The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) is an international non-governmental organization that acts as a peak body for national associations of Deaf people, with a focus on Deaf people who use sign language and their family and friends. WFD aims to promote the Human Rights of Deaf people worldwide, by working closely with the United Nations (with which it has consultative status) and various UN agencies such as the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). WFD is also a member of the International Disability Alliance (IDA).
The current 11 board members are all deaf. The offices are located in Helsinki, Finland.
Dr. Cesare Magarotto was one of the founders of World Federation of the Deaf and its first General Secretary (1951-1987) along with Mr. Vittorio Ieralla who was elected as the President from 1951 -1955.
Mr. Ieralla and Dr. Magarotto successfully convinced the Italian government to support their efforts to establish a WFD General Secretariat in Rome, in 1951. With continued support from the Italian government and later with the ENS, the WFD General Secretariat was able to establish informative and advocacy networks, with national federations of the Deaf around the world. Decades later, the WFD General Secretariat relocated to Finland (1987), with support from the Finnish government and the Finnish national of the Deaf led by the former WFD General Secretary Dr. Liisa Kauppinen (WFD President Emeritius).
WFD is a three letter acronym that can stand for:
R. Crowell - Jolly Cheeks Music - BMI
I looked for trouble and I found it son,
Straight down the barrel of a lawman's gun.
I'd try to run but I don't think I can,
You make one move and you're a dead man, friend.
Ain't livin' long like this,
Can't live at all like this, can I baby?
He slipped the handcuffs on behind my back,
Then left me freezin' on a steel rail rack.
Can't sleep at all in the jailhouse baby,
Ain't livin' long like this.
Grew up in Houston on the wayside drive,
Son of a car hop in some all nite dive.
Dad drove a stock car to an early death,
All I remember was a drunk man's breathe.
Ain't livin' long like this,
Can't live at all like this, can I baby?
We know the story how the wheel goes 'round,
Don't let 'em take you to the man downtown,
They got 'em all in the jailhouse baby.
Ain't livin' long like this,
Can't live at all like this, can I baby? Ah take it!
{Erik - Solo}
I live for Angel, she's a road house queen,
Makes Texas Ruby look like Sandra Dee.
I want to love her but I don't know how,
I'm at the bottom of a jailhouse now.
Ain't livin' long like this,
Can't live at all like this, can I baby?
You know the story 'bout the jailhouse rock,
Go on and do it, but just don't get caught.
They got 'em all in the jailhouse baby.
Oh, ain't livin' long like this.
Oh no!