The Foundation for the Deaf
Under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty the Queen
Establishment
The idea for an agency catering to the needs of the deaf or the hearing impaired was frist initiated through a letter sent to experts in the field by the Ministry of Education on 1 August, 1952 inviting them to set-up an organization to cater to the special education needs of the deaf or hearing impaired so that they might become productive members of society and meet their own potential. This eventually led to the establishment of the deaf Education Unit at Somanas Temple (municipal school 17) on 10 December, 1952, coincident tally also the United Nation’s Commemoration Day on Human Rights.
This new Unit soon drew interest from the general public and donations of land to establish a school for the deaf and other resources for running the Unit were soon flowing in to the Ministry of Education. As a result, the Ministry of Education decided that the agency catering to the deaf should be established as a separate juristic person so as to freely operate outside of the government regulations and enable it to collaborate with the public more freely, including in fund raising independently of the government budget.
This led to the establishment of the Foundation for the Deaf under the presidency of Lady La-iad Pibulsongkram and an initial launching grant of Baht 50,000 from her husband His excellency Field Marshall P. Pibulsongkram on October 27, 1952 (registration no.112). The first location for the Foundation was at 137 Praram 5 Road, Dusit, on the grounds of the School for the Deaf. It was felt that by locating these two organizations on the same grounds, coordination between the charitable organizations aimed at helping the deaf would be maximized.
Royal Patronage
Her Majesty the Queen graciously placed the Foundation for the Deaf under Her Royal Patronage on 12 August, 1964 and as a result, its name was changed to “The Foundation for the Deaf Under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty the Queen”.
Royal patronage has been of invaluable benefit to the Foundation. Through this, the Foundation has obtained technical and financial support and collaboration from both local and international organizations and businesses.
Hearing impaired children have been supported in their elementary and secondary education, room and board, clothing, social activities and relevant vocational training. In addition, the Foundation has cooperated with the Ministry of Education in providing teacher training for efficient training of the deaf.
Objectives
The Foundation for the Deaf was established with the following objectives:
- To support and promote education for the deaf regardless of gender, nationality and religion;
- To collaborate with institutes of teacher training for the deaf;
- To promote study on auditory system diseases and rehabilitation for the deaf;
- To disseminate information concerning deafness, deaf and hard of hearing persons;
- To encourage appropriate job placement for the deaf;
- To collaborate with other organizations aiming to help the deaf; To be free of all political aims and influences
Vision
Foundation for the Deaf is the main nonprofit able organization that promotes human rights and supports Education and Quality of Life of Deaf persons in Thailand.
Mission
A well coordinated array and organized services and supported to enhance existing family schools and community resources across the nation ensuring deaf and hard of hearing persons can maximize their potential and became fully participating citizen in our country.
SERVICES:
The Foundation for the Deaf provides a wide range of direct services to the hearing impaired people of Thailand and advocates for their interest and promotes their rights. A number of environmental hazards such as increasing levels of noise pollution have made people with hearing loss one of the fastest growing disabilities in Thailand. The foundation provides advocacy and support to Deaf and hard of hearing people through a variety of programs including:
AUDIOLOGICAL SERVICES:
Provides supports hearing tests, hearing aid evaluations, counseling and aural and Auditory Verbal habilitation
HEARING AIR PROGRAM:
Provides a full range of services to ensure that hearing-impaired people have access to well-maintained and up-to-date equipment such as hearing-aids and assistive listening devices
COMMUNICATION SERVICES
Offers and interpreting and educational support for Deaf and hard of Hearing students as well as training in Thai sign language, interpreting and sign language teaching as well as Auditory Verbal Therapy programs.
INFORMATION SERVICES:
Educates the general public about important issues affecting Deaf and hard of hearing people through a wide range of materials, classes, conferences and workshops.
REHABILITATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES:
Promotes And supports a wide range of services to enhance the social and vocational well-being of Deaf and hard of hearing people including vocational rehabilitation, counseling and placement; personal, marital and life-skills counseling; training in independent living; and other development programs.
