Latvian Association of the Deaf

The Latvian Association of the Deaf (Latvijas Nedzirdīgo savienība, LNS) is a non-governmental organization in Latvia whose main goal is to promote the inclusion of people with hearing impairments into society and to foster public awareness, understanding and responsiveness to the issues faced by deaf and hard-of-hearing people. It is a membership-based organization where both deaf and hard-of-hearing people, who use Latvian Sign Language, work voluntarily. The association is currently focused on monitoring the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Latvia. The organization traces its origins to 19 May 1920, when the Riga Association of the Deaf was registered — the first organization representing the interests of deaf people in Latvia. Over the following decades it was re-registered and renamed several times, and in 1931 the Latvian Union of the Deaf was founded. During the Soviet period it operated as the Society of the Deaf of the Latvian SSR, and after Latvia regained independence it adopted its current name in 1993. LNS has been a member of the World Federation of the Deaf since 1992 and of the European Union of the Deaf since 2004. LNS provides a range of services including social rehabilitation, surdotechnics (hearing aids and assistive technology), sign language interpreting, education, informational publications, and a community centre. It also promotes the use of sign language in society and offers learning opportunities. The association has established several subsidiary companies, including SIA "LNS Rehabilitācijas centrs" (providing sign language interpreting, social rehabilitation, adult education, and promotion of sign language and deaf culture) and SIA "LNS Surdotehniskās palīdzības centrs" (providing technical assistance and consultations for people with hearing problems). The highest governing body of LNS is the Congress, convened every four years, which elects the LNS Council; the Council in turn elects the Executive Board, whose chairman also serves as President of LNS. The organization operates throughout Latvia with regional associations and has its headquarters in Riga.

The Latvian Association of the Deaf (LNS) traces its origins to 19 May 1920, when the Riga Association of the Deaf was registered — the first organization representing the interests of deaf people in Latvia. This organization was re-registered on 23 January 1929 as the Riga Society of the Deaf "Immanuel" (Rīgas Kurlmēmo biedrību "Immanuel"), which had 115 members. At the same time, other deaf societies were active: the Jelgava Society of the Deaf (founded 30 November 1920), the General Society of the Deaf (founded 25 July 1928 in Riga), and the Vidzeme Society of the Deaf (founded 21 August 1929 in Riga, headquartered in Valmiera). On 30 November 1930, the First Latvian Congress of the Deaf was held in Riga, in the Great Guild building, organized by "Immanuel" and the Vidzeme Society of the Deaf. It was decided to create a joint Latvian Union of the Deaf. This happened half a year later, on 19 May 1931, when the Latvian Union of the Deaf was founded and registered. Its first chairman was the sculptor Vilhelms Trejs. The "Immanuel" Society and the General Society of the Deaf (which merged on 24 October 1933 into the Riga Society of the Deaf), and the Vidzeme Society of the Deaf continued to operate in parallel throughout Latvia. World War II partially paralyzed the work of the associations. During the German occupation many associations were banned, but in 1942 the Deaf Sports Association, founded in 1935, was restored and had about 230 members. Soviet institutions did not recognize the interwar organizations, but on 16 October 1944 funding was allocated to the Deaf Sports Association, which initially continued to be the basis of the deaf association. On 8 May 1945 the society was renamed the Latvian Society of the Deaf. On 5 November 1945, the founding meeting of the Latvian Society of the Deaf was held, at which the society's charter was adopted. The organization was headed by Roza Kuznetsova, a Muscovite appointed by the decision of the People's Commissar of Social Security of the Latvian SSR. On 28 January 1949 the society changed its name again and became the Society of the Deaf of the Latvian SSR, which organized its first congress on 9–11 July of the same year. On 25 March 1952, in accordance with the decision of the Presidium of the Main Administration of the Society of the Deaf of the Latvian SSR No. 366, training and production workshops were created at some deaf associations of the republic. In 1954 the association had its own newspaper, "Kopsolī". In 1962, during the 6th congress of the Society, the society was renamed for the last time to the Society of the Deaf of the Latvian SSR (Latvijas PSR Nedzirdīgo biedrību), emphasizing that "many young people have gotten rid of deafness" and "deafness as such no longer exists in the Latvian SSR". During the Soviet period, the number of members grew rapidly, new associations were created in the regions, production facilities were established, opportunities were provided for deaf people to receive secondary education, and in 1969 the "Rītausma" culture house was built in Riga. In total, 12 congresses of the society were held during the Soviet period. On 4 March 1952, the Government adopted Decree No. 314 "On measures to combat deafness and improve care for deaf and hard-of-hearing people", which created a network of education for deaf people throughout the republic. After that, by Decree No. 209 of 10 March 1954 "On measures to improve work in the Society of the Deaf of the Latvian SSR and its training and production workshops", workshops were added to the network where people could acquire a profession and work. Changes were noted already at the XII congress of the organization, but more significant trends of the new period were observed between this and the next congress, as well as at the subsequent congress. In 1992 LNS became a member of the World Federation of the Deaf. At the 13th congress, held on 16–17 October 1993, the organization received its current name "Latvian Association of the Deaf". In 1994, the structural unit SIA "Surdotehniskās palīdzības centrs" was created and received the "LNS" logo. Hundreds of deaf and hard-of-hearing people were still employed in various jobs in the republic in the early 1990s, but during the period of national independence the deaf industry gradually disappeared. In 2004 LNS became a member of the European Union of the Deaf (EUD). During this period LNS implemented a number of European Union projects to improve the quality of life of deaf people. Social rehabilitation centres were built in Riga and Liepāja, training of certified sign language interpreters was started, and several subsidiary companies were created. The highest governing body of LNS is the assembly of members, whose duties are performed by the Congress, convened once every four years. All LNS members have the right to participate in the election of representatives; they are nominated at general meetings of associations, proportionally to the number of members of the association. The Congress elects the LNS Council, which in turn elects the LNS Executive Board. The Chairman of the Board is also the President of LNS. LNS has founded several LLCs with specific functions: SIA "LNS Rehabilitācijas centrs", which provides sign language interpreting, social rehabilitation, adult education, and promotes sign language and deaf culture; SIA "LNS Surdotehniskās palīdzības centrs", which provides technical assistance and consultations by qualified specialists for people with hearing problems.

