The Latvian Deaf Union (LNS) is the first successor of the Latvian Deaf Organization, the largest organization of deaf people in Latvia, founded on May 19, 1920. LNS as of 01.01.2017 has 1704 members. Its activities cover the entire territory of Latvia – the LNR regional associations are in 9 cities of Latvia: Riga, Daugavpils, Valmiera, Liepaja, Ventspils, Kuldīga, Pļaviņas, Smiltene and Rezekne.
The LNS has been a full member of the World Deaf Federation since April 27, 1992 and has been a full member of the European Deaf Community since May 2004, and is also involved in the work of other international organizations.
The main goals of the LNS are to promote the inclusion of people with hearing impairments in society and to raise public awareness, understanding and responsiveness to the problem of hearing impaired persons.
In order to achieve these goals, the LNS carries out the following tasks: cares for the social rehabilitation of a person with hearing impairments in Latvia, contributes to observance of their human rights protection and involvement in civil society activities, cares about the support of the state and local governments in the material, household and cultural needs of people with hearing impairments in Latvia for satisfaction, raising the level of education, health protection and social rehabilitation, as well as state support for the development and use of the Latvian sign language for communication with deaf people.
The Youth Center of the Latvian Deaf Union (LNSJC) is an LNS structural unit that acts as an association of deaf youth in accordance with the LNS Statutes, the regulations of the LNS Board “On the Establishment of Interest Centers of the LNS”, LNSJC Regulations, LNS Board and Executive Institutions. LNSJC was founded on October 13, 2015. The purpose of the LNSJC is to bring together deaf, hearing impaired and audacious young people in order to encourage deaf youth to become involved in LNS and in society. The task of the LNSJC is to:
– To provide young people with useful leisure time opportunities;
– to promote the acquisition of the necessary knowledge and skills for young people outside formal education through the implementation of various informal events, projects and programs;
– organize various events, classes on topical topics for young people;
– provide the necessary support for youth initiatives;
– to encourage young people to participate in the LNS and its associations, LNSJC, youth initiative groups and volunteer work;
– cooperate with other youth organizations;
– to promote LNS, Latvian sign language and deaf culture.