WFD Newsletter December 2011.indd - Deaf Aotearoa

WFD 

NEWSLETTER 

NEWSLETTER OF THE WORLD FEDERATION OF THE DEAF DECEMBER 2011 

World Federation of the Deaf would like to thank 

you for your cooperation and wishes you happy holidays, 

and all the best for the coming new year! 

AN INTERNATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATION WITH 1 A SPECIAL CONSULTATIVE STATUS IN THE UNITED NATIONS

CONTENTS 

3 PRESIDENT'S COLUMN 

5 NEWS FROM THE WFD 

6 INTERNATIONAL WEEK OF THE DEAF 

10 WFD YOUTH SECTION 

12 INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

16 NEWS FROM WFD MEMBERS AND PARTNERS 

23 ITEMS OF INTEREST 

24 BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS 

25 WFD MERCHANDISE 

26 COMING EVENTS 

Front cover: 

Photos from 2011 

2 

We welcome all news, articles, 

letters to the editor, and other 

contributions. We reserve the right 

of acceptance or rejection and the 

right to edit all submissions that we 

publish. 

Please send all correspondence to: 

World Federation of the Deaf 

PO Box 65 

00401 Helsinki 

Finland 

E-mail: info@wfdeaf.org 

Layout Anja Hurtamo 

WFD, the World Federation of the Deaf, is 

an umbrella organisation providing a wide 

range of support and advocacy services 

for national Deaf associations. The World 

Federation of the Deaf (WFD) was established 

in 1951 in Rome, Italy during the 

fi rst Deaf World Congress. As an international 

non-governmental organisation, it 

has a special consultative status in the United 

Nations (UN) system, where it is represented 

at the Economic and Social Council 

(ECOSOC); the Educational Scientifi c 

and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); the 

International Labour Organization (ILO); 

and World Health Organization (WHO). 

It also has participatory status with the 

Council of Europe (CoE). WFD currently 

has 133 national associations of the Deaf 

as its members. WFD provides a platform 

for cooperation and information exchange 

among its members and partners. As an 

international organisation and through national 

organisations, WFD is emphasizing 

on improving the human rights for Deaf 

persons, the status of national sign languages, 

better education for Deaf people, 

and improved access to information technology 

and services.

PRESIDENT´S COLUMN 

Welcome to the WFD Newsletter. I am glad to be able 

to provide you with an overview of news of my last 

three months’ activity as WFD President. 

The months of September and October were very busy 

for everyone around the world as we celebrated the 

International Week of Deaf People and National Weeks 

of Deaf People. This newsletter has many articles with 

insight into events and celebrations around the world 

where countries focussed on deaf people’s rights in 

Sign Language, Accessibility, Education, Employment 

and Social Life. I was also busy in my home country 

Australia; I was invited to give a presentation at a 

breakfast meeting hosted by the Western Australian 

Association of the Deaf and also gave talks at Deaf 

Schools in Perth and Melbourne. I gave a presentation 

at VicDeaf ’s Annual General Meeting in Melbourne to 

increase understanding of WFD’s work and our aims 

for many partnerships in the global work for deaf 

people and Deaf Communities. 

Photo: Colin Allen 

Colin with Western Australian Association of the Deaf 

Board, Perth 


Photo: Ål Folkehoyskole 

WFD Board and WFDYS members at a Training Day, Ål, Norway 

I attended the International Congress of the 

International Committee of Sports for the Deaf 

(ICSD) in Rome, Italy, as an invited guest of the 

ICSD President Craig Crowley. As two international 

organisations we are interested to develop a partnership 

to collaborate for the benefi t of deaf people who play 

sports. This would help us to achieve more towards 

United Nations Convention Rights of Persons with 

Disabilities (UN CRPD) Article 30 (Participation in 

cultural life, recreation leisure and sport) on the rights 

of deaf people to access sport. 

During my visit in Rome, I had the pleasure of a lunch 

meeting with the newly appointed President of Ente 

Nazionale Sordi (ENS), Mr. Guiseppe Petrucci. We 

discussed how the WFD and ENS can work together to 

fi nalise the arrangements for the WFD History Archives. 

We are very much looking forward to completing this 

project together successfully. 

In November, the WFD Board met for its 99th Board 

Meeting in Al, Norway, hosted by the Al Folkehoyskole 

and the Norwegian Federation of the Deaf. This meeting 

was longer than usual because most of the WFD 

board members were newly elected at the last General 

Assembly in South Africa. We were very fortunate to 

have the WFD Honorary President Mr Markku Jokinen 

who gave a brilliant and exceptional workshop about the 

work that WFD has done at the international level with 

agencies such as the United Nations, the International 

Disability Alliance, UNICEF, UNESCO, ILO, WHO 

and with each national association of the deaf working 

on the ground around the world. This workshop 

was not just for WFD Board members, but also for 

members of the WFD Youth Section as both the WFD 

Board and the WFD Youth Section (WFDYS) will work 

together on the priority issues for the next four years 

leading up to July 2015 when the XVII WFD World 

Congress will be held in Istanbul, Turkey. 

Drawing of the system in networking with different partners, Training 

Day, Ål, Norway 

3

I am pleased to give you a summary of the outcomes 

from the board meeting: 

1. Reviewed the Action Plan which was adopted 

at the General Assembly. Board members and 

the WFD Secretariat Team gave input to create 

the activities needed to achieve each key goal 

for each year until 2015. 

2. Reviewed the current structure of the WFD 

Board and formed key working groups:- 

• Legal Commission Committee 

• Finance Committee 

• Membership Application Review Committee 

• Human Rights Working Group 

• Fundraising Working Group 

• Expert Working Group 

• World Congress Working Group 

• WFD Conference Liaison Offi cer 

• WFD/WASLI Task Force 

• WFD/ICSD Task Force 

3. Decided the theme for the 2012 International 

Week of Deaf People 

4. Reviewed WFD Secretariat Organisational 

Structure 

5. Completed a Budget Review for 2012 

6. Reviewed new membership applications 

7. Discussed having a Deaf Flag 

8. Discussed having a Sign Language Symbol 

9. Adopted Qatari Center of Social Cultural for 

the Deaf as WFD’s 133rd Ordinary Member 

The WFD Board received the reports from both host 

organisations of the 2nd International Conference of 

the World Federation of the Deaf in Australia and XVII 

World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf 

in Turkey. Both organisations have been organised 

their conference/congress well in advance. The Board 

appreciated Mr Ecrument Tanriverdi, the President of 

Turkish National Federation of the Deaf who came to 

the board meeting and gave a report to the board. 

4 

The WFD Board also passed a motion to acknowledge 

the ongoing support of the Finnish Association of 

the Deaf (FAD) which has managed our current staff 

members and offi ce space since 2001. WFD will soon 

be the direct employer of the Secretariat staff, beginning 

in January 2012, but FAD remains ever-generous, 

offering equipment and offi ce space for our Secretariat 

team members who will continue to operate from the 

headquarters in Helsinki, Finland. 

Soon each ordinary member of the World Federation 

of the Deaf will receive a copy of the Board Meeting 

Minutes. 

After the very successful WFD board meeting, WFD 

and the European Union of the Deaf (EUD) jointly 

hosted a conference “Sign Languages as Endangered 

Languages”, co-ordinated by the Al Folkehoyskole. 

The conference was funded by the Norwegian Foreign 

Ministry. Further information about the conference is 

available on the WFD website. 

After the board meeting and the WFD/EUD 

Conference, the WFD Board and WFDYS members 

were invited to the Oslo Deaf Association, a local Deaf 

Club of the Norwegian Federation of the Deaf. It was 

a very enjoyable evening for both WFD Board and 

WFDYS members and we were surprised by a generous 

donation (1289 € (Euro) which they raised through the 

International Day of Deaf People in September. The 

WFD Board appreciates and applauds the Oslo Deaf 

Association’s generous support of our international 

work. 

2012 will be an important year for those whose 

countries have ratifi ed the UN CRPD because some 

places on the committee that monitors the UN CRPD 

implementation will be available. The committee 

doesn’t have any deaf members at present, and we 

hope that some deaf people will stand for nomination. 

In order to be nominated, interested deaf people will 

need to work with their national federation of people 

with disabilities and their country’s government. We 

encourage each national association to advocate making 

sure good deaf candidates are put forward. Our WFD 

Secretariat team will soon make direct contact with our 

country members whose governments have ratifi ed the 

UN CRPD. 

As you know, everyone on the WFD Board and the 

WFDYS work as volunteers. My own full time job is 

with the Deaf Society of NSW as Director of Services. 

I would like to acknowledge the commitment of all 

our board members and WFDYS members, and their 

dedication to serving the 70 million deaf people around 

the world and our 133 country members. 

WFD wishes you all safe holidays 

over December and January, 

wherever you are around the world. 

Colin Allen, WFD President

NEWS FROM THE WFD 

100th WFD Board Meeting 

The100th WFD Board meeting will be held in Louisville, 

Kentucky in USA, hosted by the National Association 

of the Deaf (NAD), USA from 29 June – 3 July 2012. 

NAD is arranging their 51st Biennial Conference, along 

with the DeaFestival Kentucky from 3 – 7 July 2012. It 

is a big honour to have their event and also for WFD to 

celebrate its 100th Board meeting. 


WFD Board & WFDYS Members at a Training Day, 

Ål, Norway 

132ND and 133rd Ordinary Member 

It is WFD’s great news that WFD warmly welcomes 

two new Ordinary Members, National Association of 

the Hearing Impaired (ANDAT), Chad and The Qatari 

Center of Social Cultural for the Deaf, Qatar admitted 

as the 132nd and 133rd Ordinary Members. 

