa 

1836 - 1848 Great North Road, Avondale, Auckland 

PO Box 15-770, New Lynn, Auckland 

New Zealand 

www.deaf.co.nz 

national@deaf.co.nz 

Telephone Landline Number +64 9 828 3282 


Fax Number +64 9 828 3235 

Country 

Philippines (WFD Ordinary Member) 



Philippine Federation of the Deaf 

Address 97-E Malvar St, Brgy. Bagumguhay Project 4, 

City, Code 

Quezon City 

Country 

Philippines 

Website 

N/A 

Email 

philfedeaf@yahoo.com 



Fax Number +632 435 1198 

Country 

Republic of Korea (WFD Ordinary Member) 



Korea Association of the Deaf 

Address 

4F Bora B/D, 289-20 Sungsu 2ga 3dong 

City, Code Sung Dong-Gu, Seoul, 133-834 

Country 


Website 

www.deafkorea.com 

Email 

kdeaf@chol.com 

Telephone Landline Number +82-2-461-2261 


Fax Number +82-2-461-2651 




Country 

Sri Lanka (WFD Ordinary Member) 



Sri Lanka Federation of the Deaf 

Address 

58, Negomba Road, Tudella 

City, Code 

Ja-Ela 

Country 

Sri Lanka 

Website 

www.slcfed.org 

Email 

slcfed@sltnet.ik 

Telephone Landline Number +94 11 22 44 687 


Fax Number +94 11 22 44 687 

Country 

Thailand (WFD Ordinary Member) 



National Association of the Deaf in Thailand 

Address 144/9 Moo Ban Thitiporn, Pattanakarn 29 

City, Code Suan Luang, Bangkok, 10250 

Country 

Thailand 

Website 

N/A 

Email 

nadtthai@hotmail.com 



Fax Number +662 717 1904 




7.2.0 National Association of the Deaf/Deaf Group 

7.2.1 Please provide the number of members your National Association of the Deaf/Deaf Group has in your country. 

7.2.1.1 Deaf Members: - 

Country Total Deaf Members Total Deaf Women Total Deaf Men 

Australia 331 184 147 

Bhutan 22 10 (Girls) 12 (Boys) 

Cambodia 200 50 150 

Indonesia N/A N/A N/A 

Japan 23,905 0 0 

Laos 82 42 40 

Malaysia 4,100 0 0 

Myanmar N/A N/A N/A 

Nepal 1,600 500 1,100 

New Zealand 900 N/A N/A 

Philippines 484 234 250 

Republic of Korea 8,000 0 0 

Sri Lanka 4,500 1,000 3,500 

Thailand 4,053 1,728 2,325 

Total 48,177 3,748 7,524 

7.2.1.2 Hard of Hearing Members: - 

Country Total Hard of Hearing Members Total Hard of Hearing Women Total Hard of Hearing Men 

Australia 0 0 0 

Cambodia 2 1 1 


Japan 0 0 0 

Laos 0 0 0 

Malaysia 0 0 0 

Myanmar N/A N/A N/A 

Nepal 90 40 50 

New Zealand 0 0 0 

Philippines 0 0 0 

Sri Lanka 0 0 0 

Republic of Korea 0 0 0 

Thailand 0 0 0 

Total 92 41 51 




7.2.1.3 Hearing Members: - 

Country 

Total Hearing Members 

Australia 119 

Bhutan 

6 (Teachers) 

Cambodia 10 

Indonesia 

N/A 

Japan 0 

Laos 0 

Malaysia 0 

Myanmar 

N/A 

Nepal 175 

New Zealand 0 

Philippines 0 

Republic of Korea 0 

Sri Lanka 0 

Thailand 0 

Total 310 

7.2.1.4 Summary Status of the Associations’/Groups’ Memberships: - 

Country 

Total Deaf Members 

Total Hard of Hearing 

Members 

Total Hearing 

Members 

Total Members 

Australia 331 (74%) 0 119 (26%) 450 

Bhutan 22 (79%) N/A 6 (21%) 28 

Cambodia 200 (94%) 2 (1%) 10 (5%) 212 

Indonesia N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Japan 23,905 (100%) 0 0 23,905 

Laos 82 (100%) 0 0 82 

Malaysia 4,100 (100%) 0 0 4,100 

Myanmar N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Nepal 1,600 (86%) 90 (5%) 175 (9%) 1,865 

New Zealand 900 (100%) 0 0 900 

Philippines 484 (100%) 0 0 484 

Republic of Korea 8,000 (100%) 0 0 8,000 

Sri Lanka 4,500 (100%) 0 0 4,500 

Thailand 4,053 (100%) 0 0 4,053 

Total 48,177 92 310 48,579 




7.2.2 In what year was your National Association/Deaf Group established? 

7.2.3 Does your Deaf Association/Deaf Group have Statutes/a Constitution? 

7.2.4 Does your government recognise your national organisation as the representative of Deaf people in your country? 

Country 

In what year was your National 

Association/Deaf Group 

established? 

Does your Deaf Association/Deaf 

Group have Statutes/a 

Constitution? 

Does your government 

recognise your national 

organisation as the 

representative of Deaf people 


Australia 1986 Yes Yes 

Bhutan 2004 (School) No Yes 

Cambodia 1997 (DDP) No Yes 

Indonesia 1981 Yes Yes 

Japan 1947 Yes Yes 

Laos 2003 (Deaf Unit) No Yes 

Malaysia 1997 Yes Yes 

Myanmar N/A N/A No 

Nepal 1995 Yes Yes 

New Zealand 1977 Yes Yes 

Philippines 1997 Yes Yes 

Republic of Korea 1946 Yes Yes 

Sri Lanka 1984 Yes Yes 

Thailand 1984 Yes Yes 

Total 10 Yes (71%) 13 Yes (93%) 


7.2.5 Please list some of the areas in which your association/group has adopted a policy statement. 

Country 

Australia 

Bhutan 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Japan 

Laos 

Malaysia 

Myanmar 

Nepal 

New Zealand 

Please list some of the areas in which your association/group has adopted a policy statement. 

• Auslan (Australian Sign Language) 

• Interpreting 

• Cochlear Implant 

• Baby Signs ‘Movement’ 

• Portrayal of Deaf People in the Media 

• Disability Equipment Programme 

• Deaf Equivalent of Voice Telephony 

School - we teach them English, Maths, Dzongklua (National Language) Sign Language, Games and Sports, 

Cultural Activities, Scouting, Arts and Crafts and so forth. 

DDP has no policy statements of its own but works with and through other groups. 

No information provided. 

The purpose of the Japanese Federation of the Deaf (JFD) is to ensure the human rights of Deaf persons 

and to enhance social welfare services for Deaf people as well as to raise the cultural standard among Deaf 

persons. In order to realise these aims, JFD actively lobbies Japanese and/or local governments for the 

improvement of social welfare services for Deaf people. JFD also makes great effort to establish an 

environment in which Deaf people are able to conduct independent activities and movements, and gain 

social self-reliance through various activities including dissemination of Japanese Sign Language (JSL). 


Biwako Millennium Framework for Action: Towards an Inclusive, Barrier-Free and Rights-Based Society for 

Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific. 

None Provided. 

NFDH has policies on four key issues, and some policies in other areas: 

1. Sign Language 

2. Deaf Community 

3. Deaf Culture 

4. Deaf Associations and 

• Women 

• Education 

We are currently in the process of developing these. The overarching goals for the community are 

• Deaf Awareness 

• Deaf Access and 

• Deaf Advancement 




Philippines 


Sri Lanka 

Thailand 

No written policy statements. 

We carry out work for all the needs of Deaf people, including rehabilitation and independence. 

Our purpose is participation in society and realisation of equality. 




• Counselling 

• Job Referrals 

• Information 

7.2.6 Please list the six highest priority issues/actions in your strategic action plan. 

Country 

Australia 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Japan 

Malaysia 

Nepal 

New Zealand 

Please list the six highest priority issues/actions in your strategic action plan. 

1. Information provision, including information in and about Auslan (Australian Sign Language) 

2. Community development 

3. Education 

4. Employment 

5. Telecommunications 

6. Captioning 

1. Education 

2. Job Training 

3. Sign Language Interpreting 

4. Strengthening the Deaf Community 

5. Development of sign language 

6. Advocacy 

1. Improvement in quality of Education for Deaf people who live in villages 

2. Development of and increasing Vocational Training for unemployed Deaf 

3. To support Sign Language Studies in the University of Indonesia programme; the research and 

development of Sign Language by Deaf Researchers who have attained a Certificate from the Sign 

Linguistic Training of the University China in Hong Kong; editing and publication of a Dictionary of 

Indonesian Sign Language 

4. Indonesian Sign Language interpreting Training 

1. Recognition of the need for sign language interpretation; development of a sign language 

interpreter dispatch system 

2. Abolishment of any discrimination due to deafness or hearing impairment 

3. Promotion of social participation and independence of Deaf persons 

1. Malaysian Sign Language 

2. Sign Language Interpreter Service 

3. Advocacy 

4. Communication Access 

5. Grassroots Development Programme 

6. Information and Referral Service 

1. Data Collection on the Deaf Membership 

2. Education 

3. Employment 

4. Nepalese Sign Language classes 

5. Interpreters 

6. Leadership 

7. Bhutan Refugees (in the field of Youth/Culture/Sports) 

8. Deaf Women 

9. Information and Advocacy/Human Rights 

1. Deaf Culture/NZSL 

• NZSL and Deaf Culture are well understood throughout the community 

• Increased recognition and knowledge of NZSL improves access for NZSL users and ensures the 

effective implementation of the NZSL Act 

2. People and Performance 

• The Deaf Association attracts and retains professional people who are committed to NZSL literacy 

and who are respected, recognised and valued by the organisation 

• DANZ employees have access to good quality resources and professional development 

opportunities to enable them to perform to a high standard 

3. Services 

• We have full access and participation for Deaf through quality programmes and services targeting 

the aspirations of Deaf people 

• Our policies and procedures are models for effective practice 

4. Te Tiriti o Waitangi 

• The Deaf Association is an active Treaty partner 

5. Communication 

• With open and clear communication throughout the organisation, the Deaf community, our 

members and stakeholders have a shared understanding of our priorities and activity 




Philippines 


Sri Lanka 

Thailand 

6. Profile 

• Deaf Association is a recognised, valued and highly regarded organisation 

7. Government/Stakeholders 

• The Deaf Association has effective collaborative relationships with national and local government 

and key stakeholders to ensure their policies and procedures are effective for Deaf people 

1. Livelihood/Employment 

2. Sign Language 

1. Abolishment of the limits on driving licenses for Deaf people 

2. Security of society participation for Deaf people 

3. Improvement of policies affecting Deaf people 

4. Development and passage of a sign language law 

5. Build a hall 

No information supplied. 

1. Interpreting 

2. Sign Language Teaching 

3. Skills Training 

4. Education (Literacy) 

5. Health and Safety 

6. Sports 

7.2.7 Please describe the structure of your National Association of the Deaf/Deaf Group (e.g. congress/annual 

meeting/board/executive/districts/local associations and so forth). 

Country 

Australia 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Japan 

Laos 

Malaysia 

Nepal 

New Zealand 

Philippines 


Please describe the structure of your National Association of the Deaf/Deaf Group (e.g. congress/annual 

meeting/board/executive/districts/local associations and so forth). 

• National organisation managed by a Board. Day to day running of the organisation is delegated to paid 

staff, with the board setting the directions and approving strategic plans and budgets. The board 

meets 3 or 4 times per year. 

• There is a state branch in each of the 6 Australian states. These state branches are separately 

incorporated organisations and are run by a board of management of their own. Deaf Australia and the 

state branches share members – ie when a member living in, for example Victoria, joins Deaf Australia, 

they automatically become a member of the Victorian branch also. 

• Deaf Australia holds an Annual General Meeting each year, usually in November. All ordinary (Deaf) 

members have a vote, and each state branch also has three votes each as an organisation member. 

• State branches also have their own Annual General Meeting at different times. 

• Local associations can be members of their State branch. 

DDP is creating a foundation for a national association by establishing Deaf groups in various parts of the 

country. We hope eventually they will form a Deaf community. Eventually leadership will emerge and form 

a national association. 

Provided organisational chart. 


The Deaf-Mute Unit was accepted by Lao Disabled People’s Association of the Ministry of Labour and Social 

Welfare. 

• Malaysian Federation of the Deaf (MFD) is a national self-help organisation, administered by Deaf 

people 

• MFD is represented by 13 state organisations (local associations) 

• MFD has an annual meeting and the MFD Board is elected every two years 

• Annual General Assembly – includes local member organisations in NFDH, which is the umbrella 

organisation. Every three years the annual general assembly converts into a congress/convention for all 

Deaf board members including the president. 

• The Executive Committee is the board that implements all plans and programmes as directed by the 

annual general assembly and the constitution. There are 11 Board members, with a minimum of two 

female members. 

• Executive Committee appoints several committees to work for the board and on implementation of 

plans. Each of these committees has a co-ordinator and a secretariat. 

• NFDH has committees on: Education, Sign Language, Interpreters, Programme Development, Women, 

Human Rights, Culture, Youth, Sports and driver licence registration. 

• In every programme and action plan a Deaf person takes the leadership. 

• The Executive Board is elected by the members of the organisation (Deaf members only) 

• The Annual General Meeting takes place annually (traditionally in November) 

• The Executive Board appoints the Chief Executive 

• The Chief Executive operates the organisation under the direction of the Board 

• There are 13 offices throughout New Zealand. Each office works with their local community members 


• The main body is the Association of the Deaf 

• 16 Local associations 

• 146 Regional associations 

• Sign Language Interpreter Centre 




Sri Lanka 

Thailand 

• General membership elects the President and the office bearers of the District Associations, who serve 

for two years. 

• The Presidents of the Associations along with the office bearers elect the President and the Office 

Bearers of the Central Federation, who serve for three years 


7.2.7.1 How many affiliated regional and/or local Deaf Associations are part of your National Association of the Deaf? 

Country Regional Associations Local Associations 

Australia 6 (States) 0 

Indonesia 18 69 

Japan 9 47 

Malaysia 0 13 

Nepal 24 2 

New Zealand 0 0 

Philippines 14 4 

Republic of Korea 146 16 

Sri Lanka 9 9 

Thailand 4 19 

Total 230 179 

7.2.8 How many members of your board are Deaf? 

Country 

How many members of your 

board are Deaf? 

Total number of Board Members 

Percentage of Deaf on the 

Board 

Australia 7 7 100% 


Japan 25 25 100% 

Laos 5 5 100% 

Malaysia 8 9 89% 

Nepal 13 13 100% 

New Zealand 8 8 100% 

Philippines 7 7 100% 

Sri Lanka 16 16 100% 

Republic of Korea N/A N/A N/A 

Thailand 11 11 100% 

Total 100 101 99% 

Please note: that not every respondent provided statistics about board members, even after the Project Co-ordinator 

attempted to follow up. 




7.2.9 How many members of the board are Deaf women and how many are Deaf men? 

Country Deaf Women Board Members Deaf Men Board Members Percentage of Deaf Women on the Board 

Australia 5 2 71% 

Japan 2 23 8% 

Laos 1 4 20% 

Malaysia 1 7 13% 

Nepal 3 10 23% 

New Zealand 3 5 38% 

Philippines 4 3 57% 

Sri Lanka 2 14 13% 

Thailand 2 9 18% 

Total 23 77 23% 

7.2.10 Does your National Association of the Deaf/Deaf Group have committees for specific areas of interest or affiliation 

with any other relevant independent groups in your country? 

Does your National Association of the Deaf/Deaf Group have committees for specific areas of 

interest or affiliation with any other relevant independent groups in your country? 

Sign Language Interpreting 9 (75%) 

Sports Groups 9 (75%) 

Deaf Women’s Groups 9 (75%) 

Sign Language Research 7 (58%) 

Deaf Education 7 (58%) 

Deaf Youth 7 (58%) 

Parents of Deaf Children 6 (50%) 

Cultural Groups of Deaf People 5 (42%) 

Other Committees 4 (33%) 

Deaf Seniors 4 (33%) 

Deaf People with Other Disabilities 4 (33%) 

Children of Deaf Adults 2 (17%) 

Deafblind 1 (8%) 

Lesbian, Gay, Transgender and Bisexual 1 (8%) 

Country 

Australia 

Japan 

New Zealand 

Sri Lanka 

Country/Average 

Percentage 


Other Committees/Groups 

Deaf Australia has meetings at various times with the Australian Sign Language Interpreters Association, and 

has an ad hoc relationship with sign language researchers – we talk with them as issues arise. We have an 

informal relationship with parents’ groups, these links are quite weak. The national organisation for Deaf 

sports is an organisation member of Deaf Australia but we do not work as closely with them as we should. 

