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EUD Update<br />
What’s up for Deaf people in the European Union?<br />
Volume 10<br />
Number 5 - January 2007<br />
European Union of the Deaf<br />
Galerie de la Toison D'Or / Galerij van het Gulden Vlies<br />
29 Chaussée d'Ixelles / Elsense Steenweg #393/32<br />
B - 1050 Brussels – BELGIUM<br />
Fax: +32 2 289 7037<br />
E-mail: info@<strong>eud</strong>net.org<br />
Websites: www.<strong>eud</strong>eaf2003.org and www.<strong>eud</strong>net.org<br />
TABLE OF CONTENTS<br />
EUD MEMBERS NEWS<br />
Flemish Deaf History Congress<br />
EUD NEWS<br />
New Executive Director for EUD<br />
EUD President Helga STEVENS present at the Forum: “Deaf People in the Balkans”<br />
Call for interns at EUD office during summer 2007<br />
EDF NEWS<br />
1997-2007, EDF 10 th anniversary – Let’s demonstrate the strength and unity of the<br />
disability movement<br />
EDF calls the German Presidency to further non-discrimination legislation in Europe<br />
EUROPEAN UNION NEWS<br />
2007: The European Year of Equal Opportunities for All<br />
Disability Intergroup Meeting – European non-discrimination legislation (Strasbourg,<br />
13 December 2006)<br />
Rome Treaty 50 th anniversary – Launch of a special EU anniversary website<br />
DEAF NEWS AROUND EUROPE AND THE WORLD<br />
Pedro will be one of the “stars” of the 15 th World Congress of the World Federation of<br />
the Deaf<br />
Conte Sur Tes Doigts<br />
Equal Rights for Deaf in Canada<br />
OTHER NEWS<br />
DEAFVOC project<br />
FORTHCOMING EVENTS/AGENDA<br />
**16 th Winter Deaflympics<br />
Critical Link 5 – Quality in Interpreting: a shared responsibility<br />
Deaf in the Picture 2007 – New Deaf Cinema<br />
2nd European Games without Borders for Deaf 2007<br />
1
Deaf Arts Now! 2007<br />
WASLI 2007: “Diversity and community in the worldwide sign language interpreting<br />
profession<br />
15 th World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf<br />
Junior and Teen Camp 2007<br />
7TH European Congress for Mental Health and Deafness “Joining Forces”<br />
EUDY GA 2007<br />
EUD MEMBERS NEWS<br />
Flemish Deaf History Congress<br />
In the Flemish Deaf Community, 2006 will be remembered for a couple of highlights.<br />
Everyone of course recalls April 26 th , D-day for Flemish Sign Language (FSL - VGT).<br />
Now another date can be added to the shortlist of legendary events in Deaf History.<br />
On December 16 th , around 250 visitors were drawn to Unheard Past – Deaf<br />
Awareness in Historical Perspective, the first Flemish Deaf History congress ever.<br />
The immediate cause was the long-awaited presentation of the results of a research<br />
project that, during four years, had dug into the roots of the Flemish Deaf Community<br />
and tried to track the first traces of Deaf rights advocacy.<br />
There was a clear geographical division between the lectures that took place in the<br />
morning and those of the afternoon. From 9 till 12 am, the floor was given to Belgian<br />
speakers, whereas the second half of the day welcomed three lecturers from abroad.<br />
The Belgian delegates focused on the Flemish-Walloon situation. A wide variety of<br />
themes were passed in review: ‘oral’ history as a research methodology in the Deaf<br />
Community (Ingeborg SCHEIRIS and Theo SOETEMANS), Belgian Deaf initiatives<br />
during the first decennium of the 20 th century (Liesje RAEMDONCK), the archives of<br />
the Flemish Deaf Community (Bram BEELAERT) and the Walloon archives at<br />
Centre Robert Dresse (Bernard LE MAIRE). The foreign guests talked about the<br />
origins of the American Deaf-World: migration of Deaf families to Maine (Harlan<br />
LANE, US), Understanding Deaf lives through history (Joe MURRAY, US) and the founding,<br />
developing and running a museum of the Deaf (Tiina NAUKKARINEN, FI).<br />
Organizer of the event Fevlado-Diversus is pleased to see that the Unheard Pastinitiative<br />
was widely applauded by a lot of <strong>members</strong> of the Flemish Deaf Community.<br />
The congress aimed at raising awareness on the importance of preserving Deaf<br />
Heritage for future generations, because there is no present or future without a past.<br />
Written by Ingeborg SCHEIRIS – Fevlado-Diversus<br />
2
EUD NEWS<br />
New director for EUD<br />
In total 28 applications had been received for the post of EUD Executive Director.<br />
The EUD Board carefully reviewed and considered all applications and decided to<br />
shortlist 5 applicants for a job interview at the EUD office in Brussels.<br />
An interview panel interviewed the selected applicants on 1 December 2007. The<br />
