Czech Chamber of Sign Language Interpreters (hereafter on, Chamber) is an organization, that joins Czech sign language interpreters and also people who are not interpreters but agree with Chamber's views and aims.

The Chamber considers Deaf community to be a cultural and language minority. Our members respect the right of Deaf people to their Deaf identity, language and culture and they recognize Czech sign language as a first means of communication of Deaf people in our country. Czech sign language is valuable, natural, beautiful and rich language, through which its speakers are able to understand the world in its variability. We do refuse the opinions, that sign language does not have grammar, its vocabulary is insufficient, etc.

The Chamber's aim is to keep improving professional level of its members, so that it fulfils the right of Deaf people to full communication in their natural language, sign language. And, to provide interpreting standards which correspond with European Union standards.

But above all, the Chamber wants any deaf client to be sure, that he or she can always find a professional interpreter here, who helps him or her to break all communication barriers between the hearing world and the world of silence.

Our main aims are summed up in following points:

ð     to protect interests of sign language interpreters

ð     to increase the level of professional interpreting into and from a sign language in the Czech Republic

ð     to provide courses, special seminars and training about sign language interpreting

ð     to contact national and international organizations of similar orientation and to stay in touch with them

ð     to increase know-how about sign language interpreting and connected issues in the Czech Republic

This year have seen a major opportunities for the organisation with numerous of projects and the construction of the CKTZJ website shortly.

Chamber is very honoured to be selected to organise the EFSLI AGM & Conference in Prague!

For more information about Chamber, click on the following link to go to its website. It can be viewed in English and German language, too.

http://www.cktzj.com/