• 2004

  LNS became a member of the European Union of the Deaf (EUD).

• 1994

  SIA "Surdotehniskās palīdzības centrs" created and received the "LNS" logo.

• 1993

  At the 13th congress on 16–17 October, the organization received its current name "Latvian Association of the Deaf".

• 1992

  LNS became a member of the World Federation of the Deaf.

• 1969

  "Rītausma" culture house built in Riga.

• 1962

  Renamed for the last time to Society of the Deaf of the Latvian SSR during the 6th congress.

• 1952

  Government Decree No. 314 created a network of education for deaf people; training and production workshops established.

• 1949

  Renamed Society of the Deaf of the Latvian SSR on 28 January; first congress held 9–11 July.

• 1945

  Renamed Latvian Society of the Deaf on 8 May; founding meeting on 5 November adopted the charter.

• 1931

  Latvian Union of the Deaf founded and registered on 19 May; sculptor Vilhelms Trejs became first chairman.

• 1930

  First Latvian Congress of the Deaf held in Riga on 30 November; decision to create a joint union.

• 1929

  Re-registered as the Riga Society of the Deaf "Immanuel" on 23 January, with 115 members.

• 1920

  Riga Association of the Deaf registered on 19 May, the first organization representing deaf interests in Latvia.

Non-governmental organization advocating for the rights and inclusion of deaf and hard-of-hearing people in Latvia.

• Social rehabilitation

  Helps people with hearing impairments integrate into society and improve their quality of life.

• Surdotechnics

  Provides assistive devices and technologies that facilitate communication and daily life.

• Sign language interpreters

  Provides professional interpreters for communication at work, in education and other situations.

• Education

  Offers learning opportunities and promotes the use of sign language in society.

• Informational publications

  Publishes current information and visual resources for the deaf community.

• Community centre

  A place for support, leisure activities and making new contacts.

1. 1LNS.lvlns.lv
2. 2Latvian Association of the Deaf - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Латвийское общество глухих - Wikipediaru.wikipedia.org