• Labour Section 

• Social Welfare Section 

• Newspaper Section 

• Organisation Section 

• Accounting Section 

We have close relationships with other organisations within our community. Some groups i.e. Lesbian, Gay, 

Transgender and Bisexual are not formal groups; however they are recognised by our association as 

representative groups for those communities. 

• Sign Language Development 

• Job Training 

• Deaf Community 




Australia 

Country 

Does your National Association of the Deaf/Deaf Group have committees for specific areas of interest 

or affiliation with any other relevant independent groups in your country? 

Sign Language Interpreting 

Sign Language Research 

Parents of Deaf Children 

Sports Groups 

Bhutan 

Cambodia 




Deaf Education 

Indonesia 




Deaf Youth 

Cultural Groups of Deaf People 

Sports Groups 

Deaf People with Other Disabilities 

Deaf Women’s Groups 

Japan 



Deaf Seniors 

Deaf Youth 


Sports Groups 


Malaysia 




Deaf Seniors 

Deaf Youth 




Nepal 



Deaf Youth 


Sports Groups 

New Zealand 






Deaf Seniors 

Deafblind 

Deaf Youth 


Sports Groups 





Lesbian, Gay, Transgender and Bisexual 


Children of Deaf Adults 

Philippines 



Deaf Youth 

Sports Groups 



Deaf Seniors 

Sports Groups 


Sri Lanka 

Thailand 



Deaf Youth 

Sports Groups 






Sports Groups 



7.2.11 Does your National Association of the Deaf/Deaf Group have any paid staff members? 

7.2.11.1 How many of the paid staff members are women and how many are men? 

7.2.11.2 How many of the paid staff members are Deaf? 

Country 

Does your 

National 

Association 

of the 

Deaf/Deaf 

Group have 

any paid 

staff 

members 

Total Paid 

Staff 

Members 

Paid 

Women 

Paid 

Men 

Total Paid 

Deaf Staff 

Members 

Paid 

Deaf 

Women 

Paid 

Deaf 

Men 

Percentage 

of Deaf 

Staff 

Members 

Australia Yes 5 4 1 5 4 1 100% 

Cambodia Yes 32 16 16 8 4 4 25% 

Indonesia 

No 

Japan Yes 30 25 5 6 2 4 20% 

Laos Yes 4 3 1 2 1 1 50% 

Malaysia Yes 43 31 12 13 7 6 30% 

Nepal Yes 6 3 3 2 0 2 33% 

New Zealand Yes 52 42 10 22 19 3 42% 

Philippines 


Republic of Korea Yes 22 14 8 7 3 4 32% 

Sri Lanka Yes 8 2 6 2 0 2 25% 

Thailand Yes 16 11 5 10 5 5 63% 

Total 10 Yes (83%) 218 77 35% 





7.2.12 Is your Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director/Person-In-Charge Deaf? 

Country 

Australia 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Japan 

Laos 

Malaysia 

Nepal 

New Zealand 

Philippines 


Sri Lanka 

Thailand 

Total 

Is your Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director/Person-In-Charge Deaf? 

Yes 


Yes 

Yes 


Yes 


Yes 

Yes (Voluntary) 

Yes 

N/A 

Yes 

7 Yes (58%) 

1 Yes Voluntary (8%) 


Please note: The answer from Indonesia may not be correct, because for the previous question (7.2.11) they stated that the 

organisation does not have any paid staff members. 




7.3.0 Population of Deaf People 

7.3.1 Does your country’s government have any official number of Deaf people in your country? 

Australia 

Country 

Does your country’s government have any official number of Deaf people 




Bhutan Yes 6,170 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 




Laos 


Malaysia Yes 29,522 

Myanmar 

Nepal 

New Zealand 




Philippines Yes 121,000 


Sri Lanka Yes 73,343 


Total 7 Yes (50%) 812,035 

Country Deaf Women Deaf Men 

Bhutan N/A N/A 


Gender 

Unreported 

Japan 169,000 138,000 5,000 

Malaysia N/A N/A 

Philippines N/A N/A 

Republic of Korea N/A N/A 

Sri Lanka 32,759 40,584 

Thailand N/A N/A 

Total 201,759 178,584 5,000 




7.3.2 Does your Association/Group have any official or approximate figures of the number of Deaf people living in 

your country? 

Country 

Does your Association/Group have any official or approximate figures of the 

number of Deaf people living in your country? 



Bhutan 


Indonesia 


Laos 

Malaysia 

Myanmar 

N/A 




N/A 


New Zealand Yes 9,000 

Philippines 


Sri Lanka 




Total 7 Yes (50%) 925,905 


7.3.3 Does your Association/Group have any official or approximate numbers of Deaf people who use sign language as 

their primary language? 

Country 

Does your Association/Group have any official or approximate 

numbers of Deaf people who use sign language as their primary 

language? 

Total Number of Sign 

Language Users 


Bhutan 

N/A 


Indonesia 

Japan 



Laos Yes 155 

Malaysia 

Myanmar 


N/A 


New Zealand 


Philippines Yes 975 


Sri Lanka 

Thailand 




Total 5 Yes (36%) 24,373 


Country Deaf Women Sign Language Users Deaf Men Sign Language Users 

Australia N/A N/A 

Cambodia 500 1,000 

Laos 75 85 

Nepal N/A N/A 

Philippines N/A N/A 

Total 575 1,085 




7.3.4. Does the situation of HIV/AIDS in your country affect Deaf women, men and children? 

Country Does the situation of HIV/AIDS in your country affect Deaf women, men and children? 

Australia 

Yes 

Bhutan 

N/a 

Cambodia 

Yes 

Indonesia 


Japan 

Yes 

Laos 

No information 

Malaysia 

Yes 

Myanmar 

N/a 

Nepal 

Yes 

New Zealand 


Philippines 




Sri Lanka 


Thailand 

Yes 

Total 6 Yes (43%) 


Country 

Australia 

Cambodia 

Japan 

Malaysia 

Nepal 

Thailand 

If yes, please describe the situation with HIV/AIDS in the Deaf community in your country, 

including any official statistics on the number of Deaf people living with HIV/AIDS. 

We know it affects Deaf people but we do not have any statistics or official information about it. 

No official statistics. DDP knows two Deaf people with AIDS. There are sure to be many more. 

JFD does not offer special programmes for HIV/AIDS. However, some local associations host 

seminars on HIV/AIDS to raise awareness among Deaf persons. 

We’re not sure of the situation. We don’t have specific statistics on the number of Deaf people 

living with HIV/AIDS as there is no awareness in this area. 


About 10 Deaf persons with HIV/AIDS. The Association has an HIV/AIDS Education Workshop. 




7.4.0 Legislation and Policies 

7.4.1 Does your country’s government recognise Deaf people as citizens on an equal basis as other citizens in your 

country? 

Australia 

Bhutan 

Country 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Japan 

Laos 

Malaysia 

Myanmar 

Nepal 

New Zealand 

Philippines 


Sri Lanka 

Thailand 

Does your country’s government recognise Deaf people as citizens on an equal basis as other citizens 



Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 


Yes 



Yes 

Yes 


Yes 

Yes 


Please note: that the Regional Working Group expressed the concern that this question was not clear enough that an “equal 

basis as other citizens” meant that every Deaf person has the right to be recognised by the government. They believed that 

although Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka responded “Yes”, these countries should actually be included with those 

countries that responded “No”. 

7.4.2 Does your country’s government have an office responsible for services for People with Disabilities? 

Country 

Does your country’s government have an office responsible for services for People with Disabilities? 

Australia 

Yes 

Bhutan 

Yes 

Cambodia 

Yes 

Indonesia 

Yes 

Japan 

Yes 

Laos 

Yes 

Malaysia 

Yes 

Myanmar 


Nepal 

Yes 

New Zealand 

Yes 

Philippines 

Yes 


Yes 

Sri Lanka 

Yes 

Thailand 

Yes 






7.4.2.1 If yes, what is the name, address and website of the government office that is responsible for services for People 

with Disabilities in your country? 

Country 

Australia 

Bhutan 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Japan 

Laos 

Malaysia 

Nepal 

New Zealand 

Philippines 


Sri Lanka 

If yes, what is the name, address and website of the government office that is responsible for 

services for People with Disabilities in your country? 

• The Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and 

Indigenous Affairs (www.facsia.gov.au) has a branch that focuses on disability 

• Each of the six State governments and two Territory governments also has a department that 

looks after services for disabled people in that state; the name varies in different states 

We have a school for the Blind and a School for the Deaf. One Private Vocational Centre for Deaf 

adults and people with other disabilities. Both the school for the Deaf and the school for the blind 

are government schools. 

In theory, the Ministry of Social Affairs has responsibility but they do almost nothing. 

• Ministry of State Co-ordinator for People’s Welfare of Republic Indonesia 

• Department of Social Affairs of Republic Indonesia 

• Department of National Education of Republic Indonesia 

• Department of Information and Communication of Republic Indonesia 

• Department of Health of Republic Indonesia 

• Department of Youth and Sport of Republic Indonesia 

• Department of Labour of Republic Indonesia 

• Department of Women of Republic Indonesia 

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare 

http://www.mhlw.go.jp/ 

The National Rehabilitation Center 

Street Address: Khuvieng 

City : Sisattanat District 

Landline Number: +856 21 312 510 

Department of Social Welfare, Malaysia 

Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, 

Tingkat 19-24, Menara Tun Ismail Mohamed Ali, 

Jalan Raja Laut, 50562 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 

www.jkm.gov.my 

Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (Disability Coordination Committee) 

Kathmandu, Nepal 

www.mowcsw.gov.np 

Inclusive Education Sector 

Department of Education 

Ministry of Education 

Sano Thimi, Kathmandu 

www.doe.gov.np 

Office for Disability Issues 

PO Box 1556 

Wellington, New Zealand 

www.odi.govt.nz 

National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons 

G/F Sra Main Building North Avenue 

Diliman, 1100 Quezon City 

Philippines 

council@ncwdp.gov.ph 

• http://www.ablenews.co.kr/ 

• http://www.mohw.go.kr 

• http://www.kodaf.or.kr/ 

• http://www.deafkorea.com 

Ministry of Social Services and Social Welfare 

5th Floor, Seethsivipaya Battaramulla 

www.socialwelfare.gov.ik 




7.4.3 Does your country’s Government have any legislation or policies for Deaf people (or People with Disabilities in 

general)? 

Australia 

Country 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Japan 

Laos 

Malaysia 

Myanmar 

New Zealand 

Nepal 

Philippines 


Sri Lanka 

Thailand 

Does your country’s Government have any legislation or policies for Deaf people (or People with 

Disabilities in general)? 


Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 


Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 


7.4.3.1 If yes, please list some of the policies or legislation that relate to Deaf people (or People with Disabilities) 

(please write the name of the legislation or policy in full). 

Country 

If yes, please list some of the policies or legislation that relate to Deaf people (or People with 

Disabilities) (please write the name of the legislation or policy in full). 

1. Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Commonwealth) 

2. Discrimination Act 1991 (Australian Capital Territory) 

3. Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (New South Wales) 

4. Anti-Discrimination Act (Northern Territory) 

5. Anti- Discrimination Act 1991 (Queensland) 

6. Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 (Tasmania) 

7. Disability Services Act 1986 (Commonwealth) 

Australia 

8. Disability Services Act 1991 (Australian Capital Territory) 

9. Disability Services Act 1993 (New South Wales) 

10. Disability Services Act (Northern Territory) 

11. Disability Services Act 2006 (Queensland) 

12. Disability Services Act 1993 (South Australia) 

13. Disability Services Act 1992 (Tasmania) 

14. Disability Act 2006 (Victoria) 

15. Disability Services Act 1993 (Western Australia) 

16. Australia’s Language: The Australian Language and Literacy Policy 1991 

Cambodia 

New law promoting Education For All but the government does not provide education even for all people 

without disabilities 

There are several laws that relate to both Deaf people and People with Disabilities as follows: 

Indonesia 

1. Law Number: 72 / Year 1991 about the Development of Social Welfare for People with Disabilities 

2. Law Number: 4 / Year 1997 about People with Disabilities 

3. The National Action of Biwako Millennium Framework 2003 – 2014 

1. Law for the Welfare of Physically Disabled Persons (1949) 

2. Fundamental Law for Disabled Persons (1970) 

3. Law Concerning Promotion of Employment of the Physically Handicapped (1987) 

Japan 

4. Law for Supporting Independence of Persons with Disabilities (2005) 

5. Heart Building Law (1994) 

6. Law for Buildings Accessible for and Usable by the Elderly and Physically Disabled Persons (2000) 

7. Law for Promoting Businesses that Facilitate the Use of Communications and Broadcast Services by 

Physically Disabled Persons (1993) 

The Decree for Lao People with Disabilities. However it is not the final version yet; there is some confusion 

Laos 

about the information. Currently LDPA and the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare are communicating 

about this decree. 

Malaysia Act of Persons with Disabilities 2007 

Nepal 

New Zealand 

Disabled Welfare Act 1982. Currently the government is preparing the Rights Based Act. 

1. New Zealand Sign Language Act (2006) 

2. New Zealand Disability Strategy (2001) 

3. Bill of Rights 




Philippines Magna Carta for Disabled Persons and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (Republic Act No 7277) 


Sri Lanka 

Law Against Disability Discrimination In All Areas Of Life 

1. Act No 28 of 1996 - Disability Rights Bill 2007 

2. National Policy on Disability – 2003 

3. Gazatte Notification on Accessibility – 2006 

Thailand The Disabled Peoples Rehabilitation Act 1991 

7.4.4 Does your country’s Government have any anti-discrimination laws for Deaf people (or People with Disabilities)? 

Australia 

Country 

Does your country’s Government have any anti-discrimination laws for Deaf people (or People with 

Disabilities)? 

Yes 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Japan 

Laos 

Malaysia 

Myanmar 

Nepal 

New Zealand 

Philippines 


Sri Lanka 

Thailand 



Yes 

Yes 


Yes 


Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 


Yes 


7.4.5 Does your country’s government provide any services specifically for the Deaf Community through its government 

departments? 

Australia 

Country 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Japan 

Laos 

Malaysia 

Myanmar 

Nepal 

New Zealand 

Philippines 


Sri Lanka 

Thailand 

Does your country’s government provide any services specifically for the Deaf Community through its 

government departments? 


Yes 


Yes 

Yes 


Yes 



Yes 


Yes 

Yes 

Yes 





7.4.5.1 If yes, what types of service are provided specifically for the Deaf Community by your country’s government? 

7.4.5.2 What is the general opinion of the current service(s) specifically provided for the Deaf Community by your 


Country 

Australia 

Indonesia 

Japan 

Malaysia 

If yes, what types of service are provided 

specifically for the Deaf Community by your 


• Commonwealth government funds a national 

Auslan interpreting service for private health 

appointments 

• Each state government provides interpreters 

for Deaf people in public hospitals, police, 

and courts (provision of these services is 

inconsistent) 

• Some state governments fund organisations 

like Deaf Societies to provide services 

specifically for Deaf people – e.g. independent 

living training 

• Governments themselves do not usually 

provide direct services to Deaf people; rather 

they fund other organisations to provide some 

services 

• Commonwealth government funds a national 

Auslan for Employment scheme for Deaf 

employees to access interpreters at no cost to 

the employer in the first year of employment. 

This scheme also offers the employer an 

Auslan course and to undertake deafness 

awareness training/workshops. 

