WHAT WE DO

The world of the Deaf is a silent world, confined to the limits of vision and therefore isolated as a result of communication barriers. Our main objective is to help the Deaf to help themselves. We strive to empower Deaf people to attain their full potential and take their rightful place as responsible citizens of South Africa.

DEPARTMENTS:

• Deaf Adult Care: Lewensruimte, a mini-village comprising group homes and protective workshops for Deaf adults with multiple disabilities,
• Deaf Elderly Care: Two old age homes, Shalom in Worcester and Rusoord in Bellville.
• NID College: Occupational skills training for young Deaf adults.
• De la Bat School: Nursery, primary and secondary education from Grades R to 12.
• Two congregations for the Deaf in the Western Cape: De la Bat (Bellville) and Worcester–De la Bat.
• Training of Deaf spiritual workers: Deaf Christian Ministry Africa (DCMA).
• Centre of Knowledge: DeafNET.
• Business Training Units: Tea Garden and Garden Centre.

The NID follows a holistic approach in education and training, health and spiritual care and offers a wide spectrum of services, including:

• processing numerous inquiries from the general public regarding, deafness, Deaf communities in South Africa, Deaf culture, Deaf heritage and Sign Language, promoting Deaf awareness and other topics and issues that affect the lives of people with hearing loss.
• identifying issues critical to people with hearing loss, setting priorities, analysing policy options, making recommendations and taking positions in conjunction with the Deaf communities as well as South African and global experts.
• offering expertise in areas such as education, employment, rehabilitation, care, health care, mental health, leadership development, training, accessibility and technology to Deaf people in South Africa and Africa.
• administration of fundraising and funding of all departments of the NID.
• early identification, assessment as well as the provision of hearing aids and assistive devices.

NID respects and supports the needs and concerns of South African Deaf communities through cross-disability efforts with consumer based and professional organisations representing and supporting the interest of various disability constituents and various disability desks in South Africa.