WFD Honorary Presidents and Members 

At the 18th General Assembly of the World Federation 

of the Deaf the delegates from 73 countries approved 

of the new WFD Honorary Presidents and Honorary 

Members, due to their dedicated work and to support 

the WFD General Secretariat’s work. Here are the names 

of the Honorary Presidents and Honorary Members: 

Dr. Yerker Andersson, 

Honorary President, 

No. 1 

Mr. Markku Jokinen, 


No. 3 

Mr. Tomas Hedberg, 

Honorary Board 

Member 

5 

Dr. Liisa Kauppinen, 


No. 2 

Dr. Knud 

Søndergaard, 

Honorary Board 

Member

INTERNATIONAL WEEK OF THE DEAF 

The last week of September is a time when communities 

all over the world recognise the language, culture, and 

every day experience of people who are deaf and hard 

of hearing. This is known as the International Week of 

the Deaf. 

Countries where celebrations were held were Argentina, 

Cameroon, Finland, Nepal, Portugal, Lithuania, 

Venezuela and many others. Here are some stories 

from our members and partners how they celebrated 

International Week of the Deaf! 

CAMEROON 

The year two thousand eleven, as of September 25, 

in Yaoundé, Cameroon's political capital, attended by 

fi fty-two (52) deaf people from almost every corner 

of the country, for the fi rst edition in Cameroon, has 

celebrated the International Week of the Deaf at the 

initiative of the National Association of the Deaf 

of Cameroon (ANSCAM). Under the global theme: 

"Accessibility, Freedom of expression and opinion, 

access to information and communication." 

To this end, the deaf were left in a place called University 

Hospital of Yaoundé (CHUY) at about nine hours for 

a power walking, so the city was the starting point of 

that operation. 

This group of fi fty-two deaf, there were forty-eight 

men, four women, four hearing as supporters of the 

Deaf, two doctors working for the deaf, a sign language 

interpreter and late deafness people, for a total of fi fty 

six participants who did the power walking. 

For a total of fi fty-six persons protected by the police 

in road safety and the route of the march continues 

to the CHUY - Lycée Général Leclerc - Reunifi cation 

Monument - SONEL Central - Palace of Justice - 

Ministry of Social Affairs (MINAS). 

At around ten o'clock at the home of the Minister of 

Social Affairs, close to the Reunifi cation Monument, 

for the submission of complaints, unfortunately it has 

not received the group as agreed in the letter that had 

been addressed, a few days in advance for this purpose. 

The deaf were not discouraged; they travelled on the 

path to the destination of the end of power walking 

towards MINAS. 

The signs were displayed and where it was written, 

"National Association of the Deaf of Cameroon", 

"International Week of the Deaf - September 25, 

2011," "We can do everything except hear," "The Sign 

Language Cameroon: Instrument Development Deaf 

of Cameroon "," Deaf people united, we banish the 

term "MOU-MOU '", "Paul Biya! Thank you for your 

6 

support for the promotion of sport for the deaf "," Paul 

Biya! Deaf people are behind you. The main objective 

of these terms on the signs is: "Advocating for Equality 

deaf - hearing" 

Arrived in MINAS, all participants affi xed their 

signatures in the letter of complaint addressed to the 

Minister of Social Affairs, and letter was presented as 

of September 26, 2011 through Jean-Pierre Pemha. 

At the end of the march, the cameraman of the 

Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV) gave a brief report 

on these events where the President of the National 

Association of the Deaf of Cameroon (ANSCAM) was 

being interviewed to answer questions from journalists 

on the objective of organizing these events. 

Ultimately, the fi fty two with their deaf sign language 

interpreter gather in a bar for a drink offered by the 

President of the National ANSCAM. 

Source: Cameroon National Association of the Deaf 

Photo: OM Cameroon 

LITHUANIA 

Panevezys Cultural Center of the Deaf was established 

in 1996. The main aim of the Center is to provide 

purposeful leisure for deaf & international collaboration 

of the deaf. 

Annually we started celebrating the International Deaf 

Day after establishment of the Center. In Lithuania, 

the Deaf Day began to celebrate in 1993 after the 

Independence of Lithuania. 

Each year the guests from Latvia, Czech Republic, 

France, Jordan, America & etc. attend the World Deaf 

Day Festival in Lithuania.

The World Federation of the Deaf has been working 

already for 60 years. This year festival is very meaningful 

for the deaf in the world. We invited the deaf theatre 

actors from Hamburg (Germany) for this occasion. 

The theatre from Hamburg celebrated the sixty years 

anniversary last year. Panevezys Cultural Center of 

the Deaf is 15 years old. We organized Lithuanian- 

German International Art Program for the Deaf. 

German actress showed the performance “Airport” & 

humorous pantomime “Olimpiada”, the actor Andzej 

Voronecki (origin from Panevezys, now he lives in 

Hamburg) showed his poetry for children in expressive 

International Sign. Deaf children from Panevezys 

(Laisvidas Jakiunas & Ineta Cerneckyte) were imitative 

singing the song “I can't keep silent”. The international 

laureate illusionist Michail Chovanskich performed the 

focus program with new tricks: cards, coins & scarf. 

The most impressive trick was the fan cards when a 

large hat suddenly appeared from the fan. The trick with 

the fan has only 3 illusionists in Europe. Our magician 

Michail face the challenge to participate in next year's 

World Deaf Magic Festival in Helsinki (Finland). There 

presented was a book exhibition “Sign Language of the 

Countries in the World”. 

After the festival, the guests from Hamburg had an 

excursion to Panevezys Basic Boarding School for the 

Deaf & Hearing Impaired. They have visited the most 

beautiful places in Panevezys, a unique Hill of Crosses 

& the 200 species of vineyard in Joniskelis (it's the only 

vineyard in Lithuania). 

The community of Panevezys Cultural Center of the 

Deaf celebrates the International Deaf Day each year, 

dealing with the Deaf problems in society. There is 

a signifi cant value of the international collaboration 

of the deaf, when deaf people from Lithuania have a 

possibility to get to know about deaf culture, history & 

sign language from all over the world. 

Source: Panevezys Cultural Center of the Deaf, Lithuania 

Photos: Panevezys Cultural Center of the Deaf 

7 

PORTUGAL 

The FPAS - Portuguese Federation of Associations 

of the Deaf organized the "5th March of the deaf 

community and 5th Familiarity National Deaf person", 

which was held on Tuesday 25th September in Coimbra, 

in celebration of Deaf World Day. 

The route began at the Republic Square to Dr. Manuel 

Braga Park. The march was aimed at raising our civil 

society and the Portuguese citizens who always fi ght 

for the rights, language, culture and values of the deaf 

community. 

Source: Portuguese Deaf Federation 

Photos: OM Portugal

VENEZUELA 

The fi rst International Conference on the 

Standardization of Sign Language: Deaf Education 

and Culture (CIELS2011) organized by the Foundation 

Research Center of Astronomy "Francisco J. Duarte 

"(CIDA) - agency of the Ministry of Popular Power 

for Science, Technology and Intermediate Industries 

- took place from September 29 to October 1 in the 

auditorium of the Medical Association of Mérida 

State, whose business exceeded expectations, as the 

progress made in the standardization of sign languages 

in general and the Venezuelan Sign Language (LSV) in 

particular. 

The fi rst Congress was a meeting point between 

academic, public sector representatives, educators 

and deaf people with hearing disabilities under which 

achieved the goal of creating a scenario for the exchange 

of ideas between the various actors involved with the 

Language Sign Venezolana (LSV) and bilingualism in 

the school environment. 

More than 300 people from 20 U.S. states between 

associations, interpreters, special education teachers, 

representatives of 25 institutions of higher education, 

more than 80 people who are deaf or hearing impaired 

and national and international speakers participated 

in this event, where 30 papers developed to share 

experiences, exchange knowledge and unify signs of 

the deaf culture to strengthen the social inclusion of 

this sector of the population. 

Results of the Congress 

Among the fi ndings or conclusions of CIELS2011 

highlighted the following: 

There was a general assessment of the participants on 

the initiative, the quality of the event, the height of its 

exhibitors and audience participation. The main topics 

of the program were treated in depth. 

Regarding the issue of standardization and 

normalization of the Venezuelan Sign Language 

8 

(LSV), we assumed that the process should be raised 

from the Deaf Community, but with the participation 

of researchers respecting the methods and scientifi c 

procedures. Also users must provide information about 

processes unsorted characterization, description, and 

the organization of language. 

With regard to education, clearly demonstrated the need 

to install in the fi eld of education of the Deaf bilingual 

education model that involves unrestricted access to the 

LSV and learning the Spanish language writing. 

On the other hand, learning the written language must 

respond to the defi ciencies accumulated by the deaf 

in his language development, so that merits different 

approaches, methodologies and approaches to a source 

outside the structure of language, which requires an 

understanding scientifi c problem by listeners and 

teachers of the deaf continued participation in the 

teaching of the LSV. 

There was general consensus regarding the need 

for educational settings for deaf high school, and 

even in universities through the creation of learning 

communities involving fl uent speakers of the LSV and 

interested in studying the culture of the deaf. 

Over 300 people attended this important activity. 

Regarding the need of increasing the lexical, the 

possibility of wedging, and neologisms for LSV, 

proposed strategies to raise ongoing meetings of 

the deaf in various regions of the country, to reach 

agreements and conventions on the establishment, and 

stabilization of the uses of new signs in regional and of 

particular respect. 

Signs shall be preserved and treated defi nitively between 

speakers of LSV in time according to their linguistic 

roots and functionality, we can not impose a term as 

the only or defi nitive, will be the community dynamics 

that determines the preservation or development of the 

signs. 