panel unanimously agreed that Mr WHEATLEY was the best candidate. This<br />
proposal was accepted by the EUD Board.<br />
Starting on 8 January 2007, Mark WHEATLEY works as the new Executive Director<br />
for European Union of the Deaf, based in Brussels, Belgium.<br />
With roots in Deaf community, Mark has strong background of business management<br />
from working as a company owner and managing director of Red Lizard Ltd, one of a<br />
few long-running Deaf companies in England, UK.<br />
As the EUD Executive Director he plans to attend various European conferences as<br />
a representative of European national Deaf organisations, starting with the General<br />
Assembly in Berlin on 3-6 May 2007.<br />
He also plans to work on various short- and long-term projects to safeguard the rights<br />
of European Deaf community, and to reshape EUD's activities next three years<br />
starting from 2008. He's already lined up meetings with representatives of national<br />
Deaf organisations, governments and governing bodies to address issues with a<br />
focus on sign language, education and human rights.<br />
The President, and Board would like to congratulate Mark on being appointed as the<br />
new EUD Executive Director and looks forward to working with him!<br />
Helga STEVENS, EUD President and Member of Flemish Parliament, says: “I am<br />
very delighted that EUD has found a Deaf person with such an excellent background<br />
and experience to lead EUD in the coming years as Executive Director. It will be a<br />
huge challenge for Mark but I am confident EUD is in good hands.”<br />
3<br />
Written by Mark WHEATLEY – EUD Director
EUD President Helga STEVENS present at the Forum: “Deaf People<br />
in the Balkans”<br />
The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and the Finnish Association of the Deaf<br />
(FAD) organised a Forum: “Deaf People in the Balkans” on 10-15 December 2006 in<br />
Belgrade, Serbia. The aim of this meeting was to bring Deaf leaders together from<br />
the various Balkan countries and to discuss the country survey reports drawn up over<br />
the years 2004-2006. The main objective of the survey was to get an insight into the<br />
situation of Deaf people in the survey countries. These surveys were to provide upto-date<br />
data useful for advocacy work. Countries present at the Forum were: Serbia,<br />
Montenegro, Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Albania, and Turkey. Markku<br />
JOKINEN, WFD President, also joined the meeting.<br />
Helga STEVENS was invited to lecture on Deaf People and European Partnerships.<br />
She gave a presentation on what EUD stands for and how EUD has achieved its<br />
objectives over the past years. It was very important for EUD to be represented at<br />
this forum as all the Deaf leaders present were very much interested in the work of<br />
EUD. At the same time they were somehow hesitant to join EUD as they felt that their<br />
countries were too far behind, compared with the member states of the European<br />
Union.<br />
During informal exchanges Helga STEVENS got a better insight into the sometimes<br />
dire circumstances under which the National Deaf Associations have to work in the<br />
Balkan countries. Most associations receive very little to no state support for their<br />
activities so their financial base is very weak. They also continue to suffer from the<br />
aftermath of the wars in the region: weak governments, corruption, a bad economy<br />
and high unemployment, a collapsed social security system, etc. Moreover, most<br />
Deaf people were not prepared for the sudden change from communist-led states<br />
which catered for them from cradle to grave to a free-market economy where they<br />
have to look after themselves with little help from the state.<br />
But as usual, the Deaf spirit was very good and no matter where they came from, all<br />
Deaf leaders got along very well and exchanged information and experience.<br />
Language was no barrier at all, as international sign was used and a mix of the<br />
Balkan Sign Languages which are linguistically very close to each other, a remnant<br />
from the Yugoslavian period. Of course, Turkish Sign Language stood apart there,<br />
but again, that was not a problem at all.<br />
At the forum it was discussed whether it would be a good idea for them to establish a<br />
regional organization, grouping the National Deaf Associations in the Balkan region,<br />
since they share a common heritage and language. In this context the Nordic Deaf<br />
