German Deaf Association
| German Deaf Association V. (DGB) |
|
|---|---|
| purpose | Representation of the interests of the deaf and other people with hearing impairments in Germany |
| Chair: | Helmut Vogel, President |
| Establishment date: | 1950 |
| Seat : |
Berlin , Germany
|
| Website: | www.gehoerlosen-bund.de |
The German Deaf Association V. (DGB) represents the interests of the group of German deaf people and other hearing impaired people estimated at 80,000 to 100,000 people , of which around 30,000 are registered members .
The German Deaf Association was founded in 1950. He regards himself as the legal successor to the Reich Association of the Deaf of Germany (ReGeDe) founded in 1927 , which was renamed the Reich Association of the Deaf of Germany in 1940 during the Nazi era and was incorporated into the German Association of the Deaf and Speech Impaired (DGS) in 1943 . The association is based in Berlin . The association defines “ deafness ” from the point of view of those affected not only in terms of hearing status , but also in terms of identification with the sign language community and the culture of the deaf .
The association is also specifically committed to the interests of families with deaf or severely hearing impaired children for whom a definitive assignment to the linguistically and culturally differently oriented groups of hearing impaired people is not yet possible. It sees itself as a socio-political, cultural and professional advocacy group for the deaf in Germany and as a forum for the sign language community. It informs its members, persons professionally involved with deaf people and the public about current issues and advises its regional associations on necessary socio-political activities in their federal state.
With the legal recognition of sign language by the Ninth Book of the Social Code (2001) and the Disability Equality Act (2002), an important goal of the DGB was achieved. The education about the right of those affected to use sign language and the implementation of the new regulations in practice require further efforts. The association supports z. B. Measures for the training of sign language interpreters and deaf sign language teachers and endeavors to establish appropriate quality assurance.
Furthermore, the association works to ensure that more and more deaf people can work as specialists in the educational, socio-educational, technical and medical fields. The improvement of the counseling and educational offer for the deaf as well as the development and expansion of youth, women and senior citizens are further focal points. The association traditionally offers nationwide seminars for these special target groups. In addition, he regularly conducts so-called management seminars for the voluntary employees of the regional deaf clubs and associations.