New Zealand Federation for Deaf Children

New Zealand Federation for Deaf Children Incorporated (NZFDC) is the Executive of a National group made up of Parent Groups throughout New Zealand. We are a registered incorporated society and our Executive committee and Member Groups are run by volunteers who are themselves all parents of Deaf or hard of hearing children. NZFDC was set up in 1976 by parents of Deaf and hard of hearing children.

The objective of NZFDC is to promote, carry out and coordinate measures conducive to the welfare of Deaf and hard of hearing children and their families. Much of NZFDC's recent work has focused on ensuring that Deaf and hard of hearing children have appropriate access to the education curriculum and social experiences within the schooling environment.

We offer such things as Information Kits for families of newly diagnosed Deaf and hard of hearing children, Tutor Fee Assistance, Assistive Devices support, Annual Scholarships for Tertiary students and Excellence and Sports Awards for Secondary School Students. We advocate for our parents and are deeply involved with specific services for Deaf and hard of hearing children at a ministerial level.

We maintain very close links with the National Foundation for the Deaf, Deaf Aotearoa NZ which includes the youth group Magnet, the Deaf Resource Centres and Deaf Sports and also with such groups as Sign Language Teachers and Sign Language Interpreters.