Council was often referred to as a good model. The Balkan NADs all also experience<br />
the same problems vis-à-vis their governments which are not ‘Deaf-friendly’ at all.<br />
This way they could assist each other in their work and share the scarce resources<br />
with regard to translation of information from WFD and EUD, etc. If it is ever set up,<br />
then EUD must be committed to supporting the new regional organization so that<br />
Deaf people in this corner of Europe get what they deserve: respect and equality and<br />
the right to use and communicate in sign language.<br />
4
EUD would like to applaud FAD and the Finnish government for their financial<br />
support to the Deaf Balkans Project. Perhaps a good idea for other governments?<br />
Call for interns at EUD office during summer 2007<br />
5<br />
Written by Helga STEVENS – EUD President<br />
EUD is happy to welcome one or more interns during the summer period. If you are<br />
interested in this opportunity, please do not hesitate to send us your application letter<br />
and CV.<br />
Please note that this is a voluntary internship. Unfortunately EUD has no budget to<br />
reimburse travel costs or accommodation costs.<br />
The EUD office is located in Brussels, Belgium.<br />
Applications can be send to Karin VAN PUYENBROECK, EUD Administrator:<br />
kvp@<strong>eud</strong>net.org.<br />
EDF NEWS<br />
1997-2007, EDF 10 th anniversary – Let’s demonstrate the strength<br />
and unity of the disability movement<br />
EDF is very proud to celebrate its 10 th anniversary in 2007. An anniversary<br />
witnessing 10 years fighting for disability rights in Europe and a strong united<br />
disability movement. This anniversary is YOUR anniversary celebrating your<br />
commitment and your involvement in the disability movement.<br />
During the whole of 2007, EDF 10 th anniversary, coinciding with the European Year<br />
of Equal Opportunities and the 10 th anniversary of the non-discrimination Article 13 of<br />
the EU Treaty, will create the opportunity for all member organisations, for all<br />
European disabled citizens and their families and friends to make their voice heard<br />
through a European wide campaign “1million4disability”.<br />
• What is “1million4disability”?<br />
EDF European wide campaign aiming to collect 1 million signatures in favour of<br />
European legislative measures to combat any form of discrimination against persons<br />
with disabilities, protect their rights and improve the quality of life of more than 50<br />
million disabled citizens.<br />
• Why 1 million signatures?<br />
The new European Union Constitutional Treaty, currently under ratification, includes<br />
the possibility for European citizens to table legislative proposals if supported by a<br />
million signatures collected across Europe.
• When was the campaign launched?<br />
The campaign was officially launched on 23 January 2007 in Brussels by a cocktail<br />
gathering EDF Executive Committee <strong>members</strong>, representatives of disability NGOs<br />
and other social NGOs, high level EU institutions officials, the press and other<br />
stakeholders.<br />
• Closing of the campaign and EDF 10 th anniversary celebration<br />
On 4 October 2007, an EDF delegation will hand out the collected European citizens’<br />
signatures to the European Commission and the European Parliament. At the same<br />
time, an outdoor gathering of hundreds disabled persons, their families, friends and<br />
allies will take place in Brussels, in the heart of the European Institutions area.<br />
In the evening, a festive event will be organized to celebrate EDF 10 th anniversary<br />
and celebrate EDF <strong>members</strong>’ commitment and involvement in the disability<br />
movement. Delegations of EDF <strong>members</strong> and their member organisations are more<br />
than welcome to participate in this celebration. The event will also be attended by<br />
high level officials from the European Commission, Members of the European<br />
Parliament, high officials from the Belgian authorities and representatives of the<br />
Belgian disability movement.<br />
Please check the campaign website to collect e-signatures<br />
http://www.1million4disability.eu<br />
6<br />
Source: EDF Weekly Flash 01/2007<br />
EDF calls the German Presidency to further non-discrimination<br />
legislation in Europe<br />
Since the 1 st January 2007, Germany took over the European Union Presidency until<br />
30 June 2007. During this 6 months period, EDF and the German National Disability<br />
Council will cooperate very closely to increase the visibility of disability issues at EU<br />
