BRIEF INFORMATION
OF THE ORGANIZATION AND ACTIVITIES OF
THE ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING OF
THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

        The association of the deaf and hard of hearing of Macedonia (SGNM) is one of the first NGO`s in The Republic of Macedonia. It was established in 1948 in Skopje.
SGNM is an association of 17 inter-municipal and the Association of the Deaf of Skopje , which has around 6000 members.
The aim of the establishing of this association first of all was to make a propper approach towards an organized solving of the problems of the deaf persons, such are:

-improving the quality of the life of the deaf
-fulfilling of their basic human rights
-advancing their education
-affirmation of the language of signs
-improving of the social security
-enlarging of their cultural life
-excelling the communication barriers
-access to the media
-organized sport life

        SGNM also initiates the improving of the present law regulation and also the bringing new laws, in order to bring better sollutions for the social security of the deaf and creating conditions for equalizing the rights of the deaf with the rights of other citizens in all the spheres of life.
        SGNM cooperates with: doctors, defectologists, social workers and other experts in all fields where the problems of the deaf are treated.
        SGNM has initiated the founding of rehabilitation and education institutions. In Macedonia there are:

- The Institute for rehabilitation of hearing and speech ( which includes children of early age).
- The Special central primary school for deaf in “Kocho Racin” in Bitola ( for children from 1-th to 8-th grade) and
- The High school for deaf “Partenie Zografski” in Skopje.

        SGNM is constantly making efforts to improve the education of the deaf children through initiatives for introducing new programs, especially in the field of informatics and the use of the language of signs in everyday classes in schools.
        SGNM is involved in various scientific projects which treat the field of deafness.
        SGNM organizes many seminars for teaching the language of signs, workshops for training of teachers, educative lectures for prevention from AIDS and other addictive diseases. It also organizes computer courses for the deaf etc.
        SGNM helps the deaf to realize their rights for education, employment, free confession, national entity, right to communicate through the language of signs etc.
        SGNM in the frames of it`s possibilities also intervenes for employing deaf persons.
        SGNM is the founder of many protective organizations ( enterprizes for invalids).
        SGNM participates in the law- regulatives for employment of invalid persons.
        The Comission for the language of signs at SGNM constantly works on the improvement og this language.
In The Republic of Macedonia the deaf enjoy the following rights:

- benefit working probation
- right to benefits for employment( financial compensation for the emploer of a deaf person, discharging of state taxes)
- free hearing aids
- social help
- constant financial support, and
- social and health insurance

        SGNM besides it`t constant activities, as priorities for the year of 2002 is planning: assurance of the right to interpretor and organizing a special department for interpretors; organizing special programs in the electronic media dedicated to deaf persons ( that will include the use of the language of signs); benefits for using the ordinary and mobile telephones; discharging from radio and TV taxes; supplying various aids for the deaf; supplying computers for the need of the municipal associations of the deaf etc.
        SGNM is organizing the cultural and sport life for it`s members since it`s foundation.
        SGNM is constantly developing the cultural activities of it`s members.
        There is a folklor cultural association of the deaf- “Mirce Acev”.
        SGNM organizes various exebitions of deaf artists, cultural events, recreative activities such as: mascarades, cultural meetings, sport competitions etc.
        In it`s program SGNM also includes the activities of the mountain-climbing association of the deaf, which have their own hostel on the mountain of Vodno.
        There are regulary sport competitions in athletics, table-tennis, sport fishing, football, chess etc.
There is a football club “Sloboda” (Freedom) which is a member of the national football league of Macedonia.
SGNM has it`s own place for recreation and vacation, hotel “Daljan”, which is placed near the beautiful lake of Ohrid, and where the deaf use their benefits during the hollidays.
        SGNM is a member of the Association of the invalid oprganizations of Macedonia, whose members are also the Association of the blind of Macedonia, Association of the invalid persons of Macedonia, the Republic Center for support of mentally hendicaped persons -"Poraka"(Message), The Association of the invalids of war of Macedonia, Organization of sports and recreation if the invalids of Macedonia and the Association of the invalids of labour of Macedonia.

        In the international terms, SGNM is a member of the World Federation of the Deaf “WFD”, of the Regional Secretariaty of the organizations of the deaf of the countries of Central and South-East Europe “CERS”. SGNM has developed good cooperation with the organizations of the deaf from the neighburing countries, and cooperates with meny other organizations all over the world.
        SGNM is also a member of the World sports organization of the deaf “CISS” and of the European sport federation of the deaf “EDSO”.
The deaf sportists take part in many international sport events, as well as in the last two Olympic Games for the Deaf in Denmark and Italy.
        The association of Deaf and Hard of Hearing of Macedonia, through it`s municipal and city organizations realizes many activities for giving expert and other help for solving the problems of the deaf in their everyday life.

Scheme of the Organization of the Association of the
Deaf and Hard of Hearing of Macedonia - Skopje