Source: Cira A. Moran, FEVENSOR

Celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the WFD – Donate 

Now!! 

WFD celebrates this year its 60th anniversary; it was 

founded in Rome, Italy in 1951. This makes it the oldest 

umbrella organisation of persons with disabilities in the 

world. Those who attended the XVI World Congress 

of the World Federation of the Deaf in Durban, South 

Africa, already had the opportunity to assist in some 

festivities, such as launching of the long awaited history 

book “World Federation of the Deaf: A History, 2011” 

written by Dr. Jack Gannon, eating WFD cup cakes 

at the Welcome Cocktail of the World Congress and 

enjoying a cheerful Silent Shout performance of a 

Finnish rap artist Signmark. 

If you want to make a donation to 60-year-old WFD 

and thus support WFD’s Human Rights work, please 

send your donation to WFD’s bank account 

o Account 

Name: World Federation of the Deaf 

o Bank: Nordea Bank, Helsinki Finland 

o IBAN: FI04 1555 3000 113 37 

o Swift NDEAFIHH 

o WFD 60 years 

Or ask about other payment ways by sending an email 

to phillipa.sandholm[at]kl-deaf.fi . Add to the reference 

of your payment: “WFD 60 years”. WFD will publish 

the names of all those people who have donated for the 

60-years campaign in the November Newsletter (if you 

wish that your name won’t be mentioned please inform 

the WFD offi ce). 

Are you celebrating your own birthday soon? Would 

you like to encourage people to donate a small amount 

of money to the WFD instead of buying a gift to 

you? We have had similar campaigns and they have 

been very successful. For instance Markku Jokinen, 

WFD Honorary President and Mr. Roland Hermann, 

President of the Swiss Deaf Association, have made 

signifi cant donations to the WFD thanks to their 

birthday campaigns. 

9 

DONORS 

WFD wishes to thank to those WFD members 

who have made a contribution to support the 

WFD. 

Here are the names of the contributors: 

Markus Risenbeck 

Norwegian Association of the Deaf 

Swiss Deaf Association 

Oslo Deaf Association 

Trevor Johnston 

Al McEwin 

James Buncombe 

Nebjosa Vavra 

Ecrument Tanriverdi 

Ambrose Murangira 

Fatima Berrahal 

Eduardo Burkhart 


Oslo Deaf Association members with WFD 

Board members & WFDYS Members, Oslo, 

Norway

WORLD FEDERATION OF THE DEAF YOUTH SECTION 

(WFDYS) 

World Federation of the Deaf Youth Section (WFDYS) 

board would like to introduce themselves to you. 5th 

WFDYS General Assembly chose a completely new 

board for the upcoming four years period 2011-2015. 

Jenny Nilsson from Sweden was selected as the president. 

Robert Ssewagudde, Uganda is Vice-President. Eeva 

Tupi, Finland was nominated as secretary. Board 

members are Ana Navas Serna, Spain, Braam Jordaan, 

South Africa, EunJung Byun, South Korea and Jannicke 

Kvitvaer, Norway. 

We, WFDYS board, look forward to work together with 

you WFD Ordinary Members aiming for better future 

for deaf children and youth. Please do not hesitate to 

contact us! 

wfdyouth@gmail.com 

Photo: WFDYS 

WFD Youth Section Board: Braam Jordaan, Board 

Member, South Africa, Robert Ssewaggudde, Vice- 

President, Uganda, Jenny Nilsson, President, Sweden, 

Eeva Tupi, Secretary, Finland, Jannicke Berge Kvitvaer, 

Board Member, Norway, Ana Navas, Board Member, 

Spain & Eun Jung Byun, Board Member, South Korea 

10 

UNESCO 7th Youth Forum 

Jenny Nilsson from WFDYS participated at the 

UNESCO 7th Youth Forum. The forum was held from 

17 to 20 October 2011 at UNESCO Headquarters in 

Paris, France. The Forum brought together youth 

delegates, civil society participants, UN entities, 

intergovernmental organizations, academics and the 

private sector. Participants discussed, debated, and 

exchanged ideas on the Forum’s timely themes. WFDYS 

participated as observer and had opportunity to join the 

debate in the thematic parallel debates, networking with 

other youth delegates and see the speeches of Ms Irina 

Bokova, UNESCO Director General, Forest Whitaker, 

UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and Ms. Nicola 

Shepherd, UN Programme on Youth (UNDESA). 

The forum was reporting on action following the 6th 

UNESCO Youth Forum by youth delegates from 

Canada, Indonesia, Yemen, Uganda and Ecuador where 

they pointed the importance of youth actions by young 

people and using the network from the Forum in the 

upcoming years. They also discussed the “legacy” of 

the International Year of Youth and the results of the 

High Level Meeting on Youth. 

The main theme of this Forum was “How youth drive 

change” and the sub-themes were; citizens in action: 

youth in political and public life, countering youth 

exclusion, vulnerability and violence and breaking 

through employment barriers. WFDYS participated in a 

parallel debate on education, social transformation and 

sustainable development led by the UNESCO education 

sector where access to education was discussed. In this 

debate, we made a comment about the importance of 

education for youth with disabilities; for example only 

3% of deaf people receive education in sign language 

and efforts must therefore be made that we would get 

our education in sign language. 

The output of the Youth Forum is a Final Report drafted 

by youth participants containing key recommendations 

on the themes that will be presented to the representatives 

of Member States during the 36th UNESCO General 

Conference. One of the recommendations was about 

education “We call upon Member States to eliminate 

all forms of discrimination, especially against the most 

vulnerable segments of society, and to promote human 

rights-based education”. The fi nal report of 7th Youth 

Forum can be downloaded from the UNESCO website. 

WFDYS thinks that this was very interesting forum 

and there were good opportunities to network with

youth delegates from the whole world and infl uence 

the fi nal report by taking part in debates. The forum is 

important as a platform for us young people, and in her 

closing speech, Ms Irina Bokova, stressed importance 

of youth being involved in decision-making processes 

and therefore democracy would be powerful. 

Photo: Jenny Nilsson 

UNESCO Youth Forum, Paris, France 

11 

EUDY General Assembly 2012 

Jenny Nilsson and Jannicke Kvitvaer from WFDYS 

were represented as invitees at European Union of 

the Deaf Youth General Assembly, which was held in 

Madrid, in October 22. -24. 2011. 

WFDYS and EUDY have previously signed an 

agreement on cooperation, which means that both 

boards, WFDYS and EUDY, shall be invited to each 

other’s board meetings, camps and General Assemblies. 

The general assembly in Madrid was a success with 

22 countries represented all of EUDY Full Members. 

During the General Assembly, number of Full Members 

of EUDY expanded to 24 as Albania and Bulgaria were 

approved as new Full Members. Extraordinary General 

Assembly was held prior to the General Assembly 

where delegates approved changes on statutes. EUDY 

board is therefore now consisted of seven members 

instead of previous fi ve members. 

Strategy Plan for period 2012-2014 and Action Plan for 

period 2012 were approved by the General Assembly. A 

new idea, EUDY summer school, was presented and it 

might be held already in summer 2012. Bosnia will be 

hosting the EUDY Youth Camp and General Assembly 

in 2012. Albania is arranging EUDY Junior Camp in 

2013. Germany won the bid for hosting the EUDY 

General Assembly in 2013. The EUDY board for 2012- 

2013 consists of president Philippa Merricks (The 

United Kingdom), members Dennis Hoogeveen (The 

Netherlands), Netta Keski-Levijoki (Finland), Delphine 

le Maire (Belgium), Alexandra Kotsaki (Greece), 

Alejandro Fernández Segura (Spain) and Davy Mariotti 

(Italy). 

WFDYS Board wishes the new board of EUDY good 

luck working on achieving ambitious goals. 

Photo: Jenny Nilsson 

Alejandro Fernandez Segura, 

Spain, Dennis Hoogeveen, The 

Netherlands, Philippa Merricks, 

(President), United Kingdom, 

Netta Keski-Levijoki, Finland, 

Delphine le Maire, Belgium, 

Alexandra Kotsaki, Greece & 

Davy Mariotti, Italy

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS 

WITH DISABILITIES (CRPD) 

5 ARTICLES REFER DIRECTLY TO SIGN LANGUAGES 

AND THE DEAF: 

Article 2: Defi nitions 

Article 9: Accessibility (2 e) 

Article 21: Freedom of expression and opinion, 

and access to information (b and e) 

Article 24: Education (3b, 3c 4) 

Article 30: Participation in cultural life, recreation, 

leisure and sport (4) 

BY NOW 

• 107 ratifi ciations of the Convention 

• 153 signatories to the Convention 

OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE CONVENTION 

• 63 ratifi cations of the Optional Protocol 

• 90 signatories to the Optional Protocol 

RECENT SIGNATURES AND RATIFICATIONS: 

• Indonesia ratifi ed the Convention on 

30-11-2011 

• Cape Verde ratifi ed the Convention on 

10-10-2011 

• Luxembourg ratifi ed the Convention on 

26-9-2011 

• Luxembourg ratifi ed the Optional 

Protocol on 26-9-2011 

12 

3 December: International Day of Persons with 

Disabilities 2011 

This year, the Day will be commemorated under a 

general theme with supporting sub-themes to draw 

attention to key areas that would work in synergy to 

mainstream disability in all development processes. 

The theme for 2011 is: “Together for a better 

world for all: Including persons with disabilities in 

development”. For sub-themes and more information: 

www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1561. 

