| Sweden Swedish National Association of the Deaf Established: 1922 Address: Förmansvägen 2, 117 43 Stockholm, Sweden Contact details: sdr@sdrf.se Website link: www.sdrf.se/sdr
Mission statement of the organisation Vision for SDR - In Sweden we live in a society where signing deaf people throughout our lives have the right to express ourselves in our own language -Sign Language. - In this society we who are deaf can communicate in sign language and receive knowledge and information in sign language. - Nobody questions our rights and the political decisions which affect people in general do not exclude us who are deaf. - We who are deaf have full access to the services of society, information, child care, education, social services, working life, culture and club activities. The rapid development in the field of information technology does not exclude us. We are included as a natural part of the development. - We who are deaf senior citizens have, as well as all senior citizens, an adequate care for the elderly. That, for us, also implies a functioning communication in sign language. - We who are deaf live in and participate fully on the different levels of society, on our own conditions, with our own language - Sign Language.
Details of the Board President: Lars-Åke Wikström (D) Board Members: Yvonne Modig - vice President (D), Ola Lundström (D), Pontus Degsell (D), Anna-Lena Olehn (D), Thyra Lindström (D), IngaLill Berggren Sik (D), Anders Andersson (D) (dead 2008/04/01), Mats Jonsson (D).
Details of the Staff Executive Director: General Secretary Tord Lind (D). Other staff: Approx 50/50 D/H.
Statistics General Population of your country? (Including hearing people) 10 miljons Official or approximate figures of the number of Deaf people living in your country? 10 000 Official or approximate numbers of Deaf people who use sign language as their primary language? 30.000 How many people are members of the NAD? 4384 (2006) Does your National Association of the Deaf publish any magazine or newsletters for your members? Dövas TIdning,32 pages, 8 times/year. Does your National Association of the Deaf have Youth section? No, Swedish Youth Deaf Association is an independent organization with their own board and staff. www.s-d-u.se
Status of Sign Language Is Sign Language legally recognised as part of your Government's constitution? In 1981 Sign Language was recognised as primary language for the deaf people in Sweden. Is there any campaign to get the sign language legally recognised? Yes.
Status of Sign Language Interpreters Approximate number of qualified sign language interpreters: There are no certain numbers, approximately 450 interpreters working in Sweden today. Training centre/courses? The interpreter training program is four years and available at seven different adult educational centers.
Technology Does your country provide Video Interpreting Service? Yes
Deaf centre/clubs How many deaf centres/clubs? Approx 40 Details of the deaf centre/clubs:
Universities/Sign Language Units Are there any Universities that deals with Sign Language? (Deaf Studies, Linguistics, Interpreting) Yes
Deaf Schools Number of Deaf Schools: 5 Education method (Sign Language, Oral or other methods): Sign Language
History of the NAD SDR is an organisation which promotes the interests of the deaf; it was created by deaf people and is managed by deaf people. SDR is religiously and politically independent. Its purpose is to preserve and develop the social, economic, linguistic and cultural interests of the deaf. Founded in 1922 The first association for the deaf was created in Stockholm in 1868. Gradually, more were established throughout Sweden, and in 1922, the Swedish National Association of the Deaf was created. Forty Different Associations In 2008, there are approximately 40 different local and regional associations for the deaf and hearing impaired throughout Sweden. Senior citizens The Senior Citizens‘ Council is associated with SDR and promotes the interests of deaf senior citizens. Children and Recreation SDR co-operates closely with the Swedish Deaf Youth Council, groups for parents of deaf children, and other interest groups in such areas as bridge, fishing, automobile clubs, sports and art. Democratic organisation SDR‘s highest decision-making group is the congress, which meets every fourth year. Congress representatives are selected from the various associations. Between congresses, an annual representatives‘ meeting and chairmen‘s conference is held. During each congress a board is selected which governs the activities of SDR. SDR Folk High School SDR is the principal for Västanvik Folk High School for the deaf, located just outside Leksand in the Dalarna Province. This educational centre offers general courses for the deaf and education for deaf immigrants and the deaf/visually impaired. Training for sign language teachers (both deaf and hearing), interpreters, parents of deaf children and for hearing people who want to become interpreters is also available at Västanvik. . Who are the most important people in your country's history? Lars Kruth and Gum Anders Andersson (dead April 1, 2008)
Future events Congress 11-14th June 2009 |
