EDS is a registered Deaf led charity dedicated to improving the quality of life for deaf
people by ensuring that all Deaf people have equal access and equality of opportunity
without discrimination.
Set up in 2009 by members of the Deaf community on behalf of others within the deaf
community, the charity aims to enable deaf people to create their own independence and
eliminate any barriers that they may face.
EDS is a flexible charity that never fails to adapt, as we continuously listen to our users.
At EDS we strive to:
– Ensure every Deaf individual has the opportunity and the support to engage in further learning
– Enable Deaf people to develop their skills
– Offer and provide a network for Deaf people
– Improve the quality of BSL teaching
– Ensure that both Deaf and hearing people are aware of each other’s needs
– Increase the confidence amongst Deaf people
– Help relieve unemployment amongst Deaf people
– Improve communication between Deaf and hearing people
– Improve public services so that they are increasingly accessible to Deaf people
– Provide information on possible career directions for Deaf people
– Provide various workshops for Deaf and hearing people
How we do this.
Through our strong and diverse team of Deaf and Communication Support professionals we deliver a variety of events and services. These are aimed at providing not only support through advocacy, information and advice, signposting, workshops but also education services including Signature Accredited BSL Courses across Greater London.
EDS work with local community services, businesses and educational establishments to raise awareness about the Deaf community, focusing on social integration and improving communication and understanding between the two cultures of the deaf and hearing
communities.
Importantly the charity continues to work with the deaf community to maintain and protect its language and culture through various campaigns and working closely with many other professional bodies.
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EDS is striving to ensure that BSL is adopted into the National Curriculum and currently teaches BSL in schools across the London area.
Equipped with the right funding and support, EDS is going from strength to strength. Through our many successful projects we believe that the lives of many deaf people will improve, resulting in better access to education and services whilst also building better bridges between the deaf and hearing communities through inclusion and awareness.
Working Partnerships
Since we began, we have worked with various organisations successfully and are very grateful for the opportunities we have had and are thankful for all we have achieved so far!
At EDS we continue to look for dynamic partnerships to support the work we do and help us to building on our continued success.
We believe that by working in partnership with others we can better work with the local community, service providers and businesses to raise awareness about Deaf Culture and community, focusing on social integration, communication and understanding whilst also building better bridges between the deaf and hearing communities.
All partnerships are based on collaboration, as we believe by being mutually beneficial, we can deliver change for those who need it most.
If you are an organisation interested in working with us, please contact us at mangai@empoweringdeafsociety.org.uk
