Background

National Deaf Services Institute of South Africa (NDSISA) is a leading independent not for profit, public benefit, national advocacy and consumer organization registered both as a section 21 company and Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) founded in 2004 managed by Deaf people representing South Africa’s more than 4 million Deaf and hard of hearing people.

NDSISA is dedicated to providing quality services, ensuring public accessibility and increasing awareness of issues affecting Deaf people at all levels in South Africa.

NDSISA provides a broad continuum of comprehensive social and human development services to all Deaf South Africans at national, provincial and local level in the knowledge that Deaf people are a natural and integral part of South African society, and should have opportunities to contribute their experience, talents and capabilities to national, provincial and local development.

National Deaf Services Institute of SA was founded at an important moment in the history of South Africa, namely, the coming into being of a decade of a democratic dispensation – ten years of post-apartheid governance.

Board of Directors

The composition of the board of directors mirrors the microcosm of the South African Deaf and disability community and the society as a whole of which NDSISA is part.

The members of the Board of Directors comprise the majority of Deaf and hard of hearing people. The Board of Directors is responsible to the Deaf community for setting the direction of the National Deaf Services Institute of South Africa through establishment of strategic objectives and development of key national policies. The board considers issues of strategic direction, major programmes and approves major capital expenditure and other matters having a material effect on National Deaf Services Institute of South Africa.

The National Deaf Services Institute of SA’s directors have a wide range of expertise and experience in coordination, consultation, facilitation, policy analysis, policy development, lobbying and advocacy, dissemination of information, awareness raising, monitoring and evaluation, South African Sign Language Interpreting, and research in Deaf issues in particular and disability in general. The Board also boasts significant experience in financial, legal, lectureship, government and artistic activities.

Our Vision

Our vision is of empowered Deaf people with equal opportunities and fulfillment in a barrier-free South Africa.

The vision calls upon NDSISA to be catalyst for change and to continuously contribute to efforts and the shaping the policies of tomorrow for a society for all.

Our Mission

NDSISA’s mission is to serve as an innovative, responsive and dynamic developmental Deaf organisation that consistently ensures the protection and promotion of the rights, needs and concerns of Deaf people in South Africa.

We will achieve this by:

• Providing service and support that reflects the values, aspirations and culture of Deaf people.
• Monitoring, advocacy and awareness of Deaf people, deafness and hearing loss
• Providing strategic Deaf leadership, knowledge management and research
• Contributing to policy debates that promote mainstreaming of Deaf perspectives to broader development agenda of Government and society.
• Continuous capacity and development of staff for consistently high work output and growth.
• Reflecting, through our work, an enhanced quality of life and well-being of Deaf people and a more just South African society.

Our Guiding Principles

National Deaf Services Institute of SA’s guiding principles reflect our identity of who we are and what we stand for, as individuals and as an organization.

In our quest to achieve our vision and mission, we embrace and are driven by the following guiding principles which shall influence the way in which we interact and engage with our colleagues, clients and stakeholders:

• Accept, welcome and respect diversity including diversity of opinions in a spirit of trust and dialogue.
• Place Deaf empowerment and popular participation at the forefront of our actions, activities and behaviours.
• Preserve and promote the status of South African Sign Language as the indigenous language of the Deaf community.
• Cherish nurturing of talent and self-development and potential of Deaf people to succeed.
• Accountable, responsible and committed above and beyond the norm.
• Recognize and respect the views of the Deaf community.
• Continuously challenge existing assumptions through improvement, innovation and creativity.
• Cooperate with other established organizations and support initiatives aimed at Deaf development on a broader scale.
• Non-racism, non-sexism and respect for Human Rights.
• Social and community awareness in everything we do.

NDSISA’s Strategic Objectives

• Policy development
• Economic empowerment
• Deaf arts and culture
• Deaf education, skills development and scholarships
• South African Sign Language and Sign Language Interpreter development and coordination
• Provincial, municipal and local development on a range of issues: e.g. HIV/AIDS counselling and referral services, job placement services, Deaf women and children and youth development services.
• Rural Development
• Sports Development
• Deaf Information Communication and Technology (ICT) provision
• Knowledge management and research
• Advocacy, awareness and public education
• Strategic Deaf leadership

Through its mission and core business objectives, NDSISA functions as a coordinating national Deaf advocacy and consumer movement on Deaf human rights, service provisions and policy development and coordination at national level.

Constitutional and Legislative Mandate

The National Deaf Services Institute of South Africa, an association incorporated under section 21 and NPO Act, derives its mandate to operate and exercise its authority as an organisation from the Companies Act, 61 of 1973, NPO Act 71 of 1997, as amended, the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the National Deaf Services Institute of South Africa and the general membership of the organization.

NDSISA is also registered as a Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) in terms of section 30 of the Income Tax Act.

Membership

NDSISA’s membership is opened to all Deaf individuals, organisations and institutions that provide and/or promote a range of comprehensive human and development services to Deaf communities.

Ordinary members

An Ordinary member is an individual or organization that is Deaf or Deaf-managed. Only Ordinary members have voting rights at NDSISA affairs. This clause is designed to ensure that NDSISA retains its character as a true consumer organisation, fully controlled by Deaf people.

Associate members

An Associate member is an individual or organization that is not Deaf. Associate members receive the same benefits as Ordinary Members, but they have no voting rights in NDSISA affairs. NDSISA welcomes the support and interest of people who are not Deaf.

Individuals and organisations can become members of NDSISA.

Individual Members

An individual joining NDSISA as an individual member, also automatically becomes a member of NDSISA at provincial or local level. A new member’s application for membership will be decided by the Board of Directors at national level and then shared with NDSISA at provincial or local level structure from which the membership application originates.

An individual member will receive membership benefits from both NDSISA at national level and NDSISA at provincial and local level of the organization.

Membership is open to all Deaf persons of all ages and persuasions.

Corporate Members

Corporate Membership is available to organisations that operate at a national level.

Ordinary National Corporate Member

Membership is for any Deaf organisation operating at the national level in South Africa. The constitution of such organization must require it to have a majority of Deaf people on its Board of Directors or Management. It must promote the interest of Deaf people as its central objective.

Associate National Corporate Member

Membership is for any organisation operating at the national level in South Africa. The organization must promote the interests of Deaf people.

Benefits of Membership

• NDSISA’s quarterly newsletter – The Deaf Iindaba
• Invitations to community consultations and events
• Participation in NDSISA members-only events
• Discounts at NDSISA events, on NDSISA merchandise and advertising
• Voting rights of Ordinary members at NDSISA’s businesses
• Representation at national and international level