ci@ss

BOARD MEMBERS
Who are we?

KNOWING AND DIFFUSING THE C.I.A.S.S.
(Sicilian Inter Association Consortium of the Deaf)

The Consortium of the Deaf constitutes itself on December 13, 2006 thanks to the aggregation of different Associations spread in various commons of the Sicilian Region which are made up by Deaf and Hearing people, inspired by a common objective, that one: of the freedom of "Speech", that beyond phrasal paradox, is the one that in effect want to represents itself, or rather it catches speech in the society.
Deaf Citizens of the Regional Consortium "Speak" about subjects that concern the category, express their ideas, treat problematic and especially propose interesting themes and possible solutions of problems that are identified as they go along.
In our opinion, collaborating with the hearing persons, that have shared with us our life paths, joys and pains, our programs, for the assertion of the deaf person, is important, not only to have a reciprocal exchange of culture, information and experiences, that are, of course, necessary to have our community grow, but also of enrichment for theirs (hearing people's). We are members of a society, in that we are often forgotten, then we have felt like constituting ourselves in a big consortium, because we want to represent ourselves with all one's rights, without preference, and not to settle for remnants of attention that some social services offer us.
We don't want to be ghettoized or isolated like someone still tries to do today, but we wonder: what is this attitude? I think about anyone or probably about those who need to get rid of their own frustrations.
But this is bad for us by now because our weakness can be the hearing handicap but our personal dignity is the same as everyone is.
Then, no longer weak but strong of one's own dignity and identity of persons who belong to a linguistics minority.
Then our Consortium wishes to be a ring of union between the deaf community and the rest of the society; it wants to give importance and visibility to this disable category of ours by performing activity in each possible sector and every one is invited to participate in the life of the Consortium sharing finality, culture, events, moments of sociality as much as someone else wants to represents itself.

Thanks.

__C.I.A.S.R.S. President
Cav. Dr. Alfonso Massimino