level.<br />
Earlier in 2006 and in view to contribute to the Programme of the German EU<br />
Presidency, the German National Disability Council, <strong>Deutscher</strong> Behindertenrat (DBR)<br />
and EDF submitted a Memorandum setting out EDF priorities under the Presidency<br />
and what EDF hopes to see emphasised in EU decision making in the next 6 months.<br />
EDF calls the German Presidency for concrete initiatives to address discrimination<br />
and the breaking down of barriers to the social integration of disabled persons.<br />
In particular, EDF calls the German Presidency:<br />
• To host a Disability Ministerial Conference on 11-12 June and making it a<br />
high-level event with concrete outcomes;<br />
• To give visibility to disability during the European Year of Equal Opportunities<br />
for all, its launching event on 30-31 January in January coinciding with the<br />
high level Equality Summit;
• To prioritize measures to increase passengers’ rights in all the new European<br />
transport legislations to come;<br />
• To take specific legislative measures to guarantee access to information<br />
technologies and digital television to all Europeans, including persons with<br />
disabilities;<br />
• To mainstream disability issues at all levels in EU’s development policies in<br />
third countries;<br />
• To have a proactive role in initiating further European legislation in the field of<br />
non-discrimination.<br />
EUROPEAN UNION NEWS<br />
2007: The European Year of Equal Opportunities for All<br />
7<br />
Source: EDF Weekly Flash 01/2007<br />
The upcoming European Year of Equal Opportunities for All will be celebrated across<br />
the European Union in 2007 to draw the attention of European countries to the<br />
problems created by discrimination and the opportunities offered by diversity.<br />
The Year will promote equal opportunities and raise awareness about the rights of<br />
everyone to equal treatment, and about the benefits of diversity. The celebration will<br />
be marked by hundreds of different activities staged throughout the European Union<br />
with all 27 EU Member States taking part.<br />
The main aim is to reach out to the general public and therefore most of the Year's<br />
activities will be held on a local, regional, or national level. This will be supported and<br />
complemented by several pan-European activities such as a campaign on European<br />
antidiscrimination policies and legislation or the presentation of the results of a<br />
Eurobarometer survey about European citizens’ attitudes towards and knowledge<br />
discrimination and inequality issues.<br />
According to the new Eurobarometer 79% Europeans believe that being disabled is a<br />
real disadvantage. Furthermore, 91% believe that the European Union must do<br />
something to dismantle the existing barriers for disabled people. The<br />
“1million4disability” campaign calls on all European citizens to support the adoption<br />
of further and stronger European disability legislation in order to overcome the<br />
current situation and to make equal opportunities a reality for 50 million disabled<br />
people.<br />
The Eurobarometer report can be downloaded from:<br />
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/eyeq/uploaded_files/documents/eurobaromet<br />
er_report_en.pdf<br />
Visit the new European Year of Equal Opportunities website:<br />
http://equality2007.europa.eu<br />
Source: EDF Weekly Flash 01/2007
Disability Intergroup meeting – European non-discrimination<br />
legislation (Strasbourg, 13 December 2006)<br />
The Disability Intergroup of the European Parliament held its meeting on 13<br />
December 2006 in Strasbourg. The meeting was dedicated to the future of European<br />
non-discrimination legislation and featured presentations from the European<br />
Commissioner on Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Vladimir<br />
ŠPIDLA and Erzsébet SZÖLLÖSI of the Hungarian National Council of Federations<br />
of People with Disabilities, member of the EDF Executive Committee.<br />
Commissioner ŠPIDLA noted that the debate on the future of the European nondiscrimination<br />
was taking place in a very special context, when the UN Convention on<br />
the Rights of Persons with Disabilities had just been adopted by the UN General<br />
Assembly. Commissioner informed that the deadline for transposition of the<br />
Employment Directive 2000 into national laws having expired in early December<br />
2006, the Commission already initiated the first infringement procedures against 17<br />
