Hong Kong Association of the Deaf

Hong Kong Association of the Deaf is organized by a group of deaf volunteers as Executive Committee. They are responsible for all the administrative and management duties. Besides, a group of professionals, who are enthusiastic in helping the deaf, have organized an Advisory Committee in order to give our association some valuable opinions.

1976 The HKAD (formerly named Hong Kong Recreation Club for the Deaf) was organized by a group of deaf volunteers.
1978 HKAD became a member of The Hong Kong Council of Social Service.
1980 Social Welfare Department provided HKAD a unit on the ground floor at Kam Hon House, Choi Hung Estate as the first service center.
1983 HKAD became a member agency of the Community Chest.
1988 The name of Hong Kong Recreation Club for the Deaf was formally changed to Hong Kong Association of the Deaf in the AGM held on 8 October. The widening of service scope spread a message that the need of the deaf was not only limited to recreational activities.
1993 With the approval of the Social Welfare Department, and with the Lotteries Fund as well as the Hong Kong Jockey Club sponsoring the renovation work, HKAD was moved into a new place of about 3000 square feet in Chi Mei House, Choi Hung Estate.
1994 HKAD received funding from the Employee Retraining Board to set up courses in order to enhance the skills of the deaf in their jobs.
1995 HKAD became the member of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), and became the only member of the WFD in Hong Kong.
1998 The development of Supported Employment Services was sponsored by the Social Welfare Department. The services provided by HKAD became more all rounded. There were more than 1500 members at that time.

Aims & Objectives

  1. To promote mutual trust, mutual aid and mutual love among the deaf and to encourage the deaf to contribute to the society;
  2. To provide appropriate and relevant services to the deaf so as to explore potentiality;
  3. To encourage the deaf to participate in service development and improvement, and fight for reasonable rights.

Membership

  • Those who support the objects of HKAD and are willing to observe this Constitution and with good character are qualified to apply to be a member of HKAD.

Members of HKAD are classified into five categories:

  1. Ordinary Member : deaf or partial hearing persons aged eighteen or above. Membership shall be renewed every two years.
  2. Life Member : deaf or partial hearing persons aged eighteen or above.
  3. Junior Member : deaf or partial hearing persons aged under eighteen. Membership shall be renewed every two years.
  4. Associate Member : normal-hearing persons. Membership shall be renewed every two years.
  5. Honorary Member : persons who support HKAD and are nominated by the Executive Committee, with the nomination passed by the General Meeting.

Rights of the Members :

  1. to participate in the activities of HKAD and enjoy the services of HKAD provided appropriate fees are paid and relevant regulations are followed;
  2. to attend the General Meetings and to make speeches at these meetings;
  3. Except Honorary Members, Junior Members and Associate Members, all Ordinary and Life Members have rights to elect, to be elected, to vote, to revoke, to move motions and to second motions.

 

Various kinds of activities

  • modes: travels, camping, visits, competitions, trainings, talks, exhibitions
  • target: enhance the targets of social, recreational, educational and promotion

 

Group activities

  • such as: voluntary groups, sign language song & dance group, interest group, social group

 

Counseling & Family life education Service

  • aid the Deaf to solve their problems and difficulties
  • provide case and group counseling, as well as family life education activities

 

Supported Employment Service

  • aid the Deaf to be employed and handle their difficulties of working
  • promote the recruitment of the Deaf

 

Staff retraining program

  • provide vocational training programs to the Deaf to empower their employment opportunities.
  • Such as: Chinese WORD and EXCEL, English course and social skills courses

 

Adult education courses

  • foster their interests and skills
  • such as: courses for Chinese book-keeping, mandarin, office training, English, American sign language

 

Sign Interpretation & training

  • provide sign interpretation service
  • promote local research and development for sign language
  • provide courses for sign language

 

Social participation

  • concern the policy on disabilities
  • strive rights for equality for the Deaf
  • promote the freedom and privacy of communication for the Deaf
  • promote the integration between the sound and the Deaf

 

International Connection

  • member of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD)
  • participation of the worldwide Deaf conference
  • promote the inter-exchange of the Deaf worldwide
  • via Internet, introduce the services and livelihood of the Deaf

 

Resource Center

  • provide information of the Deaf, such as, periodicals, exhibition boards, videos, news-clippings, and books for other signs worldwide.

 

Other services & facilities

  • selling devices for the Deaf, such as batteries for hearing aids, fax paper and sign language books
  • kids corner with toys and books
  • journals, magazines, television set, facsimile and internet service for the Deaf members