The Finnish Association of the deaf is founded

In 1896, Turku’s association marked its 10th anniversary with an event that became the first general meeting of the deaf people in Finland. About 100 people attended the event, during which many matters that were important to deaf people were discussed.

More general meetings were arranged, with the next one held in Helsinki in 1900. This event attracted more than 200 participants and matters related to education, professions and sign language were discussed. The single most important matter discussed at the meeting was the establishment of a national central organisation, the Finnish Association for the Deaf. This was important because deaf people lived far apart from one another in different parts of the country and only a few locations had their own associations. At the meeting, a board was elected for the new association and tasked with preparing a proposal for the rules of the association.

Under these proposed rules, the national association’s tasks included advocacy, determining the living conditions of the deaf, promotion of spiritual and material well-being, establishment of local associations, arrangement of general meetings, ombudsman activities and the publishing of magazines for the deaf. However, Finland’s Senate, to which the proposal was submitted, declined to approve it because political oversight in Finland had become stricter and extended to cover associations.

In 1905, the third general meeting convened in Helsinki, with almost 500 deaf people taking part. Once the political situation in the country became easier, the Senate approved the rules and the organisational meeting could be held. During its first years, the association promoted deaf education, employment opportunities for deaf people, pastoral care and temperance and athletics club operations.