Source: UN Enable 

11 to 13 June 2012: Universal Design Conference 

2012 in Oslo 

Universal design in public spaces is the main focus of the 

conference to be held in Oslo, Norway. The Delta Centre 

will organize the event and is the National Resource 

Centre for Participation and Accessibility for Persons 

with Disabilities in Norway. Topics to be addressed 

are issues related to universal design in planning, 

legislation, politics, education, buildings, outdoor areas, 

information and communications technologies (ICT) 

and public transport. The conference website will 

open for abstract submissions on 1 July 2011. More 

information: www.ud2012.no. 

Source: UN Enable 

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, 17 

October 2011 

An inclusive Social Protection Floor should combat 

poverty among persons with disabilities 

IDA demands that more efforts need to be made to 

eradicate poverty and extreme poverty among persons 

with disabilities worldwide. The Social Protection Floor 

initiative can play a key role to achieve this objective. 

It is widely accepted that persons with disabilities are 

more at risk of being in situations of poverty and 

extreme poverty, resulting from discrimination in many 

areas of life. 

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with 

Disabilities (CRPD), which outlaws all forms of 

discrimination on the ground of disability, includes 

special attention to the issue of social protection and 

insists that persons with disabilities need to be taken 

into account in all strategies to combat poverty. It also 

refers to the need for States to cover disability related 

costs in order to avoid the link between disability and 

poverty.

The lack of a human rights approach in the MDGs, 

including the goal to reduce poverty, has resulted in 

insuffi cient attention to persons with disabilities. This 

needs to be changed between now and 2015, and in 

particular, needs to be addressed in the new framework 

to be established for the period beyond 2015. The 

upcoming High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness to be 

held in Busan should also lead to an increased attention 

to the rights of persons with disabilities in international 

co-operation efforts, as indicated in article 32 of the 

CRPD. Aid cannot be effective if it is delivered without 

considering the rights of 15% of the world population. 

IDA wants to highlight in particular the potential that 

the future International Labour Organisation (ILO) 

recommendation on a Social Protection Floor has to 

contribute fundamentally to the combat of poverty. 

“It is imperative that this important initiative includes 

persons with disabilities as a key target group, and that 

it do so in a way that is consistent with their rights”, 

reminds IDA Chair Diane Richler. 

The CRPD gives clear guidance to ensure that persons 

with disabilities and their representative organisations 

are partners in the design and implementation of all 

development processes, a participation that will make 

these processes not only more inclusive, but also more 

effective. 

For more information: 

Website of the International Disability Alliance (IDA): 

www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org 

IDA on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ 

InternationalDisabilityAllianceIDA 

Contact: Stefan Tromel stromel@ida-secretariat.org 

International Day of Extreme Poverty: http://www. 

un.org/depts/dhl/poverty/. 

UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty: 

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Poverty/Pages/ 

SRExtremePovertyIndex.aspx 

Source: International Disability Alliance 

Belgium has recently presented its national report to the 

CRPD Committee. For the moment, the report is only 

available in French. At the 6th session of the CRPD 

Committee, it was also announced that the State reports 

of Ecuador and Germany have been received. Spain, 

Tunisia, Peru, China, Argentina, Hungary, Paraguay, 

Austria, Australia, El Salvador, Sweden, Azerbaijan, 

Costa Rica, Mexico and Republic of Korea were the 

fi rst countries in submitting their national reports to 

the CRPD Committee. Please click the link to access 

the http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRPD/ 

Pages/Sessions.aspx section where you can fi nd all 

reports presented so far to the CRPD Committee. 


13 

ECOSOC Ministerial Declaration on Education 

An ECOSOC Annual Ministerial Review on 

internationally agreed commitments on education took 

place in Geneva from 4-8 July 2011. The outcome 

ministerial declaration refers to the rights of persons 

with disabilities, and to the need for improving data 

collection on education. Please click on: http:// 

www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org/wp-content/ 

uploads/2011/08/Ecosoc-Ministerial-Declarationon-education-Draft-adopted-8-July-2011.docto 

see 

the ECOSOC Ministerial Declaration on Education 

and http://www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org/ 

wp-content/uploads/2011/08/IDA-Position-Paper- 

The-right-to-education-14-June-11.doc to read IDA´s 

position paper on education. 


The Human Rights Committee held its 102nd session 

from 11 – 29 July to review the reports of Ethiopia, 

Kazakhstan and Bulgaria. Click on: http://www2. 

ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrc/hrcs102.htm to read 

the disability analysis of the Concluding Observations. 

The Human Rights Committee also adopted Lists of 

Issues on the Maldives, Turkmenistan, Iceland and 

Mozambique (in the absence of a report) which will 

soon be available on their website: http://www2.ohchr. 

org/english/bodies/hrc/hrcs102.htm 

On the opening day of the session, the Human Rights 

Committee held a meeting with National Human Rights 

Institutions and NGOs to discuss ways of improving 

NGO and NHRI engagement with the Committee. A 

joint NGO paper was presented on behalf of 23 NGOs, 

including IDA, to the Committee. To read the paper, 

click on: http://www.internationaldisabilityalliance. 

org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/NGO-workingpaper-FINAL-1.doc 

During this session, the Human Rights Committee 

also adopted General Comment no 34 on freedom of 

expression, Article 19, ICCPR. The General Comment 

elaborates that freedom of expression protects all forms 

of expression and the means of their dissemination, 

including spoken, written and sign language (para 12). 

To read it, click on: 

http://www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org/wpcontent/uploads/2011/08/GC-34-Advance-Version. 

doc 

Source: International Disability Alliance

Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 

On 9 August, the CRPD Committee made public 

two documents: the Fact sheet on the procedure for 

submitting communications to the CRPD Committee 

under the Optional Protocol to the Convention, and the 

Guidelines for submission of communications to the 

Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 

under the Optional Protocol to the Convention. The 

documents are available on the website of the Committee 

under the heading “Petitions”. Click on: www.ohchr. 

org/Documents/HRBodies/CRPD/CRPD-C-5-2_ 

en.doc to read the Factsheet and www.ohchr.org/ 

Documents/HRBodies/CRPD/CRPD-C-5-3_en.doc 

to read the Guidelines. IDA has also produced a 

Factsheet for DPOs on how to use the communications 

procedure under the CRPD’s Optional Protocol which 

is available: www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org/ 

wp-content/uploads/2011/08/IDA-factsheet-on-OP- 

CRPD.August-2011.doc 


Universal Periodic Review 

The twelfth session of the Universal Periodic Review 

took place in Geneva from 3 to 13 October 2011. 

Countries being reviewed were Tajikistan, Tanzania, 

Antigua and Barbuda, Swaziland, Trinidad and Tobago, 

Thailand, Ireland, Togo, Syria, Venezuela, Iceland, 

Zimbabwe, Lithuania, Uganda, Timor Leste, Moldova, 

and Haiti. 

During this session which completed the fi rst cycle of 

the UPR, there were some major gains towards universal 

ratifi cation of the CRPD. Countries which accepted to 

ratify the CRPD during the session include: Antigua 

and Barbuda, Iceland, Ireland, Swaziland, Timor-Leste, 

Venezuela, and Zimbabwe. Iceland and Venezuela also 

accepted to ratify the Optional Protocol to the CRPD. 

States under review also accepted comprehensive 

recommendations on education, employment, children 

with disabilities, deinstitutionalization, mobility, 

and accessibility. Lithuania and Uganda accepted 

recommendations (from Spain and Mexico, respectively) 

to ensure the right of persons with disabilities to vote, 

in line with the CRPD. Thailand made a voluntary 

commitment to withdraw its interpretative declaration 

on article 18 of the CRPD. Venezuela made a voluntary 

commitment to promote the rights of persons with 

visual impairments including by mass use of Braille. 

the same session whether it will include accessibility 

for persons with disabilities in reconstruction, and 

Ireland will indicate its position on a recommendation 

on its 2001 Act on Mental Health. Click on: http:// 


uploads/2011/10/UPR12-disability-analysis-reports. 

doc for a disability analysis of the UPR reports, http:// 


uploads/2011/10/IDA-recommendations-for- 

UPR12.doc for IDA recommendations and http:// 


uploads/2011/10/UPR12-disability-analysis-of-draft- 

Working-Group-reports.doc for a disability analysis of 

the draft UPR Working Group reports. 


United Nations General Assembly 

The sixty-sixth session of the United Nations General 

Assembly began in New York in September. IDA has 

been following resolutions out of the Third Committee, 

which covers human rights and humanitarian issues, 

to ensure that disability rights are included. There 

will be three disability-specifi c resolutions, along 

with resolutions on ageing, women's rights, youth, 

and children's rights that we foresee will also address 

disability rights issues. For more information on the 

negotiations related to these resolutions, please click 

on: http://www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org/wpcontent/uploads/2011/10/General-Assembly-66thsession_Resolution-Descriptions.doc 


World Federation of the DeafBlind 

On October 12th 2011 -The World Federation of the 

DeafBlind WFDB, has acted as the International voice 

of persons with deafblindness for 10 years. WFDB 

President Mr Lex Grandia receives International Award. 

On September 30th in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Mr. Lex 

Grandia, the president of The World Federation 

of the DeafBlind (WFDB) received the Deafblind 

International Distinguished Service Award from 

Deafblind International. Deafblind International is 

the world association promoting services for deafblind 

people. 

Lex Grandia is the fi rst person with deafblindness to 

Countries that will indicate by the 19th session of receive this award. Mr. Grandia has been president of 

the Council in March 2012 whether they accept the World Federation of the Deafblind (WFDB) for 

recommendations to ratify the CRPD or its OP the past 6 years and before that served for 4 years as 

include: Antigua and Barbuda (the OP), Ireland (the Secretary General of WFDB. 

