| The Netherlands Dovenschap Nieuwe Stijl Established: 2002 Full member of EUD since: 1985 Address: Visitors: De Molen 89a, 3995 AW Houten, The Netherlands Post: Postbox 197, 3990 DD Houten Contact details: Email: info@dovenschap.nl Fax: (+31) 30 261 6689 Tel: (+30) 297 0800 Website link: http://www.dovenschap.nl
Mission statement of the organisation Dovenschap strives for a society in which Deaf people are self-conscious people who have the same rights, responsibilities, possibilities, and quality of life as everyone else. This social equality and accessibility for all Deaf people in the Netherlands requires the recognition of Dutch Sign Language and Deaf culture. Recognition of Dutch Sign Language also means recognition of the Deaf community.
Details of the Board President: Alice van der Garde (D) Board Members: Benny Elferink (D), Paul Elzinga (D), Raymond Kruyer (H), Bram Schoemaker (D), Gera Vonk-Huisjes (D)
Details of the Staff Office Manager: Jan Bloemkolk (D) Other staff: Jacqueline Rensen (D) and Rike Baas (H)
Statistics General Population of your country? (Including hearing people) approximately 16,000,000 Official or approximate figures of the number of Deaf people living in your country? approximately 30,000 Official or approximate numbers of Deaf people who use sign language as their primary language? No official figures known. How many people are members of the NAD? About 100 Does your National Association of the Deaf publish any magazine or newsletters for your members? Yes, a digital newsletter. Does your National Association of the Deaf have Youth section? Yes, Jongerencommissie
Status of Sign Language Is Sign Language legally recognised as part of your Government's constitution? No, there is no law or legal statement about the recognition of Sign Language. But Sign Language is socially accepted. There are arrangements for Deaf people, such as provision of interpreters (Deaf people are entitled to a certain amount of hours). Is there any campaign to get the sign language legally recognised? Yes
Status of Sign Language Interpreters Approximate number of qualified sign language interpreters: about 250-300 Details of training centre/courses: There is one school in the Netherlands (Academy of Utrecht) which has a course for teaching/interpreting Dutch Sign Language. You can choose to qualify as a teacher or interpreter. Both last four years. After graduation every qualified interpreters has to join "stichting RTG". It is a foundation which keeps track of all official interpreters. If you are not a member, you will not get paid as an interpreter. RTG also has a point system. During your career as an interpreter, you have to follow courses or meetings. You get points for that and that way you keep your status as certified interpreter.
Deaf centre/clubs How many deaf centres/clubs? +/- 20
Universities/Sign Language Units Are there any universities that deal with Sign Language? (Deaf Studies, Linguistics, Interpreting) Besides the Academy of Utrecht, which provides two Sign Language courses, there is also the University of Amsterdam, which provides a more theoretical course on Sign Linguistics.
Last updated: 20 July 2010 |
