2.1.1 What is it?
The Spanish Confederation of the Deaf (CNSE) is a non-profit organization, that serves and cares for the interests of deaf people and their families in Spain, as well as those of the linguistic community of people who use Spanish and Catalan sign language, whether they are or not associated to the different Federations and Associations that make it up.
From its founding, in 1936, the CNSE has worked towards recognition and political awareness to achieve complete citizenship for deaf people. It has developed various help and benefits programs through its Federations and Associations.
Goal: Achieving equal opportunities for deaf people through political initiatives aimed to withdraw the barriers that impede the application of their rights.
www.cnse.es
The associative movement of the CNSE is made up of:
- 17 Autonomous Federations – one for each Autonomous Region – and the Association of Deaf People in Melilla
- These Federations integrate more than 115 provincial and local associations for deaf people all over the country
- 7 Collaborating Members among which there are several associations of parents of deaf children and youths.
The CNSE participates in several forums and organizations, as a member of their governing body or through institutional collaborations:
- Consejo Nacional de Discapacidad (National Disability Council)
- Foro para la Inclusión Educativa del Alumnado con Discapacidad (Forum for the Educational Inclusion of Students with Disabilities )
- Patronato y Comisión Permanente de la Fundación ONCE(ONCE’S Board and Permanent Comission)
- Plataforma de ONG de Acción Social (Platform of Social Action NGO’s)
- Comité Español de Representantes de Personas con Discapacidad (CERMI) (Spanish Committee of Representatives of People with Disabilities)
- Patronato de la Fundación ONCE para la Atención a las Personas con Sordoceguera (ONCE’s Board for Deaf and Blind People)
- Consejo Asesor del Centro Español de Subtitulado y Audiodescripción (CESyA) (Advisory Council of the Spanish Subtitle and Audiodescription Centre (CESYA)
- Consejo Rector del Centro de Normalización Lingüística de la Lengua de Signos Española (CNLSE) (Governing Council of the Linguistic Normalization Centre of Spanish Sign Language )
On an international level, the CNSE, recognised as a Development Non-Governmental Organization (DNGO), actively participates and is a founding member of:
The Fundación CNSE para la Supresión de las Barreras de Comunicación (CNSE Foundation for the Withdrawal of the Communication Barriers) was founded in 1998 as a response to the wishes of the CNSE. It is a non-profit state organization from which:
- They promote the research and study of the Spanish sign language
- They work on the accessibility of deaf people to every aspect of life
- They promote the development of projects that improve the quality of life of deaf people and their families