OP), Moldova (the OP), Tajikistan (the CRPD and 

its OP), Thailand (the OP), Timor-Leste (the OP), Earlier Mr Grandia has chaired the European Deafblind 

Trinidad and Tobago (the CRPD and its OP), and Network and served on the Board of the European 

Zimbabwe (the OP). Syria will indicate by the March Disability Forum 1997-2001. Mr Grandia has been 

2012 Council session whether it will accept Slovenia’s instrumental in including the rights of persons with 

recommendation to withdraw its reservation on the OP Deafblindness in the UN Convention on Rights of 

and other human rights treaties. Haiti will indicate by Persons with Disabilities. 

14

WFDB is a member of the International Disability 

Alliance, IDA, which represents the worlds estimated 1 

billion people with disabilities. 

(Source: WHO World report on Disability, June 2011) 

2007-08 Mr Grandia Chaired the International Disability 

Alliance and spoke on behalf of the Alliance at the 

UN Special event on the Convention on the Rights of 

persons with Disabilities. 

Mr Grandia has also represented the International 

Disability Alliance on several occasions in the Human 

Rights Council in Geneva. 

The World Federation of the DeafBlind, WFDB is 

a worldwide NGO, a representative organisation of 

persons with deafblindness, established October 12, 

2001 in Auckland, New Zealand. 

WFDB is the legitimate voice of the deafblind 

population in the world. 

WFDB holds special consultative status in the United 

Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and 

cooperates with several UN agencies and bodies. 

The aim of WFDB is: "to improve the quality of life 

of deafblind people world wide, with the objective of 

achieving their equal rights and equal opportunities in 

all areas of society and to be a worldwide forum for 

the exchange of knowledge and experiences in the area 

of deafblindness and to increase international solidarity 

among deafblind people's organisations.” 

Deafblindness is a unique disability, different from 

deafness and blindness. Deafblindness is a low 

prevalence disability. Estimates indicate the prevalence 

of persons who are born or become deafblind is 15 

to 40 persons per 100,000 inhabitants. Most have 

become deafblind during adolescence or adult life. It 

is also estimated that 4 out of 5 children born with 

deafblindness do not survive their fi fth birthday if they 

do not get the necessary medical attention. 

Achievements in the last 10 years: 

WFDB has organised 3 successful world conferences 

for and by persons with deafblindness: Auckland, 

New Zealand in 2001; Tampere, Finland in 2005; and 

Kampala, Uganda in 2009. 

Over the past 10 years WFDB has welcomed 17 new 

member countries, bringing the total number of 

national members to 63. Half of the national members 

come from developing countries. 

As a member of the International Disability Alliance, 

WFDB has played a major role in drafting and 

negotiating the United Nations Convention on the 

Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UN CRPD. 

WFDB works closely with other members of 

International Disability Alliance in monitoring the 

process of interpretation and implementation of the 

CRPD in countries which have ratifi ed CRPD and in 

supporting organisations in countries on the way to 

ratifi cation. 

WFDB has carried out 4 training courses for African 

deafblind leaders and in 2009 the African Federation of 

Deafblind was established. 

WFDB works closely with international partners such 

as Deafblind International, the world association 

promoting services for deafblind people and with 

international development organisations such as: 

15 

SHIA, Sweden, 

Abilis, Finland, 

CBM, Germany, 

Perkins International, USA, 

SENSE International, UK, 

Federacion ONCE Latin America, Spain 

and Kentalis in the Netherlands. 

Contact 

Lex Grandia, President, Snehvidevej 13, DK-9400 

Noerresundby, Denmark 

Phone (+45) 981920 99 

Cell phone: (+45) 2326 9152 

E-mail: lex.grandia@mail.dk or wfdb@ 

wfdb. 

org 

Websites: www.wfdb.org 

www.deafblindinternational.org 

Source: International Disability Alliance

NEWS WFD MEMBERS AND PARTNERS 

Health in deaf people- Findings of an international 

survey 

After my appointment as WFD-expert on Mental 

Health I met Markku Jokinen in Helsinki and asked 

him: “Please tell me, what do you expect from me most 

to contribute to the WFD?” His answer was: “Please 

focus on health.” 

Having being involved in general health care for 

deaf people since 20 years in setting up and running 

outpatient clinics, where deaf people can access signing 

medical doctors, nurses and social workers without 

diffi cult procedures, I am very aware of huge problems 

in general healthcare, deaf people have to face. 

These outpatients clinics for deaf people in different 

regions of Austria are parts of general hospitals and 

therefore many problems of deaf people can be solved 

in a one stop-way by using all the facilities a hospital 

has to offer like x-ray, lab etc. Mental health services are 

included in these general health care facilities. 

Coming back from Finland I could convince the 

Director of the Hospital of St. John of God in Linz/ 

Austria, to support a project on Health together with 

the WFD fi nancially and could invite my college Alexa 

Kuenburg, to join in as project coordinator. So in close 

exchange with the WFD the Health Resources Initiative 

could be started. 

This Health Resources Initiative is planned to consist 

of different parts such as a survey on health issues 

amongst deaf leaders of the WFD member states. 

A second step should be a survey amongst Deaf 

Communities. Furthermore a pool of good practice 

should be established on the WFD website which 

would allow interested members to get in contact with 

practitioners in the fi eld and to stimulate and support 

each other in the development of materials for health 

education and for implementing relevant projects with 

respect to healthcare of deaf people. 

Main results 

A questionnaire was sent via e-mail to the representatives 

of the national associations of the WFD member states. 

44 countries responded. As there were uncertainties 

of how many countries could receive the invitations 

we can assume that this might be half of the eligible 

sample size. 

The majority of all country respondents (65 %) reported 

that deaf people have more problems with their health 

than people with average hearing. The most common 

problems they mentioned were problems with mental 

health disorders and depression, but also problems with 

chronic and infection diseases were reported several 

times. 

16 

82 % of the country respondents reported that deaf 

people face more diffi culties when trying to access 

health care compared to people with average hearing. 

Only 20 % of the countries with low and medium 

human developmental index reported, that sign language 

interpreters could be available when deaf people need 

medical help. Very high income countries reported that 

interpreters are available in 80 %. 

These results show great health disparities for deaf 

people. On the one hand side higher burdens of health 

problems are reported. On the other hand side access 

to health care is perceived as much more diffi cult 

compared to the general population. 

Implications 

62 % of the countries, which participated in the 

survey, had ratifi ed the UN Convention on the Rights 

of persons with disabilities. This is a legal basis for 

Deaf Associations to advocate for offi cial measures 

to realize paragraph 25 which highlights the right “to 

enjoy the highest attainable standard of health without 

discrimination of the basis of disability by providing 

the same range, quality and accessibility of health care 

as for every other person and furthermore special 

service for special needs people with disabilities might 

have” (United Nations CRPD 2006). 

Joining forces of Deaf Associations with governmental 

authorities and non-governmental organizations could 

achieve this. 

Further information about the Health Resources 

Initiative will be on the WFD website soon. 

If anyone has more interests on this health project 

please contact to Ms. Heidi-Maria Helenius – heidimaria.helenius@kl-deaf.fi 

Text and photo: Dr. Johannes Fellinger, M.D 

Burden of mental health problems are symbolized by 

rucksacks which everyone has to carry and seeks to fi nd relief 

from. The rucksacks of deaf people are bigger (More mental 

health problems, mainly common mental health problems) 

but the door is smaller which symbolizes worse accessibility 

for health (mental health) services.

Burden of mental health problems are symbolized by 

rucksacks which everyone has to carry and seeks to fi nd 

relief from. 

The rucksacks of deaf people are bigger (More mental 

health problems, mainly common mental health 

problems) but the door is smaller which symbolizes 

worse accessibility for health (mental health) services. 

Ms. Alexa Kuenburg Dr. Johannes Fellinge 

DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC 

OF KOREA 

The 3rd Good Fellowship – Our 3rd international 

deaf Meeting 

At the KFPD Taedonggang Culture House for the 

Disabled in Pyongyang / DPRK on August 25th 

2011 

Since 2009, the German NGO TOGETHER- 

Hamhung has organized an annual event called „GOOD 

FELLOWSHIP“. The GOOD FELLOWSHIP is an 

International Deaf Meeting in Pyongyang, the capital 

of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. We have 

organized this event for the third time in collaboration 

with the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), the 

Korean Federation for the Protection of the Disabled 

(KFPD), and the Korean International Travel Company 

(KITC). 

After the fi rst direct dialogue of KFPD and WFD in 

Pyongyang in summer 2010, and then in Durban in 

summer 2011, WFD and KFPD are willing to continue 

to support the GOOD FELLOWSHIP as a special 

event in the DPR of Korea enhancing the cultural 

exchange of deaf people from different countries. 

Also the 3rd such event on 25th August this year has 

contributed to this goal. 

Mr. Kim Mun Chol, the Vice-President of the Central 

Committee of the KFPD expressed his pleasure to 

welcome deaf people from six countries, namely China, 

Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Austria, and Australia to 

the 3rd Good Fellowship. Mrs. Liu Keyan from China 

and Mrs. Hu Xiaoshu translated the event in Chinese 

Sign Language and in International Sign. 

After the warmly address of Mr. Kim Mun Chol, a 

group of Pyongyang deaf youths performed Korean 

traditional dancing to the participants of the 3rd 

Good Fellowship. The foreign participants were 

very impressed by the dancing style and the facial 

expression of the deaf dancers and recognized them 

as almost professional. The reason for this high level 

is the active support rendered by a dancing teacher and 

choreographer from the Korean Association of the Arts 

of the Disabled (KAAD) to the deaf young people to 

promote their artistic talents. Like this the "Pyongyang 

Deaf Dancers" are gaining a reputation already. 