• Vocational Training 

• Distribution of hearing aids and some 

equipment for handicrafts or jobs 

• Access to Information and communication 

such as LCD/screens, interpretation at 

Seminars, Workshops, Meetings, General 

Forums, and so forth 

• Tour tickets are FREE 

• Monthly living allowance for impoverished 

Deaf families and those who are unable to 

work 

• Financial Support for Deaf Education and Deaf 

Social Welfare activities 

a) Communication support service (Sign language 

interpreter dispatch service, note-taker 

dispatch service) 

b) Consultation service 

c) Municipal Welfare Office: Issue of 

identification booklet for the physically 

handicapped, provision of prosthetic 

appliances and daily use assistive appliances 

d) Rehabilitation service 

e) Care management system for persons with 

disabilities support service 

• Education – free education, student allowance 

• Welfare - worker incentive RM 300 given to 

those with a salary below RM 750, business 

grants, hearing aids sponsorship, half fare 

domestic travel by local transport, yearly 

grant for Deaf NGO 

• Work – job matching scheme, business grant 

• Sports – full sponsorship in sport activities in 

country and abroad, winner incentive 

• Health – free service 

What is the general opinion of the current 

service(s) specifically provided for the Deaf 

Community by your country’s government? 

• Services are inadequate. 

• As mentioned above, the government usually 

funds and contracts out to other organisations to 

provide services for Deaf people, but there are 

requirements for organisations that provide 

services to report on the services provided. For 

example, an organisation receives funding to 

provide case management to 100 Deaf clients and 

the organisation provides data reports on a 

quarterly basis. If the organisation exceeds 

minimum requirements, they do not receive 

rewards. If the organisation does not and 

continues not to meet minimum requirements, 

the government will review funding 

arrangements. 

• Government regularly seeks advice from 

organisations on a number of things through 

written submissions. The timeframe imposed by 

government is often unrealistic, for example to 

provide a comprehensive submission on issues 

affecting Deaf people, e.g. impact of changes to 

Deaf people with pension review (pension to be 

cut off if the pensioner has more than 15 paid 

work hours – previously 30 paid work hours). 

Deaf Australia receives minimal funding and 

these submissions require comprehensive 

resources, research and community consultations 

which are largely unfunded, thus underresearched. 

Because Indonesia is a developing country with an 

economic crisis this causes some issues for people’s 

lives. It is difficult for any Department to be very 

helpful. Any support given by the Government of the 

Indonesian Republic is very limited. That is why 

implementation of IAWD activities is NOT running 

smoothly, e.g. the Indonesian Sign Language research 

programme. 

a) Communication support service: This service was 

started in 2006. The problem with this service is 

that it requires service users to pay 10% of the 

total cost, which means Deaf persons have to pay 

10% of the cost every time they use the sign 

language interpreter service. 

b) This service has recently started. Consultation 

service used to be provided by specialists only. 

Recently the service is more networked and local 

governments have started to support it. 

c, d, and e) These services support the stabilisation of 

Deaf people’s lives. 

• We are very appreciative of the government’s 

commitment, treating us equally with other 

citizens 

• The government is aware of our needs and trying 

their best to meet our requirements 

• The Malaysian government always supports Deaf 

NGOs in the development of the Deaf community 




New Zealand 


Sri Lanka 

Thailand 

• Communication – free registration service at 

national telco, financial support for sign 

language interpreting service 

• Deaf Association NZ has contracts for 

– Service Coordination 

- Employment Services & Transition Services 

- Adult Education Programmes 

- Interpreting Service 

• Richmond Fellowship – Deaf Mental Health 

Service in parts of the country 

• New Zealand Relay Service – TTY Relay Service 

• Kelston Deaf Education Centre and Van Asch 

Deaf Education Centre – Education for those in 

Schools for the Deaf and in mainstream 

settings 

• Support for captioning in broadcasting 

• Support for community sign language 

interpreters 

• Welfare Assistance and Self Employment 

Assistance 

• Free Education 

• Sign Language Interpreter Service 

• Health Services 

• Education 

• Employment Placement and Referrals 

• Sign Language Instruction 

• Women 

The Government is very aware that the level of 

service provided to the Deaf community is less than 

desirable. 

Needs improvement. 

The current services could be improved. We seek 

government services to improve lives and build up 

futures for Deaf people. 

60% - 70% satisfaction with services provided by the 

government. 

7.4.5.3 If no, why does your country’s government not provide any service specifically for the Deaf Community? 

Country 

Cambodia 

Laos 

Myanmar 

Nepal 

Philippines 

If no, why does your country’s government not provide any service specifically for the Deaf Community? 

Their resources, capacity and understanding are limited. They do not even provide services for all people without 

disabilities. There is little political will to do anything for Deaf people. 


No Information supplied. 

• Lack of communication between Deaf people and the Government 

• Deaf people do not have adequate education to lobby government effectively 

• Funding levels are low after people with other disabilities receive funding 

• Lack of access to search Government offices 


7.4.6 Does your Association/Group have any contact with your country’s current government? 

7.4.6.1 What type of contact does your Association/Group have with your country’s current government? 

Australia 

Country 

Cambodia 

Does your 


have any contact 

with your 

country’s current 

government? 

Yes 

Yes 

What type of contact does your Association/Group have with your country’s current 

government? 

• The Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and 

Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) funds Deaf Australia as the peak national body 

representing the interests of Deaf people who use Auslan 

• The Commonwealth Department of Broadband, Communications and Digital 

Economy (DBCDE) funds Deaf Australia’s Deaf Telecommunication Access and 

Networking Project 

• FaHCSIA regularly consults Deaf Australia by asking for comment on policy and 

service provision reviews and plans 

• Attorney General, on issues related to the UN Convention 

• There are other non-governmental organisations (NGO) which Deaf Australia works 

closely with, eg, Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (on which Deaf 

Australia has a representative), National Disability Council, various Deaf Societies 

in Australia and national interpreting associations 

DDP works with some government staff on committees for education, special 

celebrations, and so forth. We invite ministers to speak at the Deaf Day and other 

events. 




Indonesia 

Japan 

Laos 

Malaysia 

Myanmar 

Nepal 

New Zealand 

Philippines 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes although the 

contact is under 

the Lao Disabled 

People’s 

Association. 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

We contact them by SMS, telephone, sending an official letter or going personally to 

approach/meet people in Department Offices. 

• Our board members are appointed as members of special committees of the 

Japanese government for implementation of laws and regulations (eg. education, 

driver’s license, telecommunications, broadcasting, labour) and they discuss the 

issues together with government officers 

• JFD actively lobbies our government by visiting each ministry to request our needs 

based on the resolution of the annual JFD National Congress of the Deaf 

Contact is about policies for the Deaf-Mute Unit and for the human rights of people 

with disabilities, including Deaf people. 

MFD is involved in decision-making; we have a seat on the National Co-ordinating 

Committee and in other government agencies. 

The Department of Social Welfare cooperates with the Association on implementation 

of Deaf people's issues and on developing a Standardised National Sign Language 

• Our Organisation (NFDH) is affiliated to SWC, government 

• NFDH has a representative on the National Disability Coordination Committee, 

with the Minister of WCSW (Women, Children and Social Welfare) 

• Service Co-ordination 

• Employment Services & Transition Services 

• Adult Education Programmes 

• Interpreting Service 

• All services are available nationally though access is an issue for many parts of the 

country 

• By Fax, Email and Mobile (SMS) 

• Member of the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons 

Republic of Korea Yes • Consultative support to the President 

Sri Lanka 

Thailand 

Yes 

Yes 


• Member of National Council for Persons with a Disability, which drafts policy and 

makes decisions 

• Member of Advisory Committee of the Special Education Ministry 

Through the government disability organisations, in accordance with what the law 

states about the responsibilities of government concerning persons with disabilities. 


7.4.7 Does your Association/Group receive any financial support from your country’s current government? 

7.4.7.1 What is the amount of annual financial support from your country’s government? 

Country 

Australia 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Japan 

Laos 

Does your 


receive any 

financial support 

from your 

country’s current 

government? 

Yes 


Yes 



What is the amount of annual financial support from your country’s government? 

In 2007-2008, AUD197,000 from FaHCSIA (118,449€ on 31 st January 2008) and 

AUD45,000 from DBCDE (27,057€ on 31 st January 2008). 

IAWD has never really received annual financial support. Any funding received would 

be based on a Proposed Budget Plan. However only limited funding is available due to 

the financial situation of the Indonesian Government. 

The Japanese Federation of the Deaf has not received financial support from our 

government. We run our organisation solely by membership fees and sales profits 

from our publications. We know that there are organisations for/of persons with 

disabilities in Japan that receive financial support from the government, but not JFD. 

There are projects we are entrusted with by the government to operate and/or 

manage, such as projects or activities for Deaf persons, or to disseminate sign 

language. All the funds we receive from the government, however, are used for the 

specific projects only and we do not make any profit out of them. JFD maintains this 

policy for the sake of the Deaf movement, as we believe it is important for us to 

stand on equal footing with the government as we continue to press for the 

improvement of social welfare for Deaf people in Japan. 




Malaysia 

Myanmar 

Nepal 

New Zealand 

Philippines 

Yes 

N/A 

Yes 

Yes 


• Annual Grant from Department of Social Welfare, Malaysia = RM12,000.00 

per year (2,511€ on 31 st January 2008) 

• Sign language interpreting service = RM140,000 per year (879€ on 31 st 

January 2008) 

• Islamic Development Programme = RM100,000 (depends to program 

submitted) (629€ on 31 st January 2008) 

• RM12.4 million to set up a Sign Language Interpreter course for 2007 only 

(77,868€ on 31 st January 2008) 

Total NPR36,000 (388.00€ on 31 st January 2008) 

NZD3 million (1,580,972€ on 31 st January 2008) 

Republic of Korea Yes 360,000,000 Won (259,438€ on 31 st January 2008) 

Sri Lanka Yes Annually 100,000 LKR (629€ on 31 st January 2008) 

Thailand Yes Baht1,000,000 (21,655€ on 31 st January 2008) 

Total 8 Yes (62 %) 


7.4.7.2 What is the purpose of the financial support from your country’s government to the Deaf Community? 

Country 

Australia 

Malaysia 

Indonesia 

Nepal 

New Zealand 


Sri Lanka 

Thailand 

What is the purpose of the financial support from your country’s government to the Deaf Community? 

• FaHCSIA funding is to enable Deaf Australia to operate as a secretariat representing the views of Deaf 

people who use Auslan, and to act as a conduit for information in both directions between Deaf 

community and government 

• FaCHSIA funds National Auslan Booking Services – that provides interpreting services for medical 

settings 

• Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations funds Auslan for Employment (AFE) – 

that provides funding for employers who recently employed Deaf staff (for interpreting, an Auslan 

course and awareness training) but funds are limited and only for one year 

• Department of Broadband, Communication and Digital Economy funds the National Relay Service (textbased 

service); these funds are levied from telecommunication industries 

• Department of Broadband, Communication and Digital Economy funds Deaf Australia’s Deaf 

Telecommunication Access Network – a forum that looks into Deaf people’s telecommunication access 

issues 

• Sign language Interpreting Service 

• Islamic Development Programme 

• Sign Language Interpreter Course 


• Salary for High School interpreters 

• NSL Calendar 

To deliver on contracts only. 

• Sign language classes 

• Information support 

• Testing of sign language interpreters 

For the celebration of the International Year of Deaf People. 

• Sign Language Instruction, 


• Vocational Training 




7.4.8 Do Deaf people have a right to vote in national, regional and local elections? 

7.4.9 Are Deaf people allowed to obtain a driver’s licence? 

7.4.10 Are Deaf people allowed to marry Deaf or other partners? 

7.4.11 Are Deaf people allowed to have children? 

7.4.12 Are Deaf people allowed to adopt children? 

Country 

Do Deaf people have 

a right to vote in 

national, regional 

and local elections? 

Are Deaf people 

allowed to 

obtain a driver’s 

licence? 


allowed to marry 

Deaf or other 

partners? 


allowed to have 

children? 


allowed to adopt 

children? 

Australia Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Bhutan Yes Yes Yes Yes N/A 

Cambodia Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Indonesia Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Japan Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Laos Yes No Yes Yes No 

Malaysia Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Nepal Yes No Yes Yes No 

New Zealand Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Philippines Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Republic of Korea Yes Yes Yes Yes N/A 

Sri Lanka Yes No Yes Yes Yes 

Thailand Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Total 13 Yes (100%) 10 Yes (77%) 13 Yes (100%) 13 Yes (100%) 9 Yes (69%) 


7.4.12.1 If Deaf people are not allowed to drive, please list the Government legislation or policy that stops them from 

being allowed to drive. 

Country 

Laos 

Nepal 

Sri Lanka 

If Deaf people are not allowed to drive, please list the Government legislation or policy that stops them from 

being allowed to drive. 

Don’t have legislation permitting people with disabilities to obtain a driver’s license. 

• No current law against Deaf people driving but an attitude exists in the licensing office that prevents Deaf 

people from obtaining their license. Currently going through Parliament to support Deaf people’s right to 

drive. Note: people with disabilities are allowed to drive. 

• Transportation Management Law of 1993 

There is no legislation that exists to prevent Deaf people from driving. But the Health and the Transport Ministries 

have put up obstacles to this privilege. 

7.4.12.2 If Deaf people are not allowed to adopt children, please list any specific Government legislation or policy that 

stops Deaf people from being allowed to adopt children. 

Country 

Laos 

Nepal 


If Deaf people are not allowed to adopt children, please list any specific Government legislation or 

policy that stops Deaf people from being allowed to adopt children. 

Don’t have legislation permitting Deaf people to adopt children. 

There are no cases of Deaf people adopting so it is hard to know of any legal implications. 

Don’t know. 




7.5.0 Access to Government Services 

7.5.1 Do Deaf people have access to government services such as education, health care, employment, social welfare and 

any general government services? 

7.5.1.1 If yes, how do Deaf people access these government services? 

7.5.1.2 Are Deaf people satisfied with the level of access they have to the government services? 

Australia 

Country 


access to 

government services 

such as education, 

health care, 

employment, social 

welfare and any 

general government 

services? 

Yes 

If yes, how do Deaf people access these 

government services? 

Government services are supposed to 

organise and pay for an Auslan 

interpreter if the Deaf person requests 

it. 

Are Deaf people satisfied with the 

level of access they have to the 

government services? 

Not really – services are limited and 

inconsistent. 

Bhutan Yes Like other people. No comments provided. 

Cambodia 

Yes 

With great difficulty; there are not even 

enough services for people without 

disabilities. Deaf people do not know No 

sign language and there are few sign 

language interpreters. 

Indonesia 

Yes 

Indonesian Deaf people CAN access them 

easily as a member of society in 

accordance with the Law of the Republic 

of Indonesia and the ideology of 

Indonesia. However there is still 

discrimination, in employment 

specifically. 

Japan 

Laos 

Malaysia 

Myanmar 

Nepal 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 


Deaf persons go through the general 

process and receive service equal to that 

of other citizens. 

There are only two Deaf Schools in Laos, 

one in Vientiane capital and another in 

Savannaket province; both schools 

receive funding from overseas sponsors 

(Sota School in Vientiane from Sweden 

and Savannaket from Thailand). The Laos 

government supports only the curriculum 

for teaching and the teachers (who are 

nurses from the Ministry of Health, who 

are taught sign language). 

The Education Policy states it is 

compulsory for every Malaysian to get an 

education beginning at 5 years of age 

and other policies support Deaf people. 

Deaf people can access the services of 

Government Departments with the help 

of interpreters (teachers from the Deaf 

Schools). However, there is no Specific 

service for Deaf people in these 

Departments. Mary Chapman School for 

the Deaf (run by a non-governmental 

organisation) and the Government School 

for the Deaf provide educational and 

vocational services. 

No, they are NOT satisfied because 

there is still some discrimination 

We are fairly satisfied with the 

government services although many 

issues still remain to be solved. 

However we are still not satisfied with 

communication access for Deaf persons 

and need to strive for improvement in 

that area. 

Access to government services needs to 

be improved. 

Deaf people are not happy with the 

government’s attitude. We have 

lobbied the government many times 

but they continue to ignore us. As long 

as the current level of access exists, 

the Deaf movement will continue in 

Nepal. 




New Zealand 

Philippines 

Yes 

Yes 

In the same way as the public, however 

interpreters need to be booked in 

advance. 

The Department of Education provides 

education to Deaf students in selected 

public schools with teachers who instruct 

pupils in sign language. 

Deaf people can access all government 

services. 

No, mainly due to issues relating to 

awareness and access. 

Not all. 

Republic of Korea Yes Through the Deaf Association. Not enough. 

