Deaf is defined as someone who is in the range between someone who can't hear completely and hard of hearing at a level of 55dB. Below we will refer to everyone in the above category as deaf.
Most of the deaf athletes have a significant difficulty participating in the sports activities that take place in the regular sports clubs, due to the hearing and language problems. For example, a deaf person participating in most sports cannot follow the coach's words, hear his teammates, hear the whistles of the referees, etc.
These are just examples, and it seems that there is no need to expand on the need to hold separate sports activities for the deaf, at least in some sports, and in another part, there is the possibility of combining them in a sports activity with "normal" hearing people.
on ASH
ASH - the sports organization of the deaf was founded in 1953 by a group of deaf people - immigrants and veterans, who were involved in unique sports activities for the deaf in Israel and Europe (see below the history chapter for more detail).
ASH currently has more than 400 deaf and hard of hearing athletes (as of 2014). Children, youth and adults who engage in all accepted sports, and by the way affects the lifestyle of more than 7,000 deaf and hard of hearing thanks to the opening of employment and leisure opportunities in the fields of sports.
ASH conducts activities for a wide variety of populations - Jews, Arabs, immigrants and veterans of all ages.
The value of sports for the life of the deaf is greater than for the hearing, because in addition to all the benefits inherent in sports for the hearing - playing sports for the deaf gives him a sense of belonging, meaning and connection to society.
SAH goals
Providing an equal opportunity for the deaf to participate in sports competitions and popular events (for the hearing and the deaf);
Initiating and managing championships, leagues, national teams for the deaf, at the youth and adult level - men and women - in Israel and abroad;
financial support and equipment for the sports clubs of the deaf in Israel;
Support for deaf athletes in individual sports who participate in "normal" (hearing) sports settings.
It is an organization of deaf people for their own sake, which develops sports for the deaf community from a young age to the third age.
ASH does the maximum possible to present an Israeli presence in the European, World and Olympics championships in all branches subject to the limitations of the budget and the limited donations. The above puts us in a non-ideal situation that forces us to choose between participation and non-participation.
International activity and achievements
ASH regularly participates in the European and World Championships in all sports and, of course, regularly participates in the Deaf Olympics called Deafiympics.
ASH is proud to say that their members have reached a number of significant achievements: winning a bronze medal in basketball at the Sofia Olympics in Bulgaria in 1993, winning 3 gold medals in karate championships in the world and in Europe, fourth place in the world in 2010 at the World Basketball Championship under the age of 21, an Israeli tennis player who is hard of hearing Winner of the 2015 Junior Tennis World Champion, and many other wonderful achievements.
ASH - a legally registered association, operating according to the law
ASH is a registered association, with proper management, and includes all the organs required by law.
ASH holds a Section 46 permit for donations in effect.