This year the majority of the participants came from 

China and therefore we called China our main guest 

country of the 3rd Good Fellowship in 2011. We were 

very happy that on this occasion, two staff persons 

of the Embassy of People’s Republic of China to the 

DPR Korea followed our invitation also and enjoyed 

the day together with us. Mr Zhao Xin, the offi cer 

of the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang, shared his 

feelings with Mr. Robert R. Grund, the Chairman of 

“TOGETHER-Hamhung”: „We are really impressed 

by the attitude, passion and eagerness for better life, 

better communication and collaboration among the 

deaf people. I am convinced that the life of deaf people 

will be understood and good care will be taken of what 

you've done to raise the social awareness gradually. The 

Good Fellowship should be continued perpetually. As 

for the next Good Fellowship, we are willing to join in 

again. “ 

As every year, TOGETHER-Hamhung brought 

little gifts for children. This time it was various types 

of balls with bells inside for blind children: 2 Futsal 

balls, 1 soccer ball, and 2 showdown balls bought 

from money donated by a Chinese business man from 

Taiwan. Dr.Barbara Unterbeck, Vice-Chairman of the 

TOGETHER-Hamhung, expressed her hope to start 

organizing a Good Fellowship for the Blind in the near 

future. It will contribute to strengthen our cooperation 

with the blind people in the DPRK and to connect the 

blind work in DPRK to the World Blind Union. 

As in previous two years, we have felt the immense 

interest in the exchange of experiences and the and 

great need for it. And thus the time plan was ignored 

and the celebration of the 3rd Good Fellowship simply 

went on for two more hours. The farewell was very 

emotional: all participants appreciated the great support 

from the WFD, KFPD and KITC for the organization 

of our 3rd International Deaf Meeting in Pyongyang 

and for the strengthening of the position of the deaf 

in the global society. Finally they embraced each other 

before leaving the Good Fellowship. 

Text: KFPD 

17

Photos: Robert Grund 

AUSTRALIA 

Deaf People Demand Apology From Telstra 

Businesswoman of the Year 

Deaf Australia / - Deaf Australia and the World 

Federation of the Deaf (WFD) have called for a public 

apology from Telstra Queensland Businesswoman of 

the Year, Ms Dimity Dornan, for her comments about 

deafness in her award acceptance speech on Tuesday as 

published in the Sydney Morning Herald. Ms Dornan, a 

speech therapist who founded the Hear and Say Centre 

in Brisbane, is quoted as saying, “Deafness is at the 

same stage as polio … it is a scourge in our world.” Her 

clinics discourage the use of sign language, the offi cial 

language of deaf people in Australia. She is well known 

for making this type of comment and has previously 

said that deafness is “neurological emergency” that must 

be eliminated. WFD President, Sydneysider Colin Allen 

and Deaf Australia President Ann Darwin have called 

on Ms. Dornan to publicly apologize to the 70 million 

deaf people they say she has insulted world wide. The 

WFD and Deaf Australia have held discussions with 

human rights experts to set up a course of action. Ms. 

Dornan’s words make a mockery of real deaf people’s 

lives and their experiences. Her claim to represent all 

18 

people who are deaf, particularly children who are 

deaf, is simply false and misleading,” said Ms Darwin. 

“She does not speak for us.” “It is unthinkable that this 

type of comment would be made publicly,” said Mr 

Allen, “Particularly as we begin to celebrate the deaf 

community, its language and culture with National 

Week of Deaf People beginning next week.” Karen 

Lloyd AM, Executive Offi cer of Deaf Australia, the 

national peak body representing Deaf people’s interests 

in Australia, said today, “We are deeply offended at Ms 

Doran’s comments. She clearly does not understand 

Deaf people and culture at all. “I invite Ms Doran 

to attend our NWDP events to learn more about the 

reality of the Deaf community and the normal, full and 

meaningful lives they lead.” WFD and Deaf Australia 

respect parents’ choices but their position is fi rmly that 

deaf children have the right to use sign language as 

well as English and to have their deaf identity actively 

accepted and respected. “Parents should not have to 

choose between either speech or sign language,” said 

Ms Lloyd, “They should have access to both speech and 

sign language for their child and be supported to make 

the best possible choices for their child’s needs.” WFD 

and Deaf Australia will release more information as it 

becomes available. 

Source: Deaf Australia 

BANGLADESH 

1. Bangladesh National Federation of Deaf (BNFD) 

was registered in 1964. The organization is also affi liated 

with World Federation of Deaf, Helsinki, Finland. This 

is the main organization in the country to formulate, 

approve plan and execute the decision for educational 

policy and other welfare activities for deaf... Although 

there are many small NGOs working for the Physical 

and mentally handicapped people of the country. It is 

estimated that Bangladesh has 6 million deaf out of 160 

million people. 

2. This organization is run under a Constitution 

approved by Social Welfare Dept. of the Peoples 

Republic of Bangladesh. The Election for Executive 

Committee members is held after every 3 years with 

the vote of general members. A total of 21 members 

are elected. One President (non deaf), two Vice 

Presidents (deaf) and one Vice President non deaf, 

General Secretary and one Jt Secretary both are deaf; 

Treasurer non deaf and 2/3rd of the members elected 

are deaf. To be a Candidate one should be either Life 

member or a deaf and a member of the organization. 

Last election was held in March 2009 since than this 

Executive Committee Members are functioning. Always 

very renowned personnel are elected as President. 

3. The HQs of BNFD and High School, and a deaf 

hostel are located in the heart of the capital, Dhaka city 

on a Half Acre of prime land. It has a building on 1/5th 

acre of land to house BNFD HQs and the Hostel. In

1/4th acre of land the High School is located under 

a tin roof accommodation. Needed good amount of 

fund to construct a School building. 

4. This has following organizations and institutions 

under BNFD: 

a. One Secondary School Certifi cate (High 

School) at the BNFD Head Quarters Premise 

at Dhaka (Capital) 

b. A Hostel for 300 deaf students at BNFD HQs 

c. It has 28 Primary/Junior Schools and 

Vocational training centers to teach Sign 

language give Primary education and 

vocational training to the Deaf. 

Activities & Achievements of BNFD 

5. In the HQs of BNFD following training/activities in 

regular basis being conducted: 

a. Sign language courses on regular basis are run 

for teachers, guardian and deaf members. 

b. Number of Books being published on sign 

language in Bangla (mother tongue). These are 

being upgraded and simplifi ed with discussion 

with deaf members with utmost importance. 

c. Sign language courses for Trainers 

(Instructors) for refreshing their knowledge 

are being conducted. Normally these 

instructors are employed at the district 

and rural areas. 

d. Vocational training under trained instructors 

is given in Tailoring; Painting Electrical/ 

mechanical trades man classes. 

e. Computer Training Centre has been 

established this year 

6.1500 Signs for deaf have been fi nalized through 

various workshops; spending month at BNFD HQs. 

These 1500 signs will cover whole lot of signs for the 

deaf. A total of seven books will be printed. A CD 

on Sign language being produced and will be made 

available for deaf, although fund constrain remains a 

major hurdle. 

7. Arrangement for employment of these trained 

personnel is made on time to time. 

Future Plan: 

8. To pursue the govt to enact/pass the law for the 

welfare of the Deaf which has been fi nalized through 

Seminars and meetings along with Govt.and private 

organizations which are lying with the govt for Gazette 

Notifi cations. In those following issues to get priorities 

in addition to many more: 

19 

a. Special ID card for the Handicap to be provided. 

b. Govt should provide more teachers in a class 

in the deaf schools as per International 

standard. 

c. To declare 7 February each year as Sign 

Language day. 

d. To upgrade present High School to HSC. (Pre 

university level) 

e. To undertake the Construction of a big 

Building at the 1/4th acre of land To 

establish quality training institutions for 

Deaf students. But fi nancing will remain main 

obstacle. 

f. To carry out census of all the handicapped 

people category wise 

Problems of BNFD 

9. This organization does not have any source of 

income other than two dozens of small shops around 

the perimeter of the building. No fund received from 

govt. The income is meager and can not look after all 

the institution under this mother organization. 

10. BNFD needed immediate funding for printing 

1000x7(volumes) of Bangla Sign Language. Books for 

distribution amongst the deaf and institutions. Also 

for copying of CDs. To buy Tables, Chairs, Bookshelf, 

furniture’s etc for the Hostel and Schools. 

Text: Gyasuddin A. Chowdhury, President BNFD 

HONG KONG 

The former WFD President was invited by the Centre 

for Sign Linguistics and Deaf Studies (CSLDS) of The 

Chinese University of Hong Kong to visit Hong Kong 

on 16-17 May, 2011. On the fi rst morning, the President, 

together with Prof. Marc Marschark of NTID and 

the Centre’s representatives, visited The Hong Kong 

Society for the Deaf. They observed the special child 

care centre and met with the director of the Society. In 

the afternoon, the President visited the Centre for Sign 

Linguistics and Deaf Studies. Prof. Gladys Tang, the 

Centre’s director, presented the projects run by CSLDS 

and invited all Deaf and hearing colleagues to exchange 

views with the President concerning Deaf developments 

and training in Sign Linguistics and Deaf Education 

in Asia. The Deaf trainees from the Asia-Pacifi c Sign 

Linguistics Research and Training Program (The APSL 

Program), expressed their heartfelt gratitude to The 

Nippon Foundation for fi nancing the APSL Program. 

In the evening, after attending a reception hosted by the

Finnish Consulate, the President visited the Hong Kong 

Association of the Deaf and interacted with members 

of the Advisory and Executive Committees as well as 

members of the association. 