Sri Lanka 

Thailand 

Yes 

Yes 


Like any other citizen, Deaf people can 

go for these government services – 

education, health care, social services, 

and so forth. 

NADT submits proposals to the 

government offices about appropriate 

service provision, as do PWDs. 


No. 

Yes, fairly. 

7.5.2 Are Deaf people entitled to any financial assistance from your country’s government? 

7.5.2.1 What type of financial assistance are Deaf people entitled to receive from your country’s government? 

Country 

Are Deaf 

people 

entitled to 

any financial 

assistance 

from your 

country’s 

government? 

Disability 

Allowance 

General 

Pension 

Disabilityspecific 

Pension 

Other 

Australia Yes 

 

Cambodia 


Indonesia Yes 

 

Japan Yes 

Laos 


Malaysia Yes 

Nepal 


New Zealand Yes 

Philippines Yes 

Republic of Korea Yes 

Sri Lanka 


Thailand Yes 



Description 

• Unemployment benefit 

• Hearing aids 

• Transportation (eg. taxi 

discount, free pass for public 

transportation) 

• Discounts on medical fees 

• Provision or financial support 

to purchase assistive devices 

for daily use (e.g. hearing 

aid, flashing light notification 

device, fax, TV decoder) 

• Hearing aids 

• Business Grants 

• Equipment purchase 

20% discount in all establishments 

(restaurants, movies, pharmacies, 

and et al), public highways and 

transportation. 




7.6.0 Access to the Media 

7.6.1 Does your country’s government provide sign language services for news and/or current affairs programmes on 

public television? 

Country 

Australia 

Bhutan 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Japan 

Laos 

Malaysia 

Myanmar 

Nepal 

New Zealand 

Philippines 

Does your country’s 

government provide 

sign language services 

for news and/or 

current affairs 

programmes on public 

television? 



Yes 


Yes 


Yes 


Yes 



Please provide detailed information on how many hours or days per week Deaf 

people receive sign language services for news and/or current affairs 

programmes on public television. 

There is one news broadcast that has a sign language interpreter using American 

signs. 

Prime News with sign language interpretation everyday 20.00 at night for 30 

minutes. 

15 to 30 minutes Sign Language News service available on Nepal TV news 

broadcasting each Saturday at 12.00 noon. Nepal TV is a government-controlled 

media. 

Republic of Korea Yes Mainly news. 2 – 3 hours every day - Sign Language Service: 17 hours per week. 

Sri Lanka Yes Half-hour News Programme once a week (every Wednesday) 

Thailand Yes One hour weekly News 



7.6.2 Does your country’s government provide subtitles/captions for news and/or current affairs programmes? 

Australia 

Country 

Does your country’s 

government provide 

subtitles/captions for 

news and/or current 

affairs programmes? 


Please provide detailed information on how many hours/days per week 

news/current affairs programmes (subtitled/captioned) are offered for Deaf 

people. 

• The government does not provide it. However, the Commonwealth 

Broadcasting Services Act requires that free-to-air television stations must 

provide captions on all news and current affairs programmes. Also on all 

prime time programmes during 18.00 – 22.30. 

• Broadcasting Services Act (2000) states that all programmes shown during 

prime time (18.00 to 22.30) and all current affairs are required to be 

captioned; this is legislated by the Commonwealth Government. 

• The Federal, ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC and WA Governments all 

have policies in place requiring their government departments and agencies 

to caption all television commercials and public information videos. See 

below for the exact type of policy in place for each state. (This applies to 

promotion and services offered by Government) 

• In 2001, Deaf Australia (then Australian Association of the Deaf) and other 

stakeholders negotiated with free-to-air industries through the Human 

Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission with the result that television 

industries were to increase captioning from prime time only to 70% of all 

programmes between 6.00 and 12.00 being captioned by the end of 2007. 

Similar complaints have been made to free-to-air programmes which require 

that by the end of 2008 (or 2009) 25% of all programmes will be captioned: 

a complaint is in against the cinema industry to increase the number of 

accessible venues (pending); and to increase access to Australian-produced 

films/DVDs (pending). 

• Commonwealth Government requires that all film programmes sponsored by 

Film Finance Australia (FFA) are accessible (captioned). 

• Currently, the government is planning an inquiry into captioning in Australia 




Bhutan 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Japan 

Laos 

Malaysia 

Myanmar 

Nepal 

New Zealand 

Philippines 



Yes 

Yes 


Yes 



Yes 


(across all services, e.g. free-to-air programmes, cinema, Australianproduced 

programmes, publications on resources e.g. DVDs, Blu Ray and 

digital captioning on download programmes through the Internet. 

Every day television provides subtitles only. 

47% (including live programmes) 

100% (excluding live programmes) 

News programmes with both Malay and English subtitles, as well as subtitling of 

all documentaries, movies and drama series. 

On one channel only (government-owned TV) the news is captioned daily for the 

12.00, 18.00 and 22.30 editions (2 hours daily). Special news items for major 

events are also captioned. 

Republic of Korea Yes Caption service: 137 hours per week 

Sri Lanka 

Thailand 





7.6.3 Does your country’s government offer governmental documents in your country’s sign language(s)? 

Australia 

Bhutan 

Country 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Japan 

Laos 

Malaysia 

Myanmar 

Nepal 

New Zealand 

Philippines 


Sri Lanka 

Thailand 

Does your country’s government offer governmental documents in your country’s sign 

language(s)? 















Yes 





7.7.0 Status of the National Sign Language(s) 

7.7.1 Does your country’s government formally recognise your country’s sign language(s)? 

7.7.1.1 What legislation/regulation formally recognises your country’s sign language(s)? 

7.7.1.2 When did your country’s government formally recognise your country’s sign language(s)? 

7.7.1.3 Does your Deaf Association/Deaf Group lobby your government for the recognition of your country’s sign 

language(s)? 

7.7.1.4 If no, please explain the reason your Association/Group does not lobby your current government for the 

recognition of your country’s sign language(s). 

Country 

Does your 

country’s 

government 

formally 

recognise your 

country’s sign 

language(s)? 

What 

legislation/ 

regulation 

formally 

recognises 

your 

country’s 

sign 

language(s)? 

When did your country’s 

government formally 

recognise your country’s 

sign language(s)? 

Does your 

Deaf 

Association/ 

Deaf Group 

lobby your 

government 

for the 

recognition of 

your 

country’s sign 

language(s)? 

If no, please explain 

the reason your 


does not lobby your 

current government 

for the recognition 

of your country’s 

sign language(s). 

Australia Yes Policy 1991 Yes 

Bhutan Developing now N/a 

Cambodia No Yes 

Indonesia N/A Yes 

Japan 

Yes 

Legislation 

and Policy 

Sign Language Interpreter 

Referral Service (1976); 

Guideline Law for the 

Welfare of Physically Disabled 

Persons (1949); Legislation. 

Laos No No 

Malaysia Yes Legislation 

17 th December 2007, tabled, 

read and passed by 

Yes 

Parliament. 

Myanmar N/A N/A 

Yes 

The main teaching 

method in the Deaf 

School uses Thai sign 

language and a little 

Lao sign language. 

(There is not enough 

research on Lao sign 

language – no 

funding). 

Nepal No Yes 

New Zealand Yes Legislation 

New Zealand Sign Language 

Act was passed in 2006. 

Yes 

Philippines Yes Policy 

Article 5, Section 1.4.1 of the 

Policies and Guidelines in 

Special Education states that 

“Filipino Sign Language shall 

be used in the education of 

the hearing impaired.” (SPED 

Division, 1986). 

Republic of Korea No Yes 

Sri Lanka 

Yes 

Constitution 

and Policy 

Thailand Yes Policy 

Constitution - 1978, National 

Disability Policy – 2002. 

The Ministry of Education 

certified Thai Sign Language 

as the National Language of 

Thai Deaf people on 17th 

August 1999. 


Yes 

Yes 

There are no Deaf 

Leaders with 

expertise in 

lobbying. The 

country had a 

political crisis that 

hastened the 

ratification of many 

bills. 

Total 7 Yes (50%) 10 Yes (71%) 





7.7.2 Does your country have a sign language dictionary? 

Country 

Does your country have a sign language dictionary? 

Australia 

Yes 

Bhutan 


Cambodia 

Yes 

Indonesia 

Yes 

Japan 

Yes 

Laos 


Malaysia 

Yes 

Nepal 

Yes 

New Zealand 

Yes 

Philippines 

Yes 


Yes 

Sri Lanka 

Yes 

Thailand 

Yes 






7.8.0 Access to Education 

7.8.1 Does your country’s government recognise that Deaf children and Deaf students have the right to receive an 

education? 

7.8.2 Does your country’s government have any legislation or policies on Deaf Education? 

7.8.2.1 If yes, please list the specific name of the legislation or policies relating to Deaf Education. 

Country 

Does your 

country’s 

government 

recognise that 

Deaf children and 

Deaf students 

have the right to 

receive an 

education? 

Does your 

country’s 

government have 

any legislation or 

policies on Deaf 

Education? 

Australia Yes Yes 

Bhutan Yes No 

Cambodia Yes Yes 

Indonesia Yes Yes 

Japan Yes Yes 

Laos Yes Yes 

If yes, please list the specific name of the legislation or 

policies relating to Deaf Education. 

School education is provided by State governments. Each state 

has its own policy on Deaf education. Education at all levels is 

also covered in the Disability Discrimination Act and the State 

Anti-Discrimination Acts (listed previously). 

A new law on Education for All has just been drafted and will 

be approved. 

a) The Basic Law of the Republic of Indonesia passed in 1945 

when Indonesia gained independence 

b) The Law Number: 4 / Year 1997 about People with 

Disabilities 

c) The Law Number: 23/ Year 2003 about National Education 

System 

d) The Government Regulation of Republic Indonesia Number: 

72 / Year 1991 about Special Needs Education (for People 

with Disabilities) 

e) The National Action of Biwako Millennium Framework 2003 

– 2014 

a) Fundamental Law of Education 

b) School Education Law 

Lao government supports only the curriculum for teaching and 

the teachers (the teachers are nurses from the Ministry of 

Health who are taught sign language). 

Government also has a project in some areas for Deaf students 

and hearing students to study together. 

Malaysia Yes Yes Special Education Act 

Myanmar Yes No 

Nepal Yes Yes Special Education Policy 1997 

New Zealand Yes Yes Special Education Policy 

Philippines Yes Yes 

Republic of Korea No No 

The Department of Education has two basic documents that 

govern the practice of Deaf education in the country: the first 

document is Policies and Guidelines for Special Education (SPED 

Division, 1997) which anchors Philippine Deaf education on the 

philosophy of Total Communication and states that the medium 

of instruction should be Filipino Sign Language. The second 

document is the Handbook of Special Education (SPED Division, 

1997) which recommends the use of Total Communication. 

Sri Lanka Yes Yes 2003 - Under People with a Disability - National Policy 

Thailand Yes Yes The Disabled People' Rehabilitation Act 1991 

Total 13 Yes (93%) 11 Yes (79%) 





7.8.3 Does your country’s government provide any of the following educational settings for Deaf children and Deaf 

students? 

Country 

Early 

intervention 

(Up to 5 

years old) 

Kindergarten 

(Between 3/4 

years old to 5/6 

years old) 

Primary 

(From 5/6 

years old to 

12/13 years 

old) 

Secondary 

(From 12/13 

years old to 

17/18 years 

old) 

Australia No Yes Yes Yes 

University 

(After 18 

years old) 

Yes but not 

under the 

government 

Vocational 


Bhutan No No Yes No No No 

Cambodia No No No No No Yes 

Indonesia Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Japan Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Laos No No Yes Yes No No 

Malaysia Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Myanmar No No Yes No No No 

Nepal No No Yes Yes No Yes 

New Zealand Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Philippines Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes 

Republic of Korea No No Yes Yes No No 

Sri Lanka No No Yes Yes No Yes 

Thailand Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

13 Yes 

Total 6 Yes (43%) 7 Yes (50%) 

11 Yes (79%) 6 Yes (43%) 9 Yes (64%) 

(93%) 


7.8.4 Does your country’s government provide bilingual education using your country’s sign language(s) for Deaf 

children and Deaf students in your country? 

Australia 

Bhutan 

Country 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Japan 

Laos 

Malaysia 

Myanmar 

Nepal 

New Zealand 

Philippines 


Sri Lanka 

Thailand 

Does your country’s government provide bilingual education using your country’s sign language(s) for 

Deaf children and Deaf students in your country? 

Yes 








Yes 



Yes 



Yes 

Yes 





7.8.4.1 If yes, in which educational setting is bilingual education offered in your country using your sign language(s)? 

Country 

Early 

intervention 

(Up to 5 

years old) 

Kindergarten 

(Between 3/4 

years old to 

5/6 years old) 

Primary (From 

5/6 years old 

to 12/13 years 

old) 

Secondary 

(From 12/13 

years old to 

17/18 years 

old) 

University (After 

18 years old) 

Vocational 


Australia Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Malaysia No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

New Zealand Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes 

Sri Lanka No No Yes Yes No Yes 

Thailand Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Total 3 Yes (60%) 4 Yes (80%) 5 Yes (100%) 5 Yes (100%) 3 Yes (60%) 5 Yes (100%) 

Based on five respondents 

7.8.5 Does your country have any schools specifically for Deaf children and Deaf students? 

7.8.5.1 If yes, how many Deaf schools does your country have? 

Country 

Does your country have any schools 

specifically for Deaf children and Deaf If yes, how many Deaf schools does your country have? 

students? 

Australia 

Yes 

Approx 4. Others are provided as special education units 

attached to ordinary schools. 

Bhutan Yes One 

Cambodia Yes 4 Deaf Schools and 45 Integrated Schools run by an NGO. 

Indonesia Yes 114 Deaf Schools, and 2 Deaf/Blind Schools 

Japan Yes 106 Schools 

Laos 

Malaysia 

Yes 

Yes 

There are only two Deaf Schools in Laos, one in Vientiane 

capital and another in Savannakhet province; both schools 

receive funding from overseas sponsors (Sota School in 

Vientiane from Sweden and Savannakhet from Thailand). The 

Laos government supports only the curriculum for teaching 

and the teachers (who are nurses from the Ministry of Health, 

who are taught sign language). 

26 Deaf Schools and 

67 integrated Programmes of special education 

Myanmar Yes No information supplied. 

Nepal 

Yes 

19 Deaf schools (11 are run by Deaf Associations, and 8 by 

NGOs or Government). 

New Zealand 

Yes 

Two Deaf Education Centres include a school for the Deaf 

within their range of services – one in Auckland and one in 

Christchurch. 

In addition, there are Deaf Units available in Wellington and 

Palmerston North. 

Philippines 

Yes 

48 Private Schools 

152 Public Schools 

Republic of Korea Yes 25 Schools 

Sri Lanka Yes 19 Schools 

Thailand Yes 14 Schools 


488 Deaf Schools including Public Schools 

112 Integrated Schools 

2 Deaf/Blind Schools 

48 Private Schools 





7.8.5.2 What is the educational approach for communicating with Deaf children and students at the Deaf School in your 

country? 

Country 

Bilingual 

Education 

1 

Oral 

Method 

2 

Cued 

Speech 

3 

Oral and Sign 

Language (Total 

Communication) 

4 

Australia 

Bhutan 

 

Cambodia 

 

Indonesia 

 

Japan 

 

Laos 

 

Malaysia 

 

Nepal 

New Zealand 

Auditory 

Verbal 5 Other Explanation 

 

Different schools provide 

different approaches. Most 

Deaf students are 

mainstreamed into hearing 

schools with part-time 

itinerant support from 

teachers of the Deaf, and 

most of this support follows 

the oral approach. 

Philippines 

Sign Language 


 

Sri Lanka 

 

Thailand 

 

All Deaf schools use sign 

language at all class levels, 

but the students’ skill in the 

written language is roughly 

at the grade 5 level. 

Options are made available. 

In reality, total 

communication and bilingual 

education predominate. 

1 Bilingual Education: Sign language is considered to be the natural language (‘mother tongue’) that will be acquired as a first 

language. Spoken language, which is not acquired naturally by Deaf children, will be learned as a second language as the child 

becomes cognitively/developmentally ready. Both languages are used throughout the child’s entire education. 

2 Oral Education: Spoken language is assumed to be the basis for standard social and academic communication, and the human 

system is assumed to be designed (pre-wired) to learn language expressed in speech. Children learn about and from spoken 

language. Also known as auditory-oral, aural/oral education. Emphasis on speech. 

