Religious life

Deaf education initially focused on religious subjects and many of the teachers and headmasters had trained as ministers. The deaf began their own religious activities at the end of the 19th century and having a travelling clergyman for the deaf was discussed. The first two travelling ministers for the deaf began in their posts in late 1907, early 1908. They were tasked with holding church services, providing pastoral care, offering confirmation classes and taking care of ceremonial rites. Some of the ministers also held positions of trust in the regional associations or the Association for the Deaf. The first deaconess for the deaf was appointed in 1945 to assist the ministers in their work. The ministers and deaconesses also acted as sign language interpreters and took care of many social welfare tasks. In the second half of the 20th century, social services became the responsibility of the state and municipalities, and interpretation grew into a professional activity.