Welcome...
FEPEDA WAS a non-governmental umbrella organisation set up to represent associations of parents and friends of deaf and hard-of-hearing children at a European level. Its membership includes national and regional associations, online resource groups and companies as well as smaller groups and individuals from all of the European Union, Central and Oriental Europe and the Community of Independent States.
The aim of FEPEDA WAS to advance the cause of deaf and hard-of-hearing children, young people and their parents in all the relevant institutions, organisations and agencies of Europe. Every single member plays a part and we aim to encourage their co-operation, friendship, understanding and the exchange of information and experience.
fepeda.org is by no means the original site, this site is stricly for informational purposes about FEPEDA. please visit their new site http://www.fepeda.net/ for more information.
Their Aims and Aspirations
To unite the national associations of parents and friends of hearing impaired children and young people throughout Europe and to encourage the co-operation, friendship and exchange of information to improve the quality of life of hearing impaired children, young people and their families.
To co-operate with other European organisations especially those for deaf and hard of hearing people in order:
- To improve the quality of life for all hearing impaired children, young people and their families whatever their social or economic situation
- To promote and contribute to research and exchange of information to increase the choice and influence of parents in the upbringing and education of their children
- To encourage access to education, culture and employment for hearing impaired children and young people and their entry into full citizenship within the European Community
- FEPEDA will work towards enabling all hearing impaired children to have the best technological, educational, social and medical support as required
- To inform and educate the general public about the needs and achievements of hearing impaired and young people and to influence the policies of national and European administrations
- To encourage friendship, understanding, recreational opportunities and a European exchange for hearing impaired children, young people and their families
- To give support to the development of representative national associations of parents.
In pursuing these aims FEPEDA will represent children with any level of hearing loss. It will not favour any one method of communication but will support the rights of parents to make informed choices in this, as in all aspects of their child's upbringing.
Their Organisation
FEPEDA is currently composed of 45 members which fall into the following categories:
Full Members, who are national associations of parents of deaf or hard-of-hearing children within the European Community; Associate Members, who are similar national associations from other European countries; and Observing Members, who are individuals, private and public bodies interested in FEPEDA.
FEPEDA is administered by a Management Committee which meets 3 times a year and is elected by the General Assembly which comprises all members and possesses full authority in fulfilling the FEPEDA objectives. The Management Committee members are parent representatives of the 15 member associations from the European Union and two or more members associations from Eastern and Central Europe.
FEPEDA is represented by the President, Doris Nelson, who convenes an executive committee, or Bureau, which meets quarterly in order to carry out the work of the federation. The other members are the Vice-president, Silvana Baroni, the Treasurer, Guus Coenen, and 3 other members of the Management Committee.
The FEPEDA Secretariat is based at the headquarters of the National Deaf Children's Society in the UK at 15 Dufferin Street, London EC1Y 8UR
What They Do
FEPEDA undertakes a variety of activities. These include:
- Research and policy development
- Campaigning for the rights of deaf and hard-of-hearing children, young people and their families
- Supporting member organisations to achieve their aspirations
- Organising seminars and meetings