3 Cued Speech: A visual mode of communication that uses hand shapes and placements in combination with the mouth 

movements of speech to make the phonemes of a spoken language look different from each other, resulting in a visual 

counterpart of a spoken language. 

4 Total Communication: All forms and modes of communications are used. This includes natural gestures, sign language, 

manually-coded spoken languages, sign systems, mime, audition and speech. 

5 Auditory Verbal Education: Supposes that even minimal amounts of residual hearing can lead to the development of 

spontaneous speech and language, if that residual hearing is stimulated. Children learn to process language through amplified 

hearing. A method of oral education with an emphasis on listening. 




7.8.6 What is the general opinion of the level of education received by Deaf children and Deaf students in your country? 

7.8.7 What is the general opinion of the current literacy level of Deaf children and Deaf students in your country? 

Country 

Australia 

Bhutan 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Japan 

Malaysia 

Nepal 

New Zealand 

Philippines 


What is the general opinion of the level of education 

received by Deaf children and Deaf students in your country? 

• The level of education received by Deaf children and 

students varies widely between states. Some schools offer 

a Deaf programme with specialist teachers, some schools 

offer a mainstream programme that is supported by 

occasional support teachers, and others offer no 

programme for Deaf children/students. 

• There is no Deaf education standard; no minimum 

requirement for teachers in working with Deaf 

children/students; no benchmark for students to attain; 

and access to interpreters/note-takers varies widely from 

people who have no formal interpreting qualification to 

interpreters who have received formal interpreting 

qualifications. Many schools offer students specific 

education focus, however, many teachers (who work with 

Deaf students) do not possess sufficient skills to support 

students wanting to take specific subjects, so students are 

‘forced’ to take subjects that are comfortable for 

teachers. 

• Only one state government has committed to providing 

funding for all teachers of the Deaf to attain Auslan 

competency when working with Deaf children/students. 

The Deaf Education Unit is only four years old. 

Deaf Education is new. The first Deaf School started in 1997 

with only first grade available, and one grade has been added 

every year. No Deaf person has yet finished full primary or 

secondary education. 12th Grade will be offered for the first 

time in 2008 – 2009. 

The observation is that of a total of 114 Deaf Schools around 

the country only a few have quality education. Otherwise most 

of the Deaf Schools have a very low level of education. 

The educational levels vary depending on regions and/or 

schools. However, as a whole, most Deaf schools follow the 

same educational curriculum as other regular schools, as issued 

by the Japanese Government. 

Deaf children receive equal education which follows the 

national curriculum. The main obstacle for them to do well in 

academics is that teachers for the Deaf are not skilled in sign 

language. 

The standard of education in Nepal is not of a high quality. It 

varies depending on the school management committee. 

Hearing impaired students fare better than born-deaf students. 

It has improved considerably over the past few years but there 

is still a lot of work to be done. Some students have succeeded 

with great results but many do not have basic access to the 

curriculum. A study by McKee (2001) illustrated that the 

majority of Deaf students do not have access to the curriculum. 

There is good opportunity for Deaf students to receive a high 

level of education since all education except college/university 

is free. However, many people including those in schools do not 

realise that there is a natural sign language used by the Deaf 

community here in the Philippines. Although there is a policy 

on the use of language in teaching Deaf students, this is not 

what is happening throughout the country. The compounding 

problem of having a mixed speech reading signal of different 

languages also makes the learning process extremely difficult 

for the Deaf student. Without a clear language policy on the 

application of communication strategies in the classroom, the 

fundamental problem has thus been made even more complex. 

The level is not equal to the ability of Deaf people. 

Deaf children’s parents want Cued Speech. 

What is the general opinion of the 

current literacy level of Deaf children 

and Deaf students in your country? 

As outlined above in 8.6, current 

literacy level of Deaf children varies 

greatly. Some students who receive 

more than minimum support/services 

and have greater access to information 

(through interpreters or teachers who 

are Auslan competent) appear to do 

better than those who receive no 

support. The majority of those who 

receive no support have reading and 

writing skills at the approximate level of 

7 – 8 years of age when they leave 

school at the age of 16. 

Only about 1500 Deaf people have any 

literacy skills and their literacy level is 

low. 

The literacy level of Deaf people in our 

country is still developing but it is not 

easy because of economic problems that 

families/parents have. 

Most Deaf people acquire sufficient 

literacy skills for daily life. However, 

there are some Deaf schools that fail to 

bring their students even up to that 

basic level. 

The majority of Deaf students in 

Malaysia do not do well academically. 

Written language skills are up to the 

standard of 5 th or 6 th grade level. There 

is a need to do more work on these 

skills. Many teachers have been working 

for many years yet lack qualifications to 

teach Deaf children. 

Should be better. 

• Filipino Deaf leaders bemoan the 

low literacy levels of Deaf people, 

which affect their educational 

achievement and ultimately their 

employability (PDRC and PFD, 2004) 

• Initial findings on the literacy of 

sixth grade Filipino Deaf students 

indicate very poor performance in 

reading and English diagnostic tests 

(PDRC, in process) 

Very low compared with hearing people. 




Sri Lanka 

Deaf children are being neglected and are not being reached 

due to the lack of knowledge of sign language among the 

teachers. Lack of facilities contributes to this. 

Thailand The level of education is still low. Still low. 

7.8.8 Do Deaf people have access to a University education in your country? 

7.8.8.1 If yes, how many Universities provide access to studies for Deaf people in your country? 

7.8.8.2 If no, why do Deaf people not have access to a University education in your country? 

Australia 

Country 


access to a 

University education 


Yes 

If yes, how many Universities provide 

access to studies for Deaf people in your 

country? 

Most universities will provide support 

services if requested. Support includes 

interpreting, note taking, specialist tutoring; 

listening aids (eg FM systems). 

Due to non-availability of trained 

teachers, the level of education is very 

low. 

If no, why do Deaf people not 

have access to a University 

education in your country? 

Bhutan No We have not reached that level. 

Cambodia 


No Deaf person has ever finished 

high school. The university is not 

ready to accept Deaf people. 

Indonesia 

Japan 

Laos 

Malaysia 

Myanmar 

Nepal 

New Zealand 

Yes 

Yes 


Yes 



Yes 

Philippines Yes 3 Colleges 

2 State Universities, 

11 Private Universities 

Almost all universities provide access. There 

are no universities that reject Deaf students 

from taking entrance examinations. 

5 local universities, Special Teacher Training 

Institutes 

All universities are required to provide 

access for Deaf people wishing to study. 


Yes 

Universities do not refuse entry to Deaf 

students. Currently there are Deaf students 

in 4~5 universities. 

Sri Lanka 

Yes 

Although the possibility to access University 

is present, there are no facilities to support 

it. One particular Deaf person could succeed 

in entering University, but not all Deaf can. 

Thailand Yes 4 Universities 



The government does not provide 

funding for university/sign 

language/teachers for Deaf 

people, because Laos is a 

developing country. 

Government does not provide 

interpreters for students in 

University. The education level 

upon finishing high school is not 

sufficient to easily enter 

University. Only rarely have Deaf 

people entered university and 

only at the BA level. 




7.8.9 Do Deaf people have full access to sign language interpreting services at University? 

Country Do Deaf people have full access to sign language interpreting services at University? 

Australia 


Bhutan 


Cambodia 


Indonesia 


Japan 


Laos 


Malaysia 


Myanmar 


Nepal 


New Zealand 

Yes 

Philippines 




Sri Lanka 


Thailand 

Yes 






7.9.0 Status of Sign Language Interpreting Services 

7.9.1 Does your country have any sign language interpreters? 

7.9.1.1 How many sign language interpreters does your country have? 

7.9.1.2 Are there any sign language interpreting qualifications available in your country? 

Australia 

Bhutan 

Country 

Cambodia 

Does your country 

have any sign 

language 

interpreters 

Yes 


Yes 

How many sign language interpreters 

does your country have? 

Accredited: 449 Interpreters 

Actively working as interpreters: 302 

6 Interpreters with DDP , 2 or 3 

Interpreters at Deaf School 

Are there any sign language 

interpreting qualifications available 


Indonesia Yes Unknown Yes 

Japan 

Yes 

Nationally Certified Sign Language 

Interpreters: 1,789 as of March 2007 

Locally Registered Sign Language 

Interpreters: around 20,000 as of 2003 

Laos Yes 3 Interpreters No 

Malaysia Yes 20 Interpreters Yes 

Myanmar 

Nepal 

New Zealand 


Yes 

Yes 

There are approx 20 Nepal Sign Language 

interpreters; most of them work under 

NFDH's member organisations. Another 30 

people are teachers in Deaf Schools who 

interpret as well. 

Approx 50 Interpreters but not all are 

actively interpreting at present 

Philippines Yes 75 Interpreters No 

Republic of Korea Yes 858 Interpreters Yes 

Sri Lanka Yes 3 Interpreters No 

Thailand Yes 20 Interpreters Yes 

Total 12 Yes (86%) 8 Yes (67%) 


7.9.1.3 Who provides the training for people who want to become qualified sign language interpreters? 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 


Yes 


Country University Community College 

Australia 

 

National Association of 

the Deaf 

Other 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Japan 

 

Malaysia 

 

New Zealand 

 


 

Church 

 

Thailand 

 

Deaf Development Programme 

Many local governments allocate a 

budget for Sign Language Interpreter 

Training projects and offer sign 

language courses for the public in cooperation 

with local associations of the 

Deaf. 




7.9.1.4 How many years of training are available to someone who wants to become a sign language interpreter? 

Australia 

Country Four Years Three Years Two Years 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Japan 

Malaysia 

New Zealand 


 

 

1.5 years 

 

 

Thailand 

1.5 years 

Less than 

One Year 

Other 

Depends. If starting from scratch, learning 

Auslan first, it takes at least 3-4 years. If 

fluent in Auslan and entering a formal 

interpreting programme, it can be a one-year 

course. If fluent in Auslan training can also be 

on-the-job as a trainee interpreter, who then 

sits for a qualification test. 

Unknown 

Three years: Local governments throughout 

the country offer 3-year courses to train Sign 

Language Helpers who can interpret on the 

level of daily conversations. It usually takes 

2-5 years of actual interpreting experience to 

pass the National Qualification Examination 

of Sign Language Interpretation (for National 

Certification of Sign Language Interpreters). 

Currently the course is offered at Diploma 

level. It is expected that the course will be 

offered at Bachelor Level in 2009. 

No fixed period of training. People apply to 

sit for an examination. 

Please note: that a member of the Regional Working Group visited the country of Laos and only met interpreters at the Deaf 

school; they were not skilled in sign language. Only one person from Laos attended college at Ratscuda University (Thailand) 

and undertook a one and a half year interpreting course. 

7.9.1.5 How many sign language interpreters in your country have formal interpreting qualifications? 

Country 

How many sign language interpreters in your country have formal interpreting qualifications? 

Australia 449 Interpreters when last counted (2004) 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Japan 

Malaysia 

New Zealand 


Sri Lanka 

Thailand 

6 Interpreters 

Unknown 

Nationally Certified Sign Language Interpreters: 1,789 as of March 2007. 

Prefectural administrations and municipal administrations also conduct qualification examinations for sign 

language interpreters working in the local setting. 

7.9.1.6 How do Deaf people access sign language interpreters? 



Nationally recognised: 558 Interpreters 


We believe three official sign language interpreters 


Country 

Australia 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Japan 

How do Deaf people access sign language interpreters? 

Depends on what they want them for. If for a private health appointment, they can contact the National 

Auslan Booking Service and book an interpreter themselves. If in a public hospital they ask the hospital to 

arrange an interpreter. If going to a conference, they ask the conference organiser to arrange 

interpreters. Usually they ask the service provider to arrange an interpreter, or they ask their state Deaf 

Society and the Deaf Society negotiates for them with the service provider. 

They contact DDP but most Deaf people do not know about using interpreters. 


A Deaf person can request sign language interpreting services at the focal point of his residential area, 

such as a Sign Language Interpreter Dispatch Centre, Volunteer Centre, Information Centre for the Deaf 

and Local Associations of the Deaf. 




Malaysia 

Myanmar 

Nepal 

New Zealand 

Philippines 


Sri Lanka 

Thailand 

From each state Deaf Association. 

The teachers from the Deaf School assist as Sign Language Interpreters when necessary. 

Deaf people have to go to the NFDH or district member organisations and request interpreters themselves. 

Varies – private contact with freelance interpreters, through the Deaf Association Interpreter Booking 

service, through independent booking services, or employed by particular services/organisations. 

Through the Deaf Association or Deaf Schools. As well Churches, Deaf Schools and academic institutions 

provide interpreting services. 

Sign Language Interpreter Centre or Association of the Deaf. 

Through individual approach to the National Association (CFD) and Social Service Departments. 

Through the NADT. 

7.9.2 Does your country have sign language interpreting services? 

7.9.2.1 If yes, who provides these sign language interpreting services? 

Country 

Does your 

country have 

sign 

language 

interpreting 

services? 

If yes, who 

provides these 

sign language 

interpreting 

services? 

Government 

Australia Yes 

 

Bhutan 


National Association 

of the Deaf 

Private Sector 

Other 

Deaf service providers 

(Deaf Societies) 

Cambodia Yes DDP 

Indonesia Yes 

 

Japan 

Laos 

Yes 


 

Malaysia Yes 

 

Myanmar 


Nepal Yes 

 

New Zealand Yes 

 

Philippines Yes 

 

Republic of Korea Yes 

 

Sri Lanka Yes 

 

Thailand Yes 

 

Most local governments 

provide a sign language 

interpreting service 

through local associations 

of the Deaf as an 

entrusted project 






7.9.2.2 In what areas of life are sign language interpreting services available in your country? 

In what areas of life are sign 

language interpreting services 


Australia 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Japan 

Social Services 

Health/Medical Services 

Employment Services 

Court Services 

Educational Services 

Counselling Services 

Financial Institutions 

Funerals/Weddings 

Entertainment 

Others 

Country 

Others 

Australia 

Cambodia 

Nepal 

New Zealand 

Philippines 

Thailand 

Malaysia 

Nepal 

New 

Zealand 

Philippines 

Republic of 

Korea 

Service is inconsistent – e.g. 

• One bank will provide interpreters but others will not 

• Some educational institutions provide interpreters without question, others only under pressure 

• Courts provide interpreters only for criminal cases but not civil cases … And so forth. 

Most of the services listed are not generally available. Interpreters will go with a Deaf person as needed. 

We provide interpreters for workshops, seminars and meetings for Deaf and hearing people that need them. 

The amount of funding available for interpreters is inadequate. 

Church Services and Educational Workshops. 

Political Issues. 

7.9.2.3 What is the general opinion of these sign language interpreting services? 

Sri Lanka 

Thailand 

Country 

Australia 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Japan 

Malaysia 

Nepal 

New Zealand 

Philippines 


Sri Lanka 

Thailand 

What is the general opinion of these sign language interpreting services? 

Some are excellent, some are poor. 

They are just becoming known and used, and are increasingly appreciated. 

These sign language interpreting services are still simple. 

Japan has a large number of interpreters but we need to improve the general quality of the interpreters. 

Moreover, the social status of the interpreters is low, and the payment they receive for interpretation 

services is likewise very low. 

Awareness about sign language interpreter services is limited. 

The quality of sign language interpreters varies due to lack of formal training or qualifications. There are 

not enough interpreters to meet the demand. 

In need of improvement which we are currently doing. 

There is a shortness of interpreters available to meet the needs. The quality of sign language interpreting 

services is low. 

More service is needed, especially for education. 

The general opinion is one of dissatisfaction with the accommodation and the facilities that are available 

in the country. 

Ok. 




7.9.3 Do sign language interpreters receive payment for interpreting services in your country? 

7.9.3.1 Who is responsible for paying for a sign language interpreter? 

7.9.3.2 What is the average hourly rate of payment for sign language interpreters in your country? 

Country 

Do sign 

language 

interpreters 

receive 

payment for 

interpreting 

services in 

your 

country? 

Who is 

responsible 

for paying 

for a sign 

language 

interpreter? 

Government 

National 

Association 

of the 

Deaf/Deaf 

Group 

Deaf 

People 

Others 

What is the average 

hourly rate of 

payment for sign 

language 

interpreters in your 

country? 

