„Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.”
(Proverbs 31:8-9).
Short history
“DARUL SUNETULUI” (“GIFT OF SOUND”) is an NGO/charity without political or commercial affiliation, founded in 2010 by parents of deaf children, recipients of cochlear implants. Our first goal was to support the therapy and education of the children of the founding members; in the years that followed, the activity expanded with advocacy campaigns and support for the rights of hearing-impaired children, as well as parental rights, before public authorities.
Along with partner organizations, we can list some of our major successes:
- the national extension of the neonatal audiological screening program, as part of the standard protocol; establishment of the National Register of Auditory Screening;
- bilateral cochlear implantation, covered by the National Deafness Treatment Program;
- replacement of the worn out or defective sound processors, covered by the National Deafness Treatment Program;
- granting all children using cochlear implants with the highest disability degree and the right to a personal assistant.
Since 2021, GIFT OF SOUND has been a member of the National Federation of Parents’ Associations.
Activities
- organizing public events and other public awareness activities;
- production, editing and distribution of books, leaflets, posters, brochures, software and other informative materials;
- providing advice and counseling, informing and supporting the families of children with hearing impairments for their upbringing and education;
- monitoring and supporting the work of public authorities through specific advocacy procedures, such as:
- requesting the establishment of neonatal screening in all hospitals in Romania;
- promoting the training of specialists in working with people with hearing impairments (speech therapists, audiologists, etc.);
- establishment by law of the National Day of the Hearing Impaired;
- monitoring the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in Romania.