Welcome to Deaf Community of Cape Town
DCCT is a non-governmental welfare organization whose aim is to address the needs of Deaf people in the Western Cape. DCCT’s historical function was to serve the needs of the Black and Coloured Deaf community in the Western Cape, whose needs were neglected in the past by national bodies serving the Deaf. The organization has an active Deaf membership of 1090 members from whom direction is received. Those with voting powers on the executive committee are all Deaf members, and as such, DCCT has been a pioneer in South Africa, in placing Deaf people in positions of leadership. There are various projects undertaken by DCCT that are aimed at development and empowerment of Deaf people.
DCCT has also been involved in a number of awareness raising campaigns in the recent past. These have focused on demanding an immediate change in the education system for Deaf, school aged, pupils. DCCT has consistantly been involved in a number of self help projects designed to empower Deaf people vocationally and socially. The services are determined according to the needs of the community, as shown by surveys of the membership, and the experiences of the workers involved with the Deaf community.
Father Cyril Axelrod is the first deafblind person in history to be awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) by the Queen of England for his international work supporting deafblind people round the world and his work developing deafblind training services with the Hong Kong Society for the Blind for the past 5 years. This was announced on Saturday 15th June 2013 as part of the Queens Birthday Honours List. This is a great honour and achievement, and he accepted the award on behalf of all deafblind people around the world.
Father Cyril has inspired and lead the founders of DCCT since 1987 to be strong leaders in the deaf community by empowering and learning from disabled people. Founding members of DCCT were invited to Father Cyril’s award ceremony in England. For DCCT, Father Cyril’s achievement is an example to all aspiring deaf leaders to always put their community first.