Australia Yes 

Cambodia 

Yes 

Indonesia Yes 

Japan 

Yes 

Government 

is basically 

responsible 

for paying 

interpreters 

for services 

required by 

Deaf 

persons. 

Laos No 

Malaysia Yes 

Nepal Yes 

New Zealand 

Yes 



Yes 

Service providers. 

Some Deaf-specific 

service providers 

(Deaf Societies) pay 

the interpreting fees 

for some situations. 

Deaf Development 

Programme 

Interpreters may also 

be hired and paid by 

enterprises, 

organisations, private 

individuals, and so 

forth. 

If private interpreting 

the Deaf person pays. 

The Deaf-Mute Unit 

also pays for some 

service. 

The national 

Association and 

member organisations 

that employ the 

interpreters pay a 

little allowance. 

Sometimes, 

seminar/workshop 

organisers pay it. 

Depends on the nature 

of the interpreting 

situation. 

Private organisations, 

Individuals 

The Sign Language 

Interpreter Centre 

pays the salary. 

Freelance AUD47.00 

(approx) (28€ on 31 st 

January 2008) 

Agency staff 

AUD21.00 (approx) 

(13€ on 31 st January 

2008) 

They get a salary 

from DDP. 


provided. 

1100 Yen per hour - 

National average 

(7.00€ on 31 st 

January 2008) 

About USD2.50 per 

hour (1.70€ on 31 st 

January 2008) 

For senior sign 

language 

interpreters: RM50.00 

for one hour (10€ on 

31 st January 2008). 

Then RM30.00 for 

additional hours 

(6.30€ on 31 st 

January 2008). 

No such thing as an 

hourly rate but 

occasionally, 

Interpreters get 350 – 

500 NPR (3.80€ - 

5.40€ on 31 st January 

2008) per day 

depending on their 

monthly salaries. 

NZD50.00 per hour 

(26.35€ on 31 st 

January 2008) 

350 PHP per hour 

(5.90€ on 31st 

January 2008) 

It is different for 

each assignment. 




Sri Lanka Yes 

Thailand 

Yes 



Payment for a half 

day is LKR500/- 

(3.14€ on 31st 

January 2008) and 

for a day LKR1000/- 

(6.28€ on 31st 

January 2008) 

1,000 Baht one day 

(21.65€ on 31st 

January 2008) 

7.9.3.3 Do your sign language interpreters provide voluntary service for all sign language interpreting 

assignments? 

Country 

Australia 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Japan 

Laos 

Myanmar 

Nepal 

New Zealand 

Philippines 


Thailand 

Do your sign language interpreters provide voluntary service for all sign language interpreting 

assignments? 


Yes 

Yes 

Sometimes 

Sometimes 

Yes 

Sometimes 


Sometimes 

Sometimes 


7.9.4 Does your country have a National Association of Sign Language Interpreters? 

7.9.4.1 Is your National Association of Sign Language Interpreters independent from your National Association of the Deaf? 

7.9.5 Is there a national Code of Ethics for sign language interpreters in your country? 

Country 

Does your country have a National 

Association of Sign Language 

Interpreters? 

Is your National Association of 

Sign Language Interpreters 

independent from your National 

Association of the Deaf? 

Is there a national Code of 

Ethics for sign language 

interpreters in your country? 

Australia Yes Yes Yes 

Cambodia No No Yes 

Indonesia No No N/A 

Japan Yes Yes Yes 

Laos No No No 

Malaysia Yes Yes Yes 

Myanmar No No No 

Nepal Yes Yes No 

New Zealand Yes Yes Yes 

Philippines Yes Yes Yes 

Republic of Korea No No No 

Sri Lanka No No Yes 

Thailand Yes Yes Yes 

Total 7 Yes (54%) 7 Yes (54%) 8 Yes (62%) 





7.9.6 Is there any legislation or policy in your country which states that the government has a responsibility for the 

provision of sign language interpreting services? 

7.9.6.1 If yes, please list the legislation or policies that specifically state the government has a responsibility for the 

provision of sign language interpreting services. 

Australia 

Country 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Japan 

Laos 

Malaysia 

Myanmar 

Nepal 

New Zealand 

Philippines 


Is there any 

legislation or policy 

in your country 

which states that 

the government has 

a responsibility for 

the provision of sign 

language 

interpreting 

services? 

Yes 



Yes 


Yes 



Yes 

Yes 


If yes, please list the legislation or policies that specifically state the 

government has a responsibility for the provision of sign language interpreting 

services. 

• The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 requires government to provide 

interpreters for access to their own services, but does not require them to be 

responsible for providing interpreters for services not directly provided by 

them 

• Australia has 6 states and 2 Territories and all have their own Disability 

Discrimination Acts and/or policies that require the State/Territory 

government to provide interpreting for their State/Territory government 

services; furthermore, the Australian Government recognises Auslan as a 

community language through the Commonwealth’s Language and Literacy 

Policy 1991 (but this policy does not require government to specifically 

provide sign language interpreting services) 

• The Australian Government provides funding for the National Auslan Booking 

Service (NABS) (for medical interpreting) and Auslan For Employment (AFE) 

for Deaf people to access interpreters in their first year of employment (up to 

AUD5,000; it also includes sign language course and awareness training for 

employer and employees) 

• Law for the Welfare of Physically Disabled Persons 

• Law for Promoting Businesses that Facilitate the Use of Communications and 

Broadcast Services by the Physically Disabled Persons 

• Fundamental Law for Disabled Persons 

• Measures and policies of Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare 

• Project to nationally promote social participation of persons with disabilities 

• Persons with Disabilities Act 2007 

• Project to locally promote social participation of persons with disabilities 

• For Justice – New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006 

• Health 

• Education 

• Employment 

• Mental Health Act (19??) 

Magna Carta for Disabled Persons 

Sri Lanka Yes The National Policy on Disability 2003 

Thailand Yes A new law will be ratified soon. 






7.10.0 Employment 

7.10.1 Does your country’s government consider that Deaf people have a right to be employed and earn a standard 

salary? 

7.10.2 Does your country’s government have any anti-discrimination laws in the area of employment, especially for Deaf 

people or People with Disabilities? 

7.10.2.1 If yes, please write clearly the name of any legislation or policy that relates to anti-discrimination in 

employment, 

Country 

Does your 

country’s 

government 

consider that 

Deaf people 

have a right to 

be employed 

and earn a 

standard salary? 

Does your 

country’s 

government have 

any antidiscrimination 

laws 

in the area of 

employment, 

especially for Deaf 

people or People 

with Disabilities? 

Australia Yes Yes 

Cambodia Yes No 

Indonesia Yes No 

Japan Yes Yes 

Laos No No 

Malaysia Yes Yes 

Nepal No Yes 

If yes, please write clearly the name of any legislation or 

policy that relates to anti-discrimination in employment. 

Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Commonwealth) and State 

Anti-Discrimination laws (previously listed). Equal Employment 

Opportunity policies. 

Law for Employment Promotion, etc. of the Disabled (There 

existed many discriminatory laws against Deaf persons. As a 

result of a national campaign to abolish those discriminatory 

laws, most of them were eliminated.) 

Code of Practice for the Employment of Persons with Disabilities 

in the private sector. Quota 100:1 

Legislation was recently enacted, but in practice it is not 

working. 

New Zealand Yes Yes Human Rights Act 1993 

Philippines Yes Yes 

Magna Carta for Disabled Persons “Title Three – Prohibition of 

Discrimination against Disabled Persons”. 

Republic of Korea Yes Yes No Information supplied. 

Sri Lanka Yes No 

Thailand No Yes The Disabled People Rehabilitation Act 1999 

Total 9 Yes (75%) 8 Yes (67%) 





7.10.3 Does your Association/Group have any official or approximate figures on the number of Deaf people who are in 

paid employment in your country? 

7.10.3.1 If yes, how many Deaf people are in employment? 

Australia 

Country 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Japan 

Laos 

Malaysia 

Does your 


have any official or 

approximate figures 

on the number of 

Deaf people who 

are in paid 

employment in your 

country? 







Total Number of Deaf 

people employed 

Number of Deaf Women 

employed 

Number of Deaf Men 

employed 

Nepal Yes 250 90 160 

New Zealand 

Philippines 


Sri Lanka 

Thailand 






Total 1 Yes (8%) 250 90 160 


7.10.3.2 What are the most common areas of work for Deaf people in your country? 

What are the most common 

areas of work for Deaf people 


Australia 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Laos 

Malaysia 

Nepal 

New Zealand 

Philippines 


Sri Lanka 

Thailand 

Office Administration 

Management 

Education 

Theatre/Arts 

Research Projects 

Sign Language 

Social Services 

Farm Work 

Financial Industry 

Engineering 

Welding 

Carpentry 

Jeweller 

Tailoring 




Building 

Painter 

Cleaning 

Car Mechanic 

Panel Beater 

Shoe Repairing 

Bakery 

Hairdresser 

Printer 

Catering 

Others 

 

Country 

Australia 

Cambodia 

Nepal 

Philippines 

Thailand 

Others 

Deaf people work in all of these areas. 

We don’t know which is the most common but believe it is the trades. 

Waiters/Bus Boys. 

Deaf-owned businesses. 

The definition of employment needs to be clarified because many people work for their families but do not draw 

a salary. 

Multi-media Arts and Livelihood. 

Entrepreneur (Cloth, food and painting). 

7.10.4 Does your country have any figures on the percentage of Deaf people who are unemployed? 

7.10.4.1 If yes, what percentage of Deaf people are unemployed in your country? If possible, give percentages of 

unemployed Deaf women and Deaf men. 

7.10.4.2 Why are Deaf people unemployed in your country? 

Australia 

Country 

Cambodia 

Does your 

country have 

any figures on 

the 

percentage of 

Deaf people 

who are 

unemployed? 



If yes, what 

percentage 

of Deaf 

people are 

unemployed 

in your 

country? If 

possible, 

give 

percentages 

of 

unemployed 

Deaf women 

and Deaf 

men. 

Indonesia Yes 60% 

Japan 


Why are Deaf people unemployed in your country? 

• Only 1500 Deaf people have ever received any education; no one has 

ever graduated from high school 

• Most job training is not accessible for Deaf people 

• Families of Deaf people are often over-protective and will not allow 

them to participate in job training 

• Education and job training for Deaf people is available in few parts of 

the country 

• Because of the communication problem 

• Because of discrimination against Deaf people by hearing people 

• Because a great number of Deaf people live in villages 

Laos 


Communication between hearing people and Deaf people is the problem, 

because hearing people don’t know sign language. 

Malaysia No Attitude problem. 




Nepal 

New Zealand 

Philippines 


Yes 




Based on 

stats of 

Association 

members, 

approx 85% 

are 

unemployed 

(1,360) 

• No communication between Deaf and hearing. Hearing people can 

not communicate in sign language 

• Deaf people need training in seeking jobs 

• There is not enough vocational training to prepare Deaf people to 

find jobs 

• Most jobs are obtained by contacts already in the business; if one 

does not have contacts it’s impossible to be successful 

• If the Deaf person comes from a rich family, they can start their own 

business 

• A few, who can sign and have access to interpreting services, are 

now getting employment 

• Deaf association has lacked goals to assist Deaf people 

• Previous lack of work opportunities 

• Lack of Deaf Awareness and access to interpreters in the work place. 

• Lack of education 

Many business establishments are afraid to hire Deaf workers because 

they think Deaf are not capable to perform designated tasks. The 

communication barrier is also a concern. 

Sri Lanka 


Due to the unorganised education system the majority of teachers lack 

knowledge of sign language, and they do not have the necessary 

knowledge and methods to teach Deaf people. 

Thailand No Some Deaf people prefer to stay at home, relying on a parent's support. 



7.10.5 Does your country provide employment services to assist unemployed Deaf people to look for 

employment? 

7.10.5.1 Who is responsible for providing employment services for unemployed Deaf people in your 

country? 

Country 

Does your country provide 

employment services to 

assist unemployed Deaf 

people to look for 

employment? 

Who is responsible for 

providing employment services 

for unemployed Deaf people in 

your country? 

Government Employment 

Service 

National Association of the 

Deaf/Deaf Group 

Australia Yes 

Cambodia Yes 

Indonesia Yes 

Japan Yes 

Laos Yes 

Malaysia Yes 

Myanmar 

Nepal 



New Zealand Yes 


Republic of Korea Yes 

Sri Lanka Yes 

Thailand Yes 


Country 

Australia 

Cambodia 

Laos 

Philippines 

Other 

Government funds private businesses to provide employment services. 

Deaf Societies provide employment services. 

Deaf Development Programme. 

Deaf members received support from a fund for vocational training from HIF (Handicap international France) for 

one year in 2006. 

Non-governmental organisations provide employment programmes. 




International Aid Association (Shia). 

Other

7.11.0 General 

7.11.1 Which of the following does your National Association of the Deaf/Group consider to be the highest priority for 

your Deaf Community? 

Which of the following does your National 

Association of the Deaf/Deaf Group 

consider to be the highest priority for your 

Deaf Community? 

Australia 

Cambodia 

Indonesia 

Better quality of Deaf Education 

Equal Opportunity in Employment 

Better Sign Language Interpreting quality 

and services 

Recognition of your country’s Sign 

Language(s) by your country’s Government 

Improved quality and access to Government 

and Community Services 

Other 

Japan 

New Zealand 

Country 

Others 

Japan 

Laos 

• To ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 

• To amend the current Law to Support the Independent Living of the Disabled (nullify the 

payment of 10% of the cost of service) 

• To increase the number of hours of TV programmes offered in sign language 

• New Zealand has moved beyond the point of listing highest priorities for the Deaf 

Community as New Zealand has achieved a lot in the last 5 years (i.e. Relay Services, NZSL 

Act) 

• Basically DANZ is patching up the gaps in the current legislations to ensure equal access for 

all Deaf/Hearing-impaired 

7.11.2 Does your Association/Group have any other concerns about the standard of living of Deaf people in your country? 

Please list them. 

Malaysia 

Nepal 

New Zealand 

Philippines 

Korea 

Republic of 

Sri Lanka 

Thailand 

Country 

Cambodia 

Japan 

Laos 

Malaysia 

Myanmar 

Does your Association/Group have any other concerns about the standard of living of Deaf people in 

your country? Please list them. 

1. Deaf people are isolated - 98% of them have never met another Deaf person 

2. 98% of Deaf people have no sign or written language 

1. The number of Deaf people is decreasing along with the general decrease in the birth rate; however, 

the decrease rate is much greater in the membership of the Japanese Federation of the Deaf 

2. The decrease in Youth members is the most drastic and there are many local Deaf Associations whose 

youth section has been forced to close or to suspend its activities 

3. There is a major reform underway in the national welfare policy, which is to introduce partial 

payment by the receivers of welfare services, such as sign language interpretation - JFD is actively 

engaged in the movement to rectify such change, not only with Deaf people but also in partnership 

with other disability organisations 

1. Education for Deaf people 

2. Quality of and good service from sign language interpreters 

3. Recognition of our country’s sign language by our government 

4. Improved quality and access to government and community services 

5. Equal Opportunity in Employment 

1. Employment 

2. Education 

3. Recognition of Malaysian Sign Language 

4. Recognition of sign language interpreters 

5. Access to communication with government services 

At the moment only Deaf people from Yangon, Mandalay and neighbouring towns have the opportunity to 

learn sign language and obtain an education and other services. Other Deaf people cannot access the 

literacy campaign. The Government does not provide financial assistance to PWD (People with 

Disabilities) including Deaf people. There are no benefits or welfare systems for PWD, including Deaf 

people. 




Nepal 

New Zealand 

Philippines 


Sri Lanka 

Thailand 

1. NFDH policy has four parts (Deaf culture, sign language, Deaf community and Deaf organisations), and 

we believe if one of them is weak, the rest will also be weak. All four must be made strong for a Deaf 

person to be successful. 

2. There is a lack of Deaf awareness among the hearing community and this is made more difficult by 

the low standard of education in both villages and major cities. The physical landscape of Nepal 

makes travel very difficult and reaching remote districts can take several days walk. There is a lack of 

transport options, which makes walking the only way to reach 50% of Nepal. 

3. NFDH has covered 25 districts but there are 75 in Nepal. The aim of NFDH is to have all 75 districts as 

members in the organisation. 