On 17 May, the President visited the Jockey Club Sign 

Bilingualism and Co-enrolment in Deaf Education 

Programme (JC-SLCO) implemented at Kowloon Bay 

St. John the Baptist Primary School. The President had 

an information exchange with the School Principal, 

program staff and both Deaf and hearing teachers. He 

also had a chance to interact with the Deaf and hearing 

students of the JC-SLCO classes. 

Photos: OM Hong Kong 

20 

In the afternoon, the President visited the Lutheran 

School for the Deaf, observed classes and talked to the 

Principal and teachers of the school. The highlight of 

his visit was a presentation given by the President to 

members of the Working Group on the Promotion of 

Sign Language, Rehabilitation Advisory Committee. 

The topic was “Legalization of sign language”. 

The presentation was also attended by staff of the 

Education Bureau, Social Welfare Department, Labour 

and Welfare Bureau of the HKSAR, members of Deaf 

associations/societies as well as representatives of 

CSLDS.

NEW ZEALAND 

Deaf Aotearoa / - A new DVD in New Zealand Sign 

Language will help Deaf people in New Zealand learn 

ways to cope with grief and loss in their natural language. 

The resource, Change, Loss and Grief was launched 

on October 12th as part of Mental Health Awareness 

Week (10 - 16 October) celebrations. The resource is 

the result of work supported by Deaf Aotearoa and the 

Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. This is the 

fi rst time the two organizations have worked together 

to produce a DVD in sign language and Deaf Aotearoa 

hopes to develop similar resources in the future. Deaf 

Aotearoa Chief Executive Rachel Noble says the need 

for the DVD was driven by individuals close to the Deaf 

community members in Christchurch.“This project has 

been a voluntary one, which has had the support and 

buy-in from a number of different organisations and 

individuals. There was a great need for a resource of 

this kind after a series of tragic events and it is even 

more pertinent now following the devastating effects 

of February’s earthquake in Christchurch and the 

resulting loss of life,” says Ms Noble. “The DVD is 

designed to help the Deaf community understand in 

their natural language the processes of grief and how 

if can affect people.” Change, Loss and Grief is fi lmed 

in NZSL with English subtitles. It features members 

of the Deaf community sharing their experiences of 

loss and change. Expert advice is provided by retired 

Deaf Counsellor Richard Townshend and Mental 

Health Educator Ainslee Coates. The DVD was created 

by Creative Arts Director Jill Penn and fi lm-makers 

Meshell Edgecombe and Sue Penman. To get a copy of 

the DVD visit www.deaf. org.nz. 

Source: World Without Hearing 

PHILLIPINES 

Deaf Filipinos March to Support Caption and Sign 

Language Mandate Bills 

On September 12th, approximately 150 deaf people 

marched to the House of Representatives in the 

Philippines to push for the passage of two bills 

mandating the use of sign language in court (HB4631) 

and on televised news programs (HB 4121). Many 

of the people who marched were members of the 

Philippine Deaf Resource Center. The Center gathered 

over 100,000 signatures calling for the enactment of 

the bills. The Center expressed in a letter to the House 

Speaker, Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., that the "120,000 

documented deaf ... Filipinos will defi nitely benefi t 

from such practices, making it possible for [the deaf] to 

[comprehend] timely and relevant information." 

Currently, major news programs in the capital city, 

Manila, do not use subtitles or sign language insets. 

According to the Center, "although some regional 

stations have started utilizing sign language insets 

with the help of non-government organizations, 

this practice is unfortunately not carried out by their 

mother stations." Lawmakers also cited data from 

the Center that demonstrated a need for interpreters 

during investigative and judicial proceedings due to 

the high incidence of criminal cases that involve deaf 

persons. The authors of the bill also stated that it is 

the responsibility of the State to provide interpreters 

during any government proceedings including police 

investigations and court or public hearings. 

Full Story: Deaf People March to Demand Sign 

Language in Courts, TV News, Disability News Asia, 

Sept. 15, 2011, available at 

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/232189/deaf-peoplemarch-to-demand-sign-language-in-courts-tv-news 

Gerry Baldo, Bill Seeking Presence of Court Interpreters 

for Deaf Pushed, Sept. 13, 2011, available at 

http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110913met1. 

html 

21 


SWEDEN 

The Swedish Asylum Project Becomes Permanent 

The Västanvik Folk High School has a European Union 

project that receives both deaf asylum seekers and deaf 

people who have a residence permit. Their operation 

will be permanent from April, 1, 2012, and onward. 

"We are very happy", says Björn Albihn, project 

manager. 

The purpose of the project is to treat deaf asylum 

seekers better, and to give them, who are permitted to 

stay in Sweden, a better introduction to the Swedish 

society. They can, among other things, learn Swedish 

sign language. The project started on April, 1, 2009. 

It will end on March, 31, 2012. Starting on April, 1, 

the operation will be permanent since the Swedish 

Migration Board funds it. They have procurement, and 

the Västanvik Folk High School has the assignment. 

Both the school and the Swedish National Association 

of the Deaf (SDR) had since 2009 a goal: the operation 

shall become permanent. 

"We have learned rather early during the project period 

that our model works. We could gradually convince the 

Migration Board that it was a good way to work", says 

Björn Albihn. 

How will we notice that your operation is 

permanent?

”There will not be any particular difference. Our 

business will be operated normally. The only difference 

is that the Migration Board will fund it.” 

Since the start in 2009, the project has had 24 

participants in total. The most are from Eritrea, Iraq, 

and Somalia. 

The Västanvik School offers education in SFI 

(Swedish for Immigrants), and TFI (Sign Language for 

Immigrants). The asylum seekers can study TFI and 

civics, get an introduction to the deaf community, and 

wellness. With residence permits, they can have SFI 

and TFI, and work-oriented studies, combined with 

work practices, and more. 

”We have the entire chain – from that, we teach 

asylum seekers Swedish sign language so they can 

communicate with the Migration Board, so that when 

they have received a residence permit, they can move 

into our SFI-education and get support to enter the 

labor market”, says Björn Albihn. 

So far Björn Albihn knows the operation is unique 

in the world. 

”I would like to have the opportunity to provide 

more information about this in the EU and to see what 

countries can start similar operations.” 

SDR's chairman, Ragnar Veer, says that SDR is 

very pleased that the operation becomes permanent. 

According to him, deaf asylum seekers can have greater 

legal certainty and security. This means that deaf 

applicants can obtain a fairer asylum process at the 

Migration Board after they have learned Swedish sign 

language, and deaf people who have come to Västanvik 

can have a good ground to stand on. 

Text: Niclas Martinsson 

22 

USA 

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is 

pleased to announce that as a result of its ongoing 

advocacy with the United States Department of 

Transportation (DOT) more than twenty deaf and hard 

of hearing truck drivers who submitted applications 

for an exemption from the DOT hearing requirements 

through the NAD in July 2011 are now being considered 

for full Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDL) including 

CDL A and B to drive vehicles with and without 

airbrakes. The DOT through its regulations has long 

required inpiduals seeking CDLs to satisfy Physical 

Qualifi cation Standards before becoming eligible to 

receive a CDL. These Physical Qualifi cation Standards 

include a requirement that unfairly barred deaf and 

hard of hearing people from driving commercial motor 

vehicles in interstate commerce. Although the NAD 

has long fought for equal access and opportunities for 

deaf truckers, this is the fi rst time the United States 

Department of Transportation has agreed to consider 

waiving its hearing requirements for deaf drivers. The 

exemption applicants included deaf and hard of hearing 

men and women from all over the United States. The 

exemption applicants hope to win the right to obtain 

Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) to drive trucks 

nationwide. If you would like to apply for an exemption 

from the DOT hearing requirements, it is not too late 

and the NAD is here to help. This program is offered 

by the NAD free of charge to deaf and hard of hearing 

drivers. The NAD will submit applications to DOT on 

behalf of all qualifi ed drivers for full and equal CDLs to 

drive vehicles with and without airbrakes! Deaf truckers 

who would like to apply for an exemption from the 

DOT hearing requirement should contact the NAD. 

Each driver will be asked to complete an application, 

and provide a copy of their state driving record and 

state driver’s license. 

Source: World Without Hearing

ITEMS OF INTEREST 

Go Round, is a special e-mail project for schools for the 

Deaf and Hard of Hearing around the world in which 

students (age 6 to 18+) have the opportunity to write to 

each other in English by e-mail. 

INFORMATION FOR TEACHERS: 

This website offers you tips and support in setting up 

your own 'Go Round' project. You will also be able to 

fi nd your partner school, English teaching materials 

and other information FREE of charge. This website 

is designed to support any teachers who are interested 

in this project! 

The 'Go Round' project offers your students: 

- Development of the English language. 

- Knowledge of differences between cultures. 

- The means to meet Deaf and Hard of Hearing 

students from other countries. 

35 SCHOOLS 

Go Round is already in contact with 35 schools from 

Australia, Austria, England, Germany, Finland, Italy, 

Jamaica, Japan, Lebanon, Namibia, Norway, Sweden, 

Scotland, Sri Lanka, the Netherlands and USA. 

Feel free to register as a partner school so that other 

schools can get in contact with your school. 

