National Federation of the Deaf Nepal (NDFN)

The National Federation of the Deaf Nepal has been working since 1996 to lead the campaign for the rights of deaf people in Nepal. For us, education, health and employment of deaf people are the priority.

The National Federation of the Deaf Nepal (NDFN) was established in 2052 BS as an umbrella organization for the rights and development of the deaf. Formed on the initiative of eight local deaf associations, the federation currently has 53 local deaf associations. People with hearing impairments are called deaf. Deaf communities are a linguistic minority communicating in sign language. They rely entirely on visual communication of signals developed on the basis of local language and culture for access to communication.

The Federation of the Deaf has been advocating for the recognition, development and dissemination of Nepali Sign Language as the first language of the deaf person as well as the formation of local deaf associations and their capacity building, leadership and awareness, interpreter service to the deaf. Advocacy for rights, social equality and discrimination-free deaf community. But deaf people still do not have access to communication, education, health, skills training, and employment.