4. Also, the general education standard for the population in general makes it hard to promote the idea 

of human rights and sign language. Schools for Deaf or disabled children are few and far between. 

5. The Hindu concept of Karma also makes it difficult for families to accept their Deaf child and thus 

many never leave their homes, doing menial and agricultural tasks for the rest of their lives. 

6. NFDH needs to continue to develop the NSL dictionary and recently added 836 new signs to the NSL 

dictionary. Now it has just over 3000 signs. NSL calendars and dictionaries have been published. 

7. NFDH has 2 seats reserved for women on its board. 

8. The employment prospects of Deaf people are very limited; if a Deaf person achieves a paying job, 

they rarely make it to white-collar jobs or get promoted. 

9. Deaf women are doubly oppressed because women are oppressed and do not have equal rights as 

men. The culture makes it hard for women to assert their rights. Several Deaf women have been 

tricked into sex with men who leave them as soon as they get pregnant. These women have no homes 

or families because their families reject them. 

10. Deaf people are currently denied life insurance from Government-owned insurance providers. 

1. Affordable Housing – with house prices climbing beyond the median wages, purchasing homes is 

becoming a barrier. 

2. Health – accessible information via DVDs in NZSL and subtitles, improving need of accessing health 

care with NZSL Interpreters as per Code of Rights (Health and Disability Commission). 

3. Pacific – with the responsibilities NZ has to the Pacific, there are more Deaf immigrants/refugees from 

the islands moving to NZ. There will be a time when both NZ and Australia will have to step in to 

support environmental refugees due to global warming. 

4. Maori – making information/communication accessible in Te Reo Maori, English subtitles and NZSL. 

5. Elections – democratic participation in elections as a voter and candidate. 

1. Livelihood for those Deaf people who can’t find employment 

2. Access to court proceedings for Deaf people via interpreters 

3. Every Deaf organisation needs to fully develop as a self-help organisation 

1. Deaf children’s parents need better awareness 

2. Recognition of sign language as Deaf people’s mother tongue 

Our objective is to find a Vocational Training Institute to help Deaf people with employment. 

Sign Language Interpreter Training, Sign Language Standardisation. 




8.0 Appendices Appendix No 1 

Global Education Pre‐Planning Project on the Human 

Rights of Deaf People 

Email: DeafHumanRights@yahoo.com.au 

President and Secretary of all WFD member organisations in the Asia and Pacific Region 

Dear President and Secretary, 

12 th October 2007 

I wish to introduce the new project “Global Education Pre-Planning Project on the Human Rights of Deaf People” implemented 

by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) in co-operation with the Swedish National Association of the Deaf (SDR). This 

project is preparation for a Global project “Deaf Global Human Rights Training Project” to commence hopefully in 2009. An 

application will be submitted in 2008 to Swedish funding bodies. 

The purpose of the pre-planning project is to conduct a global survey to collect information on the standard of life for Deaf 

people in each of the seven WFD Regional Secretariats. The survey will collect the following information: 

1. Contact Details, 

2. Status of the National Deaf Association, 

3. Population of Deaf people, 

4. Legislations and Policies, 

5. Access to Government Services, 

6. Access to the Media, 

7. Status of the Country Sign Language, 

8. Access to Education, 

9. Status of Sign Language Interpreting Services, 

10. Employment and 

11. General. 

Your Association is a member of the WFD – Regional Secretariat for Asia and the Pacific (WFD RSA/P) and WFD RSA/P is the 

second region to be surveyed in this project. 

It will be appreciated if you take time to complete this survey as soon as possible to enable us to prepare the draft Fact-Finding 

Report. The Project will establish a temporary Regional Working Group consisting of two or three members from the ordinary 

members of WFD RSA/P and the Regional Working Group, which will meet in early December 2007 to discuss the draft Fact- 

Finding Report. The Regional Working Group is responsible for confirming the recommendations from the Fact-Finding Report to 

be used in the application for the “Deaf Global Human Rights Training Project”. 

The project has appointed a Regional Co-ordinator Mr Raphael Domingo from Manila, Philippines and his responsibility is to 

establish a contact point with all members of the WFD-RSAP for this project. If you have any questions about the survey, please 

do not hesitate to contact Mr Domingo by email at pfd_rd@yahoo.com. 

Please find a survey form attached as well as a DVD version in International Sign, based on the survey questions. Please be 

aware that it is essential to answer all of the survey questions correctly to provide a true reflection of the actual standard of 

living of Deaf people in your country. 

Please return your survey questions to: 

Mr Raphael Domingo 

PO Box 2805 

Quezon City, Central Post Office 

1168 Quezon City 

PHILIPPINES 

Fax: +632 435 1198 

Email: pfd_rd@yahoo.com 

It will be appreciated if Mr Raphael Domingo can receive your survey by no later than Friday, 9 th November 2007. 

Thank you for contributing towards the first step in this important international project. 

Yours sincerely, 

Colin Allen 


The World Federation of the Deaf and the Swedish National Association of the Deaf 





Appendix No 2 


Global Education Pre‐Planning Project 

on the Human Rights of Deaf People 


A GLOBAL 

SURVEY 

Global Education 

Pre-planning Project 

on the Human Rights 

of the Deaf People 

WFD – RSA/P October 2007 




1.0 Contact Details 

1.1 Country: ______________________________________________________________________________ 

1.2 Name of the National Association of the Deaf: __________________________________________________ 

___________________________________________________________________________________________ 

1.3 Street Address: 

Street Address: ______________________________________________________________________________ 

Street Address: ______________________________________________________________________________ 

City: 

_____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Post code / Zip Code: _______________________________________________________________________ 

Country: 

______________________________________________________________________________ 

1.4 Postal Address: 

Postal Number: ______________________________________________________________________________ 

City: 

_____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Post code / Zip Code: _______________________________________________________________________ 

Country: 

______________________________________________________________________________ 

Website Address: 

_______________________________________________________________________ 

Email Address: ______________________________________________________________________________ 

1.5 Telephone Numbers: 

Landline Number: 

Mobile Number: 

Facsimile Number: 

_________________________________________________________ 

_________________________________________________________ 

_________________________________________________________ 

Project Data Use Only 

Country Reference No: .............................................................................. 

Received Date: ...................................................................................... 

Data Entered: ........................................................................................ 

Country Classifications: 

□ Low Income 

□ Upper Middle Income 

□ Lower Middle Income 

□ High Income 




2.0 National Association of the Deaf 

2.1 Please provide the official name of your National Association of the Deaf in both English and your 

language: 

2.1.1 English: _____________________________________________________________________________________ 

2.1.2 In your national language: _____________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

2.2 Please provide the number of members your National Association of the Deaf has in your country? 

2.2.1 Deaf Members: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 

2.2.1.1 Deaf Women: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 

2.2.1.2 Deaf Men: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 

2.2.2 Hard of Hearing Members: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 

2.2.2.1 Hard of Hearing Women: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 

2.2.2.2 Hard of Hearing Men: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 

2.2.3 Hearing Members: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 

2.3 In what year was your National Association established? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

2.4 Does your Deaf Association have Statutes/a Constitution? 

□ Yes, please go to Question No 2.5 

□ No, please go to Question No 2.5 

2.5 Does your government recognise your national organisation to represent Deaf people in your country? 






2.6 Please list some of the areas in which your association has adopted a policy statement? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

2.7 Please list the six highest priority issues/actions in your strategic action plan 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

2.8 Please describe structure of your National Association of the Deaf (e.g. congress/annual meeting/ 

board/ executive/districts/local associations etc)? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 




2.8.1 How many affiliated regional and/or local Deaf Associations is part of your National Association of the 

Deaf? 

2.8.1.1 Number of Regional associations: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 

2.8.1.2 Number of Local associations: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 

2.9 How many members of your members are Deaf? 

[___________________] of [___________________] 

(Deaf Board Members) (Total of Board Members) 

2.10 How many members of the board are Deaf women and how many are Deaf men? 

2.10.1 Deaf women: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 

2.10.2 Deaf men: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 

2.11 Does your National Association of the Deaf have committees for specific area of interest or affiliation 

with any other relevant independent groups in your country? 

□ Sign Language Interpreters □ Sign Language Researchers □ Deaf Education 

□ Parents of Deaf Children □ Deaf Seniors □ Deafblind 

□ Deaf Youth □ Cultural groups of Deaf people □ Sports groups 

□ Deaf people with other disabilities 

□ Deaf Women’s Groups 

□ Lesbian, Gay, Transgender and Bisexual 

□ Children of Deaf Adults 

□ Other, please write down: 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

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2.12 Does your National Association of the Deaf have any paid staff members? 

□ Yes, please go to Question No 2.12.1 





2.12.1 How many of the paid staff members are women and how many are men? 

2.12.1.1 Women: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 

2.12.1.2 Men: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 

2.12.2 How many of the paid staff members are Deaf? 



2.13 Is your Chief Executive Officer / Executive Director / Person-in-charge Deaf? 



3.0 Population of Deaf people 

3.1 Does your country’s government have any official records on the number of Deaf people in your 

country? 



3.1.1 If yes, please provide the official number of Deaf people in your country? 

3.1.1.1 Total: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 



3.2 Does your Association have any official or approximate figures on the number of Deaf people living in 

your country? 



3.2.1 If yes, please provide the number of Deaf people in your country 







3.3 Does your Association have any official or approximate figures on Deaf people who use sign language as 

their primary language? 



3.3.1 If yes, please provide the number of Deaf people who use sign language in your country 




3.4. Does the situation of HIV/AIDS in your country affect Deaf women, men and children? 



□ No information available, please go to Question 4.1 

3.4.1 If yes, please describe the situation with HIV/AIDS in the Deaf community in your country including any 

official statistics on the number of Deaf people living with HIV/AIDS. 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

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4.0 Legislations and Policies 

4.1 Does your country’s government recognise Deaf people as citizens on an equal basis as other citizens 




4.2 Does your country’s government have an office responsible for services for People with Disabilities? 



4.2.1 If yes, what is the name, address, and website address of the government office that is responsible for 

services for People with Disabilities in your country? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

4.3 Does your country’s Government have any legislation or policies for Deaf people (or People with 

Disabilities in general)? 



4.3.1 If yes, please list some of the policies or legislation that relates to Deaf people (or People with 

Disabilities), (please write the name of the legislations or policies in full detail): 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

4.4 Does your country’s Government have any anti-discrimination laws for Deaf people (or People with 

Disabilities)? 



4.5 Does your country’s government provide any services specifically for the Deaf Community through its 

government departments? 


□ No, please go to Question No 4.5.3 




4.5.1 If yes, what types of service are provided specifically for the Deaf Community by your country’s 

government? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

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____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

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4.5.2 What is the general opinion of the current service(s) specifically provided for the Deaf Community by 

your country’s government? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Please go to Question No 4.6 

4.5.3 If no, why does your country’s government not provide any service specifically for the Deaf 

Community? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

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4.6 Does your Association have any contacts with your current country’s government? 



4.6.1 What type of contacts does your Association have with your country’s current government? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

4.7 Does your Association receive any financial support from your country’s current government? 



4.7.1 What is the amount of annual financial support from your country’s government? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

4.7.2 What is the purpose of the financial support from your country’s government to the Deaf Community? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

4.8 Do Deaf people have a right to vote in national, regional and local elections? 



4.8.1 If Deaf people do not have the right to vote, please list the government legislation or policies that 

specifically exclude Deaf people from having the right to vote: 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

4.9 Are Deaf people allowed to obtain a driver’s licence? 



4.9.1 If Deaf people are not allowed to drive, please list the Government legislation or policies that stop 

them from being allowed to drive: 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 




4.10 Are Deaf people allowed to marry Deaf or other partners? 



4.10.1 If Deaf people are not allowed to get married, please list any specific Government legislation or policy 

that specifically stops Deaf people from being allowed to marry (or to be allowed to marry another 

deaf person): 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

4.11 Are Deaf people allowed to have children? 



4.11.1 If Deaf people are not allowed to have children, please list any specific Government legislation or 

policy that stops Deaf people from being allowed to have children. 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

4.12 Are Deaf people allowed to adopt children? 



4.12.1 If Deaf people are not allowed to adopt children, please list any specific Government legislation or 

policy that stops Deaf people from being allowed to adopt children. 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 





5.1 Do Deaf people have access to government services such as education, health care, employment, 

social welfare and any general government services? 



5.1.1 If yes, how do Deaf people access these government services? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

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5.1.2 Are Deaf people satisfied with the level of access they have to the government services? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

5.2 Are Deaf people entitled to any financial assistance from your country’s government? 



5.2.1 What type of financial assistance are Deaf people entitled to receive from your country’s government? 

□ Disability allowance □ General Pension □ Disability-specific Pension 


____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

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____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 





6.1 Does your country’s government provide sign language services for news and/or current affairs 

programmes on public television? 



6.1.1 Please provide detailed information on how many hours or days per week Deaf people receive sign 

language services for news and/or current affairs programmes on public television. 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

6.2 Does your country’s government provide subtitles / captions for news and/or current affairs 

programmes? 



6.2.1 Please provide detailed information on how many hours / days per week are news / current affairs 

programmes (subtitled / captioned) offered for Deaf people? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

6.3 Does your country’s government offer governmental documents in your country’s sign language? 






7.0 Status of the Country Sign Language 

7.1 Does your country’s government formally recognise your country’s sign language(s)? 



7.1.1 What legislation/regulation formally recognises your country’s sign language? 

□ Constitution □ Legislation □ Policy □ Guideline 


____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

7.1.2 When did your country’s government formally recognise your country’s sign language? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 


7.1.3 Does your Deaf Association lobby your government for the recognition of your country’s sign 

language(s)? 



7.1.4 If no, please explain the reason your Association does not lobby your current government for the 

recognition of your country’s Sign Language. 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

7.2 Does your country have a sign language dictionary? 







8.1 Does your country’s government recognise that Deaf children and Deaf students have the right to 

receive an education? 



8.2 Does your country’s government have any legislation or policies on Deaf Education? 



8.2.1 If yes, please list the specific name of the legislation or policies relating to Deaf Education: 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 


8.2.2 If no, are all Deaf children and Deaf students entitled to receive any education in your country? 



8.3 Does your country’s government provide any of the following educational settings for Deaf children 

and Deaf students? 

Early intervention (Up to 5 years old) □ Yes □ No 

Kindergarten (Between 3/4 years old to 5/6 years old) □ Yes 

□ No 

Primary (From 5/6 years to 12/13 years old) □ Yes □ No 

Secondary (From 12/13 years to 17/18 years old) □ Yes □ No 

University (After 18 years old) □ Yes □ No 

Vocational Education / Training □ Yes □ No 

8.4 Does your country’s government provide bilingual education using your country’s sign language for 

Deaf children and Deaf students in your country? 






8.4.1 If yes, in which educational setting is bilingual education offered in your country using your sign 

language? 

Early intervention (Up to 5 years old) □ Yes □ No 

Kindergarten (Between 3/4 years old to 5/6 years old) □ Yes 

□ No 

Primary (From 5/6 years to 12/13 years old) □ Yes □ No 

Secondary (From 12/13 years to 17/18 years old) □ Yes □ No 

University (After 18 years old) □ Yes □ No 

Vocational Education / Training □ Yes □ No 

8.5 Does your country have any schools specifically for Deaf children and Deaf students? 



8.5.1 If yes, how many Deaf schools does your country have? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

8.5.2 What is the educational approach for communicating with Deaf children and students at the Deaf 

School in your country? 

□ Bilingual Education □ Oral Method □ Cued Speech 

□ Oral and Sign Language (Total Communication) □ Auditory Verbal 


____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 


8.5.3 If no, where do Deaf children and students receive an education in your country? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 




8.6 What is the general opinion of the level of education received by Deaf children and Deaf students in 

your country? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

8.7 What is the general opinion of the current literacy level of Deaf children and Deaf students in your 

country? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

8.8 Do Deaf people have access to a University education in your country? 



8.8.1 If yes, how many Universities provide access to studies for Deaf people in your country? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 


8.8.2 If no, why do Deaf people not have access to a university education in your country? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 


8.9 Do Deaf people have full access to sign language interpreting services at University? 






9.0 Status of the Sign Language Interpreting Service 

9.1 Does your country have any sign language interpreters? 



9.1.1 How many sign language interpreters does your country have? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

9.1.2 Are there any sign language interpreting qualifications available in your country? 



9.1.3 Who provides the training for people who want to become qualified sign language interpreters? 

□ University □ Community College □ National Association of the Deaf 


____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

9.1.4 How many years of training are available to someone who wants to become a sign language 

interpreter? 

