To safeguard the human rights of all people who are Deaf and developmentally delayed using American Sign Language as a primary means of communication by:

• Raising consciousness of parents, service providers, government and the broader community regarding Deaf Culture and the importance of sign language in Ontario.
  
  
• Advocating for access to environments that recognize sign language as the most important element in facilitating the development of autonomy, self determination, socialization and community participation.
  
  
• Ensuring zero tolerance of abuse and neglect by promoting the development of province wide standards and a consumer-driven mechanism of enforcement of such standards.
  
  
• To develop strategies that promote the resourcing of readily accessible services for all Deaf-plus Ontarians and their families.
  
  
• To provide support in individual advocacy and a forum for mutual support, sharing of information and self-education.
  

• People with developmental delay or other special needs who are deaf and use sign language to communicate (referred to as deaf plus)
• Parents of children with developmental delay, who use sign language to communicate. as well as the individuals.
• Caregivers and service providers of deaf plus individuals.

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Maintained by admin@podpo.ca, last updated 10/01/05.