Member States for insufficient implementation of the Directive.<br />
Although the reasons for initiating infringement procedures varied in all Member<br />
States, the Commissioner did comment that a significant number of Member States<br />
had problems implementing the obligation of reasonable accommodation for persons<br />
with disabilities in employment.<br />
Commissioner ŠPIDLA also informed that the European Commission was in the<br />
process of finalizing the mapping study on the future legal steps to be taken to<br />
combat discrimination in Europe. The study includes, among other things, an analysis<br />
of a disability-specific legislation. The results of the study should be made public in<br />
late 2006-early 2007.<br />
Erzsébet SZÖLLÖSI gave a number of examples of insufficient implementation of the<br />
Employment Directive to demonstrate that it did not protect persons with disabilities<br />
enough against discrimination and resulted in unequal effect of the legislation in<br />
different Member States. Such examples included narrow interpretation of ‘disability’;<br />
misinterpretation of ‘reasonable accommodation’; insufficient sanctions; and limiting<br />
the job-seekers’ right to rely on the Directive.<br />
Full report from the meeting is available on the website of the website of the Disability<br />
Intergroup http://www.edf-feph.org/apdg/index-en.htm.<br />
8<br />
Source: EDF Weekly Flash 34/2006<br />
Rome Treaty 50 th anniversary – Launch of a special EU anniversary<br />
website<br />
The 25th of March 2007 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome which<br />
established what the European Union is today. The anniversary is a great opportunity<br />
not only to celebrate, but also to highlight what European integration process has<br />
brought to our lives since its inception. It will also be a chance to reflect on where<br />
Europe was 50 years ago, the main European Union achievements and failures and<br />
what we European citizens expect from the European Union in the future.
The objective therefore is not only commemorating a milestone in European history,<br />
but also encouraging debate, discussion and reflection on the European Union’s<br />
principles, achievements and future.<br />
In order to commemorate this Anniversary, the Directorate General Communication<br />
of the European Commission has created a special EU 50th anniversary site, which<br />
has now been published at http://50.europa.eu.<br />
The main objectives of the site are:<br />
• To be a net-working platform with information on events on the anniversary;<br />
• To provide general background information on the EU and 50th years of<br />
European cooperation;<br />
• To highlight the benefits that European integration has brought to its citizens;<br />
• To reflect on where we are heading and what we expect from Europe in the<br />
future.<br />
The site has several sections dedicated to the celebrations, anniversary-related <strong>news</strong><br />
stories and European Union basic facts, history and achievements. It is available in<br />
22 European Union official languages and will be constantly updated for the duration<br />
of 2007. A vast number of searching criteria is offered to users in order to locate the<br />
type and the details of information they might be looking for.<br />
People are invited to participate in this anniversary by communicating them<br />
information on possible anniversary-related festivities, conferences, workshops,<br />
debates, or<br />
on other planned activities related to the role and the future of the European Union,<br />
organised or co-organised by your organisation, in your country or elsewhere. This<br />
information will be published in the appropriate section(s) of the 50th anniversary site.<br />
9<br />
Source: EDF Weekly Flash 02/2007<br />
DEAF NEWS AROUND EUROPE AND THE WORLD<br />
Pedro will be one of the “stars” of the 15 th World Congress of the<br />
World Federation of the Deaf<br />
Pedro, an animation character inspired by a 7-year-old Deaf child, will be the image<br />
of the 15th World Congress of the WFD, which will bring together thousands of Deaf<br />
people worldwide in Madrid, from 17th to 22nd of July 2007.<br />
Pedro was born in Valencia, however, he is well-known throughout Spain and also<br />
abroad. He has parents but his true family is the International Deaf Community,<br />
which has adopted him as a symbol of the struggle for participation and barriers<br />
removal. During the past Congress, held in Montreal, Canada, Pedro was the centre<br />
of attention and he supported CNSE’s bid before hundreds of delegates from all
