Fédération Francophone des Sourds de Belgique (FFSB) ASBL

What Fédération Francophone des Sourds de Belgique (FFSB) ASBL does

FFSB is the Belgian non-profit federation (ASBL) representing deaf and hard-of-hearing persons in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. Founded in 1977 and headquartered in Brussels with a 14-person staff, it operates as an umbrella for affiliated local associations and runs demographic-specific sections (FFSB-Jeunes, FFSB-Femmes, FFSB-Seniors). Its mission is dual: it frames deafness as both a cultural-linguistic identity centered on LSFB (Belgian French Sign Language) and as a disability situation, enabling it to pursue sign-language recognition, accessibility rights, and CRPD-aligned policy outcomes. Core activities include rights advocacy (UNIA collaboration, constitutional recognition proposals), policy influence (Brussels Parliament 2026 resolution on obstetric violence), and community programming (Journée Mondiale des Sourds with 39 partner stands, Vivre Ensemble, Marche Balisée, Les Quatre Matins conference cycle).

The organization delivers digital resources through its website (ffsb.be), email newsletters, and social channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Vimeo, Flickr), and runs targeted initiatives such as the Çà Claque 5 digital inclusion campaign—13 educational videos covering apps such as Bancontact Pay, Google Maps, SNCB/TEC, ChatGPT, WhatsApp, and ItsMe, paired with 13 partner-led workshops. It also advocates for and routes members toward accessibility infrastructure such as the 112 BE emergency app, AVANOA telephone communication aid (developed by affiliated EBISU), and Relais-Signes remote interpretation (operated by Info-Sourds through SISB/SISW). The organization does not operate as a commercial enterprise; its funding comes from public subsidies, member contributions, donations, and project grants (notably Loterie Nationale funding for Çà Claque), with nominal fees only for public events (e.g., €12/adult at Vivre Ensemble 2025). Recent structural moves include the 2021 spin-off of SAREW into an independent ASBL, co-hosting the EUD 2024 General Assembly with Doof Vlaanderen, and a 2025 governance renewal via a Board of Directors call for candidacies.

Name

Fédération Francophone des Sourds de Belgique (FFSB) ASBL

Legal name

Fédération Francophone des Sourds de Belgique ASBL

Website

https://ffsb.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FFSB is a Belgian non-profit federation founded in 1977 that advocates for the rights, accessibility, and cultural recognition of deaf and hard-of-hearing persons in French-speaking Belgium (Wallonia-Brussels), serving members through policy work, community events, and digital inclusion programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bruxelles

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FFSB is a non-profit federation that advocates for the rights, social integration, and accessibility of deaf and hard-of-hearing people in French-speaking Belgium. It provides an information platform (ffsb.be), the Çà Claque digital inclusion campaign, recurring community events and conferences, and promotes accessibility tools and affiliated services such as AVANOA and Relais-Signes for sign-language users.

Product overview

FFSB operates as a non-profit advocacy organization for deaf and hard-of-hearing people in French-speaking Belgium. The organization provides a digital platform featuring its website with resources, publications, and information about deaf rights. Key initiatives include the 'Ça Claque' digital inclusion campaign with educational videos teaching deaf individuals to use essential applications (Bancontact Pay, Google Maps, SNCB/TEC, ChatGPT, WhatsApp, MyGov, QR Code, Helena, ItsMe). The organization also advocates for accessibility tools such as the App 112 BE emergency application and supports services like AVANOA (communication aid for telephone calls) and Relais-Signes (remote interpretation service) through affiliated organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FFSB-Jeunes: Youth section of the federation focused on young deaf people
• FFSB-Femmes
• FFSB-Seniors
• Ça Claque
• Les Quatre Matins
• Café-Femmes
• Marche Balisée

