|
The Communication Centre for The Deaf and Hard of Hearing was established December 31. 1990. The aim of the Communication Centre for The Deaf and Hard of Hearing is to promote equal rights of deaf people by supporting services to them in sign language. Other identified tasks are researching the Icelandic sign language, teaching sign language, being the centre for interpreting and other services.
Sign language courses
The Communication Centre for The Deaf and Hard of Hearing offers courses in sign language. Eleven courses in the Icelandic sign language are offered, each adding on to the previous one. Each course meets for twenty class hours (the teaching being either on Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday evenings). All the sign language teachers at the Communication Centre for The Deaf and Hard of Hearing are deaf and the Icelandic sign language is their mother tongue. Special interest groups (e.g. a group from a bank or a preschool etc.) may also order courses tailored to meet their interests.
Interpreting services
The Communication Centre for The Deaf and Hard of Hearing is the centre for interpreting services for deaf people who need sign language interpretation. In order to book an interpreter people may call 354 562 7738, use the text telephone 354 562 7789, stop by or e-mail us shh@shh.is
Sign language interpreters are professionals, guided by the ethics of confidentiality.
Counselling
The Communication Centre for The Deaf and Hard of Hearing offers counselling to the families of deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind children. Parents are informed about communication and interaction with deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind people and are helped to create sign language environment for their child. They are also introduced to the community of the deaf. Those who are interested in learning about deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind people may contact the Communication Centre for The Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Our vision to the future
The vision to the future set by The Communication Centre for The Deaf and Hard of Hearing is
• that sign language may enjoy the same respect and status as other languages and
• that deaf citizens will be able to participate fully in society, in sign language
• that deaf citizen have the right to decide which language will be their mother tongue and
• that other people accept and respect their decision | 
