belongs to a certain linguistic group and the same goes for deaf people. Ironically they are also considered Flemish or Walloon, part of the linguistic majority of speakers of Dutch or French, despite the sign language they use and the linguistic minority to which they belong. Sign language rights are administered by the Flemish community on behalf of DHH people in Flanders and Brussels. The federalization occurred in 1993, which was the result of a long process. Cultural activities have been organized separately since then, and the Flemish and the Walloon deaf clubs have been subsidized from different sources. Contacts between Flemish and Walloon deaf people have become less and less frequent. This affected the sign languages' development in both communities, which are becoming more divergent as they go through separate standardization processes. Therefore, the name for the sign language has changed over time. "Belgian Sign Language" became "Flemish-Belgian Sign Language", which later became the now preferred "Flemish Sign Language" on the Flemish side. On the Wallonian side, "French Belgian Sign Language" became "Walloon Sign Language". In the 1970s, the national deaf federation, Navekados, split up into a Flemish and a Walloon federation. The current deaf organization of the Flemish Community is Doof Vlaanderen vzw, which has evolved from previous organizations as outlined below. This organization and its predecessors have been part of the European Union of the Deaf (EUD) since its founding in 1985. 1936 Nationaal Verbond der Katholieke Deof-mute-bonds (Navekados) was formed as the organization for all deaf Belgians 1977 Flemish & Waloon split into Federation of the Dutch-speaking Deaf Associations (Fenedo) & Féderation Francophone des Sourds de Belgique (FFSB) 1986 Fenedo became Fevlado (Federatie van Vlaamse Dovenorganisaties or Federation of the Flemish Deaf Organizations) 1986 Cultuur voor Deaf vzw (vereniging zonder winstoogmerk) was founded as a non-profit organization 2002 Cultuur voor Deaf became Fevlado-Diversus vzw 2017 Fevlado vzw & Fevlado-Diversus vzw merge into Doof Vlaanderen vzw Legal recognition On 26 April 2006, the Flemish Parliament unanimously recognised the Flemish Sign Language as a language in Flanders. The decree consists of three major parts: Recognition The Flemish Sign Language is recognised as a language in the Flemish Community, including the Brussels-Capital Region. Advisory committee An advisory committee on the Flemish Sign Language is instated, with a maximum of fifteen members, half of which have to be deaf. Advise can be requested by the Flemish Government or the Flemish