around the world. They loved Pedro and that is the reason why he will become the<br />
official symbol of Madrid meeting.<br />
According to experts, Pedro’s great success is due to “the normalised image of Deaf<br />
people he conveys”. His enthusiasm, his willingness to participate, to enjoy himself,<br />
to communicate are similar to any other child’s. We just have to get to know him and<br />
respect his individuality and Pedro’s dream will become real.<br />
Something which is not a dream is the image of Pedro in all Congress<br />
merchandising: T-shirts, key rings, posters…<br />
With him, the value of diversity will reach everyone.<br />
Conte Sur Tes Doigts<br />
10<br />
Source: Press release by CNSE (Confederación Estatal de Personas Sordas)<br />
Who thinks it’s too difficult to make projects and have reflexions about deafness at a<br />
European level? For sure we don’t.<br />
“We” is the French organization “Conte Sur Tes Doigts”, based in Lille. Our aim is to<br />
gather hearing and deaf people through cultural and artistic activities.<br />
From June 18 th to June 24 th 2007 we are organizing a seminar about the accessibility<br />
of culture for deaf people (especially young deaf people) in Europe. During one<br />
week, we’ll have conferences, activities, discussions and workshops to deal with this<br />
subject. The idea is to share our experiences and our works, to confront our views<br />
and, if all is best, to set ground for further fruitful cooperation.<br />
This project is organized in the frame of a European Youth Project, which means that<br />
the partakers only have to pay 30% of the price of their travel to France. Each<br />
structure engaged has to send two people, one hearing and one deaf person. We<br />
already have people from all parts of Europe, such as Finland, Slovakia, Greece, or<br />
Belgium but still, the broader our range is, the more interesting it is! So if this brief<br />
presentation puzzles you, don’t hesitate to ask us information at contact@cstd.fr. We<br />
really need to know as soon as possible how many people we can count on. We<br />
would be delighted to answer any of your questions, and to send you the full<br />
presentation documents and participation form.<br />
Equal rights for Deaf in Canada<br />
Written by Tiffanie (Conte Sur Tes Doigts)<br />
A Federal Court Justice ruled that the federal government must provide sign<br />
language services for the deaf in all government services.<br />
Through the instrument of its judicial system, Canada is about to take a major step<br />
forward in becoming a more inclusive society.
A Federal Court justice ruled this month that the federal government must provide<br />
sign language services for the deaf in all government services. Ottawa has not yet<br />
decided whether to appeal the ruling.<br />
Hitherto, deaf people had to pay for their own interpreters in such official dealings.<br />
While implementing the decision is likely to be costly -- tens of millions of dollars, or<br />
even more -- it is no more than just that the deaf should receive what amounts to the<br />
same treatment as other Canadians. Their disability is not their fault, and it is not right<br />
that they should have to pay for their own interpreters, who typically charge $40 to<br />
$60 an hour. Many, no doubt, can't afford it.<br />
All federal services are embraced by the ruling -- passport offices, RCMP<br />
detachments, border crossings and so on.<br />
"It has been a long time . . . to fight, but right now we don't have to. It is a victory for<br />
us to know (what) we have accomplished," said Sheila Carlin, president of the<br />
Canadian Association of the Deaf, which represents deaf, deaf-blind and hard-ofhearing<br />
people.<br />
"I would like to see all of us have equal rights because we all are human!"<br />
Scott Simser, the deaf lawyer who argued the case before Justice Richard Mosley,<br />
said Public Works and Government Services Canada will have a fight on its hands if<br />
it appeals the ruling.<br />
The judgment "means no more excuses, no more delays," Simser said.<br />
In Canada, deaf signing is done in American Sign Language or la Langue des<br />
Sourds du Quebec.<br />
While the change is a welcome breakthrough for the deaf, it does mean a heavy<br />
drain on the public purse. Ottawa should make a goodwill effort to comply, but at the<br />
same time, it should be prudent with public funds.<br />
For instance, there would appear to be no need for all government offices to have<br />
interpreting staff on hand on a full-time basis. Arrangements should be made to have<br />