Products and services

• FFSB Website and Digital Resources

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Foyer des Sourds de LiègeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner association that received digital inclusion training from FFSB under the 'Ça Claque 5' project and organized 6 digital inclusion workshops for deaf persons in the Liège region between January and June 2026.
• Maison des Sourds de BruxellesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner association that participated in the 'Ça Claque 5' digital inclusion project, organizing 4 digital inclusion workshops for deaf persons in the Brussels region between January and June 2026.
• Association des Sourds de Namur 55+minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner association that participated in the 'Ça Claque 5' digital inclusion project, organizing 3 digital inclusion workshops for deaf persons aged 55+ in the Namur region between January and June 2026.
• Doof VlaanderencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Doof Vlaanderen is the Flemish counterpart to FFSB for Dutch-speaking deaf persons in Belgium. FFSB and Doof Vlaanderen collaborated to co-host the EUD 2024 General Assembly in Brussels from May 23–25, 2024, representing the two major Belgian deaf federations working together at the European level.
• EBISU ASBLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEBISU is an FFSB-affiliated association dedicated to the social and cultural well-being of deaf persons. EBISU developed AVANOA, a communication aid service for telephone calls, and collaborated with FFSB on advocacy and community initiatives.
• Relais-Signes (SISB/SISW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelais-Signes is a remote interpretation service operated jointly by Info-Sourds through its SISB (Brussels Sign Language Interpretation Service) and SISW (Wallonia Sign Language Interpretation Service), providing free telephone relay services for deaf sign language users in Belgium.
• UNIAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNIA is the Belgian public interfederal centre for equal opportunities that investigates discrimination and promotes equal treatment. FFSB collaborates with UNIA to raise awareness about reasonable accommodations for disabled persons, including deaf individuals, and to support victims of discrimination in filing reports.
• InfrabelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInfrabel, Belgium's railway infrastructure manager, partnered with FFSB to develop and launch a railway safety education program specifically designed for deaf and hard-of-hearing persons. FFSB participated in the launch event on January 15, 2024, sharing insights with Infrabel's CEO.
• CREE ASBLminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCREE (Collectif Recherche et Expression) is a youth organization serving deaf young people. It collaborated with Infrabel and FFSB on developing the railway safety education program for deaf persons.
• LSFB ASBLminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSFB ASBL (La Langue des Signes de Belgique Francophone) collaborated with Infrabel and FFSB on the railway safety education program, contributing expertise on French Belgian Sign Language and community engagement.
• RTBFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFFSB worked with RTBF (the French-language public broadcaster) to provide sign language interpretation for election coverage, including over 10 hours of live interpretation on Auvio during the June 9, 2024 Belgian elections.
• EUD (European Union of the Deaf)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEUD is the European NGO representing deaf persons across 30 national associations. FFSB is a member through its national representation and collaborated with Doof Vlaanderen to host the EUD 2024 General Assembly in Brussels.
• Fédération Mondiale des Sourds (WFD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWFD is the global organization representing deaf persons worldwide. FFSB is an active member; in 2023 it invoked an Extraordinary General Assembly of the WFD, gathering support from 22 countries, on human rights concerns related to the selection of the 2027 Congress host country.
• Ecole & Surdité, Centre Comprendre et Parler, Institut Royal pour Sourds et Aveugles, and other affiliated associationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFFSB is affiliated with dozens of local deaf associations and specialized organizations (including schools, cultural centres, residential homes, and church groups) across Wallonia and Brussels, representing the broader ecosystem of deaf community organizations in French-speaking Belgium.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• European Disability Forum (EDF): Umbrella NGO representing persons with disabilities at EU level. Thematically adjacent — FFSB engages through similar policy channels on UN CRPD implementation and accessibility.
• UNIA (Belgian interfederal equal opportunities centre): Belgian public body promoting equal treatment and investigating discrimination. Peer-like in mission overlap on disability rights; FFSB has a formal collaboration with UNIA on reasonable accommodations.

Broad incumbents

• World Federation of the Deaf (WFD): Global representative body for deaf persons worldwide. Comparable as a higher-tier federation representing deaf communities internationally; FFSB is an active member and has invoked WFD extraordinary assemblies.
• European Union of the Deaf (EUD): Umbrella NGO for ~30 national deaf associations across Europe. Comparable as a higher-tier federation with overlapping advocacy mission; FFSB is a member and co-hosted its 2024 General Assembly.

Direct peers

• Doof Vlaanderen: Federation representing Dutch-speaking deaf persons in Flanders. Direct peer — operates in the same country with a near-identical mandate, jointly hosted EUD 2024 GA with FFSB.
• Canadian Association of the Deaf (CAD): Canadian national advocacy organization for deaf persons. Comparable mandate and structure; operates bilingually, similar institutional setting to FFSB.
• National Association of the Deaf (NAD, USA): US civil-rights organization for deaf and hard-of-hearing persons. Comparable national federation model combining advocacy, legal protection, and community organizing.
• Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID): UK national charity for deaf and hard-of-hearing people, combining advocacy with services and research. Comparable in scope as a national federation pursuing rights, accessibility, and inclusion.
• Fédération Française des Sourds (FFS / ANPES): French national federation of deaf associations. Closely comparable francophone peer pursuing linguistic-cultural and disability-rights advocacy; addresses structurally similar policy questions as FFSB.

Regional players

• Deaf Australia: Australian peak advocacy body for deaf people. Comparable as a national federation in another geography, with similar linguistic-cultural and disability-rights framing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/ffsbbelgique
• Facebookfacebook.com/FFSBelgique
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ffsbbelgique
• Instagraminstagram.com/ffsbbelgique

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Fédération Francophone des Sourds de Belgique (FFSB) ASBL