□ Four Years □ Three Years □ Two Years □ Less than One Year 


____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

9.1.5 How many sign language interpreters in your country have formal interpreting qualifications? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 




9.1.6 How do Deaf people access sign language interpreters? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

9.2 Does your country have sign language interpreting services? 



9.2.1 If yes, who provides these sign language interpreting services? 

□ Government □ National Association of the Deaf □ Private Sector 


____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

9.2.2 What areas of life are sign language interpreting services available in your country? 

□ Social Services □ Health/Medical Services □ Employment Services 

□ Court Services □ Educational Services □ Counselling Services 

□ Financial Institutions □ Funerals / Weddings □ Entertainments 


____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

9.2.3 What is the general opinion of these sign language interpreting services? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 




9.3 Do sign language interpreters receive payment for interpreting services in your country? 



9.3.1 Who is responsible for paying for a sign language interpreter? 

□ Government □ National Association of the Deaf □ Deaf people 


____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

9.3.2 What is the average hourly rate of payment for Sign Language Interpreters in your country? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 


9.3.3 Do your sign language interpreters provide voluntary service for all sign language interpreting 

assignments? 



□ Sometimes, please go to Question No 9.4 

9.4 Does your country have a National Association of Sign Language Interpreters? 



9.4.1 Is your National Association of the Sign Language Interpreters independent from your National 

Association of the Deaf? 



9.5 Is there a national Code of Ethics for sign language interpreters in your country? 



9.6 Is there any legislation or policy in your country which states that the government has a responsibility 

for the provision of sign language interpreting services? 






9.6.1 If yes, please list the legislation or policies that specifically state the Government has a responsibility 

for the provision of sign language interpreting services. 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 


10.1 Does your country’s government consider Deaf people to have a right to be employed and earn a 

standard salary? 



10.2 Does your country’s government have any anti-discrimination laws in the area of employment, 

especially for Deaf people or People with Disabilities? 



10.2.1 If yes, please write clearly the name of any legislation or policies that relate to anti-discrimination in 

employment: 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

10.3 Does your Association have any official or approximate figures on the number of Deaf people who are 

in paid employment in your country? 






10.3.1 If yes, how many Deaf people are in employment? 




10.3.2 What are the most common areas of work for Deaf people in your country? 

□ Office Administration □ Management □ Education □ Theatre /Arts 

□ Research Projects □ Sign Language □ Social Services □ Farm work 

□ Financial Industry □ Engineering □ Welding □ Carpentry 

□ Jeweller □ Tailoring □ Building □ Painter 

□ Cleaning □ Car Mechanic □ Panel Beater □ Shoe Repairing 

□ Bakery □ Hairdresser □ Printer □ Catering 


____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

10.4 Does your country any figures on the percentage of Deaf people who are unemployed? 



10.4.1 If yes, what percentage of Deaf people are unemployed in your country? If possible, give percentage of 

unemployed Deaf women and Deaf men. 

10.4.1.1 Total: - [___________________] please write the percentage in this box 

10.4.1.2 Deaf Women: - [___________________] please write the percentage in this box 

10.4.1.3 Deaf Men: - [___________________] please write the percentage in this box 

10.4.2 Why are Deaf people unemployed in your country? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 




10.5 Does your country provide employment service to assist unemployed Deaf people to look for 

employment? 



10.5.1 Who is responsible for providing employment service for unemployed Deaf people in your country? 

□ Government Employment Service 

□ National Association of the Deaf 


____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 




11.0 General 

11.1 Which of the following does your National Association of the Deaf consider to be the highest priority 

for your Deaf Community? 

□ Better quality of Deaf Education 

□ Equal Opportunity in Employment 

□ Better Sign Language Interpreting quality and services 

□ Recognition of your country’s Sign Language by your country’s Government 

□ Improved quality and access to Government and Community Services 


____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

11.2 Does your Association have any other concerns about the standard of living of Deaf people in your 

country? Please list those: 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

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____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Thank you for taking the time 

to complete this Survey 





WFD POLICY 

WFD Work in Developing Countries 

A policy statement of the World Federation of the Deaf 

Intention 

The purpose of this policy is to guide the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) with regard to its own work in developing countries, and its 

position on programmes initiated and implemented by any of its Ordinary Members (national associations of Deaf people) to benefit Deaf 

people in developing countries. In other words, the policy covers the work and programmes of the WFD in which any of its members (whether 

in developed or developing countries) are involved. 

The policy recognises that the majority of Deaf people in the world live in developing countries where there are unfavourable social, political 

and economic conditions, and traditional social conditions. Deaf people in developing countries are among the poorest of the poor, with limited 

access to relevant education, employment and information, and generally with low social status in society. Hence, there is a need for WFD to 

prioritise work in developing countries. 

The policy focuses on the following main areas of concern: 

1. Representation at World Federation of the Deaf General Assembly, Board and other fora. 

2. World Federation of the Deaf support to developing countries. 

3. Development of co-operation between Deaf Associations in developing and developed countries. 

4. Co-operation in which World Federation of the Deaf is not consulted or its members are not involved. 

5. Education and sign language work in developing countries. 

6. Strengthening or establishing Deaf Associations in developing countries. 

7. Regional co-operation in developing countries. 

8. Interpreting services. 

1. Representation at World Federation of the Deaf Fora 

The WFD believes in the right of Deaf people from developing countries to be represented at the General Assembly, on the Board and at other 

WFD fora. The WFD recognises that the absence of representation of developing countries in the WFD is, among other reasons, reduced by 

lack of adequate financial resources on the part of Associations in developing countries. In response to this situation, the WFD will continue to: 

A. Encourage development co-operation projects between Associations in developing and developed countries (where the possibility for 

this co-operation exists) to facilitate relevant Deaf leaders to participate in selected WFD gatherings or meetings, e.g. General 

Assembly and Board. 

B. Continue to encourage and sensitise Deaf Associations in developing countries on the need to mobilise their own resources in WFD 

activities. 

C. Provide relevant information on possibilities for fund-raising. 

D. Enable qualified Deaf persons from developing countries to become members in its commissions of experts in order to play a 

significant and contributory role expanding the quality of service for the Deaf population in developing countries. 

2. WFD support to Developing Countries 

This will include: 

A. Advocacy and lobbying at the international level. 

B. Co-ordination of networking among Deaf Associations with the aim of encouraging co-operation projects between the north and south 

Deaf Associations. 

C. Sharing information. 

D. Exploring possibilities for funding. 

E. Facilitating experts in selected areas (e.g. sign language and organisational development) to help with building capacity in the 

developing countries. 

F. Encouraging governments to work towards implementation of the United Nations (UN) Standard Rules on the Equalization of 

Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, adopted by the UN General Assembly at its 48 th Session on December 1993 (Resolution 

48/98). This will influence the government to pay more attention to Deaf citizens in their home countries. 

G. Lobbying international funding agencies to prioritise funding for Deaf programmes in developing countries. 

3. Development of Co-operation between Deaf associations in Developing and Developed Countries 

The WFD will work towards a situation whereby: 

A. Deaf Associations in developed countries are encouraged to enter into a partnership/co-operation with counterparts in the south. 




B. The co-operation should as much as possible be based on the principle of mutual respect for cultural, language and social economic 

realities, e.g. in sign language work. The objective should not be to export the sign language of the developed countries, but for 

developing countries to research and/or develop their own sign languages based on cultural realities. 

C. Deaf people from developing countries should be encouraged to receive training in specific areas (e.g. sign language and 

management) in developed countries. However, the training should be tailored to enable them to work with the languages in their own 

countries. 

D. The co-operation should have a strong component providing for involvement of Deaf people in developing countries in such matters 

as initiation of programmes, decision-making, monitoring and evaluation of programmes. 

E. Information of such co-operation is widely shared with the global Deaf community. 

4. Co-operation in which WFD is not consulted 

In circumstances where any co-operation between north and south projects to benefit Deaf people is initiated and implemented without the 

knowledge and involvement of WFD, the WFD shall: 

A. Endeavour to get information of the project, with emphasis on the views of the beneficiaries of the intended project and the extent to 

which the project goals are consistent with the basic principles and goals of WFD. 

B. Explore mechanisms to ensure protection of the intended beneficiaries and WFD principles. Action may include tendering advice to 

the project implementation and raising the issues with appropriate international authorities. 

C. Explore a system for dissemination of knowledge on Deafness and sign language to all political and administration levels in 

developing countries. 

5. Education and Sign Language Work in Developing Countries 

Education and sign language work in developing countries is of vital importance. WFD will work towards: 

A. Encouraging international funding agencies to support Deaf education and sign language programmes in developing countries as a 

priority. 

B. Provide or facilitate experts in these fields to help promote Deaf education and sign language in developing countries. 

C. Provide expert information to differentiate between the social cultural view, clinical pathological view and disability view for 

professional education in order to identify how each of these views influence the values, working habits of teachers and treatment of 

Deaf pupils. 

6. Strengthening or Establishing Deaf Associations in Developing Countries 

WFD encourages Deaf Associations to advocate for the rights of Deaf people in their respective countries at all levels. To this effect, WFD will: 

A. Share information to help strengthen Associations of Deaf people. 

B. Facilitate experts to assist the establishment or strengthening of Associations in developing countries. 

C. Provide or help arrange organisational and management training seminars and workshops. 

D. Ensure that member Associations in developing countries work towards the establishment of Associations that respect the basic 

principles of accountability and democratic participation of all individual members. 

7. Regional Co-operation in Developing Countries 

The WFD encourages regional cooperation between Deaf Associations in developing countries and works towards: 

A. Building the capacity of regional management through training, sharing of information and networking of development agencies 

including donors. 

B. Establishing Regional Secretariats where they do not exist, and linking all National Associations to the Secretariats. 

C. Development of a network of regional experts to serve the regions in selected areas, e.g. sign language research, education and 

organisational development. 

D. Co-operation with other international organisations based in the region to promote mutual understanding and hence contribute to the 

development of Deaf programmes in the region. 

8. Interpreting Services 

In the views of member Associations in developing countries where the level of interpretation service has not reached the stage of 

professionalism in the field, WFD experts in interpretation should develop a modified version of the ethics of interpreters to suit the 

environment of developing countries. 

THE WORLD FEDERATION OF THE DEAF (WFD) 

WFD is an international, non-governmental central organisation of national associations of Deaf people, with a current membership of 127 

countries. 

WFD has consultative status in the United Nations (UN) system, including the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC); the UN Educational, 

Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); the International Labor Organization (ILO); and the World Health Organization (WHO). WFD 

also co-operates closely with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and has representatives on the Panel of Experts on the UN 

Standard Rules for the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. 



PO Box 65 

00401 Helsinki 

FINLAND 


27 September 2001 

Rome, Italy 





WFD POLICY 

Work Done by Member Organisations in 

Developing Countries 

A policy statement of the World Federation of the Deaf 

Intention 

The purpose of having a World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) policy paper in the field of development work is to provide guidelines for those 

of WFD's member organisations that carry out development assistance projects in developing countries. 

The paper focuses on the following areas: 

1. Origin of the co-operation 

2. Partner in the donor country 

3. Partner in the recipient country 

4. The co-operation 

5. Control measures 

6. Long term objectives of the work 

7. Priority areas for the co-operation 

8. Stationed personnel / expatriates 

9. Training of people in the recipient country 

10. Termination of co-operation 

11. Information and coordination 

1. Origin of the co-operation 

The initiative for the co-operation has to come from the recipient country, and not from the donor. 

2. Partner in the donor country 

The member organisation in the donor country should ensure that no commercial interests (for instance agreements with hearing aid companies) 

influence the project. The project should be run by Deaf people themselves - and in accordance with the organisation's objectives and ethics. 

However it is advisable to note that almost always a funding agency will be involved, whose regulations both partners must adhere to. In this 

case it is important to ensure that the recipient partner understands these regulations from the very beginning of the co-operation. 

3. Partner in the recipient country 

Any project that targets Deaf people in any country should be implemented in close co-operation with the national association of the Deaf in the 

said country - if such association exists. If it does not exist, it is advisable to include the encouragement of developing such an association in the 

project plans - in order to have an appropriate partner in the co-operation which can represent the target group of the project: namely Deaf 

people in the country. Moreover the regional secretariat of the WFD in the region should be kept informed of the co-operation. 

In cases where a Deaf association does exist, it should be ensured - before acceptance as a partner in the co-operation - that it is a democratic 

organisation, and that it is open to all Deaf people, and does not exclude any group from participation on the basis of tribe, religion, sex or 

similar. 

4. The co-operation 

There is need for awareness of the fact that the conditions for co-operation (one partner is a donor and one is a recipient) make it difficult to 

obtain a truly equal partnership. However it is important to have a certain minimum of democracy in the co-operation, so that the recipient 

partner's points of view are taken into consideration. Most of all it is important to agree on how to share responsibilities and decision making as 

the project develops (for instance: what decisions can the donor influence and what decisions can the recipient partner take alone?) 

It is also advisable to agree upon specific measurements of how the co-operation will be monitored on both sides: involvement of board or 

commissions, written agreements, internal/external evaluations, project visits, publication of reports, etc. 




5. Control measures 

The partner from the donor country must set up clear guidelines on how to keep account of the funds and other valuables in the project. It is 

important that the recipient accept these demands, as they usually are pre-requisites for the co-operation in any case. It is also advisable to be 

clear about how to deal with the situation if cheating or fraud with money and valuables is discovered. 

6. Long term objectives of the work 

The long-term objective of projects should be for Deaf people to attain equal status in society. 

7. Priority areas for the co-operation: 

The WFD recommends the following to be given priority in co-operation work: 

• Establishment/strengthening of an organisation of the Deaf 

• Sign language work 

• Education 

• Income generating and vocational training 

• Labour market 

8. Stationed personnel 

In the case of stationing personnel from the donor organisation in the recipient country, as opposed to employment of people from the recipient 

country itself, it is important that the intentions of this are clear. Having stationed personnel is almost always more expensive than employing 

people from the recipient country, so it is important to compare the advantages and disadvantages, before deciding on this option. If local 

people are not qualified to perform certain tasks, it must be part of the project’s aim that stationed personnel pass on skills to people from the 

recipient country. It is also advisable to clarify the competence of the stationed personnel, especially in relation to the recipient association - and 

vice versa. 

9. Training of people in the recipient country 

Bringing people from the recipient country to the donor country for training carries the risk of alienating them from their own culture, and 

making implementation of new skills more difficult because they were not taught in the environment where they are to use the skills. However 

there are also be advantages, such as creating visions for the future, by having people from the recipient country see what has been achieved in 

the donor country. 

No matter which way is chosen it is important to set up priorities for the training, and be aware of the above-mentioned difficulties. The WFD 

recommends that if training is carried out in the recipient country, it should be for a limited period of time. 

10. Termination of co-operation 

Donors should always strive for sustainability in the project. The objective must be for the partner in the recipient country to become 

independent of the donor. At all costs it must be avoided that it becomes a permanent condition that the Deaf association from the recipient 

country becomes dependent on the support from the donor country. As early in the co-operation as possible specific deadlines for decline of the 

support should be agreed upon. 

11. Information and coordination 

The WFD encourages all member associations that implement development assistance work to co-ordinate the work within this field, and to 

share all relevant information with the WFD as well as with other partners working in the same or relating areas. 

The WFD is also willing to assist in finding experts if outside help is needed in a project - for instance for solving problems in the co-operation 

or for taking part in reviews or evaluations. 

THE WORLD FEDERATION OF THE DEAF (WFD) 

WFD is an international, non-governmental central organisation of national associations of Deaf people, with a current membership of 128 

countries. 

WFD has consultative status in the United Nations (UN) system, including the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC); the UN Educational, 

Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); the International Labor Organization (ILO); and the World Health Organization (WHO). WFD 

also co-operates closely with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and has representatives on the Panel of Experts on the UN 

Standard Rules for the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. 



PO Box 65 

00401 Helsinki 

FINLAND 


27 September 2001 

Rome, Italy

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