interpreters on standby.<br />
The deaf in Canada number 300,000, or about one per cent of the population. They<br />
have had a long wait, but at last they are about to become more fully a part of our<br />
national family.<br />
Source: London Free Press<br />
(http://lfpress.ca/<strong>news</strong>stand/Opinion/Editorials/2006/08/27/1778913.html)<br />
11
OTHER NEWS<br />
DEAFVOC project<br />
The Curricula: “Sign Language as a Mother Tongue” and “Written Language as a<br />
Second Language for the Deaf” as well as the Teacher’s Guide have been produced<br />
as part of the DEAFVOC project www.deafvoc.fi (a Leonardo da Vinci language<br />
competence project partially funded by the European Union) and can be found at the<br />
project-website under the heading “products”.<br />
The main objective of the project was to develop language teaching in the vocational<br />
education and training of the Deaf for better access to education and employment.<br />
Year 2006 the project was awarded with the European Label, an award given for the<br />
most innovative language projects in EU countries. The European Label was given to<br />
the project especially for the curriculum work.<br />
Referring to the above, you are holding in your hands a unique publication, which we<br />
hope will be advantageous in the education of the Deaf also in your country. At the<br />
moment the publication is available in Czech, English, Finnish, Germany and Greek,<br />
but all EU member states are encouraged to translate it into their national languages<br />
and modify the contents to meet their specific needs.<br />
FORTHCOMING EVENTS/AGENDA<br />
**16 th Winter Deaflympics<br />
Date: 1 - 10 February 2007<br />
Place: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA<br />
Website: www.2007Deaflympics.com<br />
12<br />
Source: Mag. Christine KULTERER - On behalf of the DEAFVOC project<br />
Critical Link 5 – Quality in Interpreting: a shared responsibility<br />
Date: 11 – 15 April 2007<br />
Place: Sydney, Australia<br />
Website: http://www.criticallink2007.com<br />
Deaf in the Picture 2007 – New Deaf Cinema<br />
Date: 10-14 May 2007<br />
Place: Amsterdam, the Netherlands<br />
Website: www.deafinthepicture.nl
2nd European Games without Borders for Deaf 2007<br />
Date: 7-9 June 2007<br />
Place: Dornbirn, Austria<br />
Website: www.gehoerlos.eu<br />
Deaf Arts Now! 2007<br />
Date: 15 – 17 June 2007 (Festival) and 18 – 22 June 2007 (workshop)<br />
Place: Stockholm, Sweden<br />
Website: http://www.deafartsnow.com and http://www.zoom.coip.no (new website!)<br />
Clin d'oeil 2007 Festival for Deaf European artists<br />
Date: 29 June - 1 July 2007<br />
Place: Reims, France<br />
Website: http://www.clin-doeil.eu<br />
WASLI 2007: “Diversity and community in the worldwide sign<br />
language interpreting profession<br />
Date: 13 – 15 July 2007<br />
Place: Segovia, Spain<br />
Website: http://www.wasli.org (updated!)<br />
Call for papers: deadline 28 th February 2007<br />
15 th World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf<br />
Date: 16 – 22 July 2007<br />
Place: Madrid, Spain<br />
Website: http://www.wfdcongress.org<br />
Junior and Teen Camp 2007<br />
Date: 16 – 22 July 2007<br />
Place: Madrid, Spain<br />
Website: http://www.peretarres.org/apansce/index_eng.asp and<br />
http://www.difusord.org (video in international sign)<br />
7 TH European Congress for Mental Health and Deafness “Joining<br />
Forces”<br />
Date: 11 – 14 September 2007<br />
Place: Haarlem, the Netherlands<br />
Website: http://www.esmhdcongress2007.com<br />
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EUDY GA 2007<br />
Date: 20 – 23 September 2007<br />
Place: Zürich, Switzerland<br />
Website: http://www.<strong>eud</strong>y.info<br />
Editorial note<br />
EUD Update is published by EUD in English with support from the European<br />
Community – the European Union against discrimination.<br />
The information contained in this publication does not necessarily reflect the position<br />
or opinion of the European Commission, nor the official policy of EUD. The<br />
publication is for information only. Readers are invited to reproduce the information<br />
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email at: info@<strong>eud</strong>net.org.<br />
Should you wish to make any contribution or notify any e-mail address modification,<br />
please do not hesitate to contact the EUD secretariat, Fax: +32 2 289 7037, E-mail:<br />
info@<strong>eud</strong>net.org.<br />
Editors: Mark WHEATLEY and Karin VAN PUYENBROECK.<br />
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