For instructions in International Sign (IS) go to: www. 

letsgoround.com 

Website: www.letsgoround.com 

Gallaudet University 

Gallaudet University has announced it is establishing 

a new international center in Panama to promote the 

advancement of higher education, teaching, learning, 

research and services for deaf and hard of hearing 

students and professionals from Panama and Latin 

America. The center will be located in Panama City, 

Panama. The Honorable Ambassador for the Republic 

of Panama Mario Jaramillo joined Gallaudet University 

President T. Alan Hurwitz in signing a memorandum of 

understanding (MOU) at a ceremony on the Gallaudet 

campus. Jaramillo and Hurwitz were also joined by 

Representative Diego Lombana from the Panamanian 

Parliament, Dr. Etilvia Arjona, a representative from 

the U.S. Embassy in Panama, and Gallaudet students, 

faculty and staff from Latin America. “Gallaudet’s 

global stature comes with a responsibility to promote 

and advocate higher education for deaf and hard 

of hearing people worldwide,” said Hurwitz. “This 

partnership marks a step toward providing deaf and hard 

of hearing people in Latin American countries access to 

higher education.” The Gallaudet International Center 

of Panama will provide access to higher education for 

students who are deaf or hard of hearing as well as 

prepare students from Latin America to transfer to 

Gallaudet University. The initial MOU is in place for 

fi ve years and subject to renewal. The programs to be 

initiated through this agreement include but are not 

limited to: 

- Establishing an English Language Institute at the 

Gallaudet University International Center of Panama 

for deaf and hard of hearing students from Panama 

and Latin America 

- Encouraging leaders of the deaf community from 

Panama and Latin American countries to work with 

Gallaudet University International Center of Panama 

as leaders and advisors for the center. 

- Creating a project development team in charge of 

conducting need assessments, identifying stakeholders 

and drafting a plan for the establishment of the 

Gallaudet University International Center of Panama. 

- Establishing a sign language interpreters training 

program for Panama and the Latin America region 

using their indigenous sign language 

- Establishing a transfer degree program with a selected 

partner universities in Panama. 

- Coordinating special short-term academic programs 

for students from Panama at Gallaudet and for 

Gallaudet University students in Panama. 

- Coordinating a visiting faculty program to further 

educational and research outcomes. 

- Coordinating a visiting students program to offer 

admission from Gallaudet University to qualifi ed 

students to enroll/participate in the university. 

Gallaudet's Video Services has produced a two-minute 

webstory of the signing ceremony: www.gallaudet .edu 

/MOU with Panama.xml. 

23 

Source: World Without Hearing

BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS 

24

COUNTRY NAME-SIGN 

A popular book published for WFD (2003) - 

Collection of data: Japan Institute for Sign Language 

Studies and Tomas Hedberg, Swedish National 

Association of the Deaf. The Country Name-Sign 

books are available in the WFD General Secretariat. 

If you would like to order a copy, please do contact 

by email: orders@wfdeaf.org and then we will send 

you an invoice for payment of the order. 

DEAF PEOPLE & HUMAN RIGHTS 

A report written by Ms Hilde Haualand, researcher 

and Mr Colin Allen, project coordinator and report 

assistant. 

The “Deaf People and Human Rights” report is 

based on a survey that is, up until now, the largest 

knowledge database on the situation of Deaf people. 

The lives of Deaf people in 93 countries, most of 

which are developing countries, are addressed. 

The Swedish National Association of the Deaf 

and the World Federation of the Deaf initiated the 

survey, with funding from the Swedish Agency for 

International Development Co-operation (Sida) 

and the Swedish Organisations of Disabled Persons 

International Aid Association (Shia). 

The report is available on the WFD Website in 

English and International Sign. You can also order a 

DVD of the report in International Sign for postage 

fee (11 €). 

If you wish to receive the DVD, please contact 

WFD General Secretariat Offi ce at orders@ 

wfdeaf.org. 

25 

WFD MERCHANDISE 

If you are interested in ordering items from WFD, such 

as DVD – Suggested International Signs for use at 

the WFD General Assembly, T-shirts (golf, woman 

and ordinary), WFD Pins, water bottles, watches, 

pens and caps, you can make an order through email, 

which is orders@wfdeaf.org Here is the price list of 

the items: 

COUNTRY NAME-SIGN BOOK – 10 € 

DVD – SUGGESTED INTERNATIONAL SIGNS FOR USE AT THE 

WFD GENERAL ASSEMBLY – 15 € 

DVD - DEAF PEOPLE AND HUMAN RIGHTS - 11 € 

ORDINARY T-SHIRT (BLUE OR WHITE) WFD LOGO ON THE 

FRONT – 5 € 

T-SHIRT ART DESIGN (WHITE ONLY) - 10,00 € NEW!!! 

BAG WITH ART DESIGN - 5,00 € NEW!!! 

WFD PEN - 2 € NEW!!! 

WFD KEY NECKLET - 3 € NEW!!! 

NOTEPAD - 3,00€ NEW!!! 

WFD PIN – 2 € 

WFD CAP – 2,50 €

COMING EVENTS 

14th World Deaf Magicians Festival 

Date: 22-29 April 2012 

Place: Helsinki, Finland 

Contact: Ms. Elina Pokki, Coordinator 

14th World Deaf Magicians Festival 

Organizing Committee 

Finnish Association of the Deaf 

E-mail: elina.pokki@kl-deaf.fi 

SMS: +358 50 322 4067 / only text messages 

Website: http://www.kl-deaf.fi /Page/fi 69306f- 

5120-4382-b7f9-32a5cfa33a4f.aspx 

26 

The Second Hong Kong International Deaf Film 

Festival 

Date: 24-26 February 2012 

Place: Hong Kong 

Theme: Let the Deaf's Dreams Blossom with 

Films 

E-mail: info@hongkongdeaf.org.hk 

Tel: +852 2327 2497 

Fax: +852 2327 7445 

SMS: +852 9204 6324 

MSN: hkad@live.hk 

Website: www.hkidff.com

1st International Congress on Family-centred 

Early Intervention fot Children who are Deaf and 

Hard of Hearing 

Date: 30 May - 1 June 2012 

Place: Bad Ischl, Austria 

Contact: Hospital of St. John of God 

Institut of Neurology and of Senses 

and Languages 

Seilerstätte 2, 4021 Linz, Austria 

E-mail: fcei2012@bblinz.at 

Tel.: +43 (0) 732-7897-23706 

Fax: +43 (0) 732-7897-23798 

Website: www.fcei2012.org 

3rd Business Convention and Expo of the Deaf 

Theme: Grow Your Business 

Date: 20-24 June 2012 

Place: Hilton Disney World Resort 

1751 Hotel Plaza Boulevard L, 

Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA 

Website: www.deafbusiness.org 

Our facebook page is waiting for you at: 

www.facebook.com/pages/Business-Convention-and- 

Expo-of-the-Deaf/174799545897270 

Universal Learning Design conference 

Date: 11-13 July 2012 

Place: Linz, Austria 

Tel.: +420 549 49 1119 

Fax: +420 549 49 1120 

E-mail: info@uld-conference.org 

Website: www.uld-conference.org 

Deaf Business Exhibition 

Date: 22-24 July, 2012 

Place: London, United Kingdom 

Organiser: Nazia Bidi 

Contact: The Executive Centre 

344-354 Gray's Inn Road 

London, WCIX 8BD 

UNITED KINGDOM 

Tel.: +44 207 164 2140 

E-mail: deafexpo2012@btinternet.com 

Website: www.deafbizexpo2012.com 

8th Deaf History International Conference 

Theme: Telling Deaf Lives: Biographies 

Autobiographies 

Date: 24-29 July 2012 

Place: Toronto, Canada 

Website: www.dhiconference2012.ca 

Changing Perceptions, Increasing Effectiveness, 

Embracing Advocacy 

Date: 26-28 July 2012 

Place: 81 Kim Keat Road, Singapore 

#12-00 NKF Centre, 328836 

Singapore 

Contact: Academy of Medicine, Singapore 

Telephone: +65 6593 7800, +65 6593 7868 

Fax: +65 6593 7860 

E-mail: apcd@ams.edu.sg 

Website: 203.127.83.176/hosting/APCD2012/ 

index.html 

III Sign Language Translation and Interpretation 

Research Conference 

Date: 15-17 August 2012 

Place: Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil 

E-mail: congressotils@projectaeventos.com.br 

Tel.: +55 48 3028 2004 

Website: http://www.congressotils.cce.ufsc. 

br/2012/ 

European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters 

Conference 

Theme: Sign Language Interpreter Training: 

An Integrated Approach 

Date: 7-9 September 2012 

Place: Vienna, Austria 

Contact: itat@uni-graz.at (Subject: efsli Seminar) 

Website: http://www.uni-graz.at/itat/ 

2012 Business Boot Camp of the Deaf 

Theme: Boost Your Profi ts 

Date: 25-27 October 2012 

Place: San Diego, California, USA 

Website: www.deafbusiness.org 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ 

pages/Business-Convention-and- 

Expo-of-the-Deaf/174799545897270 

Deaf World Cruise 2013* along with *Miss Deaf 

International Events* 

Departure: Rome, Italy 

Arrival: Athens, Greece 

Date: July 2013 

More small exotic tours will also be offered prior very 

special Deaf World Cruise 

Contact: Michael Ubowski 

E-mail: sales@deafcruise.com 

By mail: Deaf Cruise 

14700 North Lloyd Wright Boulevard 

#157, PMB #379 Scottsdale, Arizona 

85260 

Phone: +1 866 922 3090 

Fax: +1 480 657 0744 

Website: www.DeafWorldCruise.com 

2nd International Conference of the WFD 

Theme: Equality for Deaf People 

Date: 16-18 October 2013 

Place: Sydney, Australia 

E-mail: wfdsydney2013@icms.com.au 

Website: www.wfdsydney2013.com/ 

XVI World Congress of the World Federation of 

the Deaf 

Date: To be announced later 

Place: Istanbul, Turkey 

If you know about an upcoming conference or regional 

or international interest, be sure to send us information 

about it for our Calendar of Coming Events in WFD 

newsletter and also in the website. 

27

WFD Newsletter December 2011.indd - Deaf Aotearoa

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