Hesse's Bold New Plan to Break Barriers for Deaf Communities
Sign language is a key to the world - for many people with hearing impairments, it is the first language they use to express themselves, learn, work, and build relationships. It is an expression of identity and therefore an indispensable part of an inclusive society. This is what this action day reminds us of," said the Minister of Social Affairs. "The International Day of Sign Languages was established by the United Nations in 2018 and is celebrated every year on September 23. Its goal is to raise awareness of the linguistic and cultural rights of deaf people worldwide. This year's theme is 'Communicate equally with sign language.' In Germany, German Sign Language (DGS) has been legally recognized since 2002. However, barriers still exist in daily life - in education, healthcare, government offices, and the workplace," said the Minister of Social Affairs. "In this context, she referred to the current process of creating the Action Plan for the implementation of the UN Disability Rights Convention (UN-DRC): 'Inclusion is a central topic for society and for us as a state government. That's why we started creating the 2nd Hessian Action Plan in our first year of government.' The Action Plan is based on the coalition agreement of the state government and is designed as a participatory involvement process. Minister Hofmann emphasized: 'It's very important that all ministries participate in the Action Plan. However, impulses from practice and the everyday experiences of those affected are just as important. I therefore invite everyone to participate in the creation process of the Action Plan.' Another particular focus of the state government is social counseling for deaf and hard of hearing people, which has been funded by the state for many years. 'Deaf people need contact points that speak their language. This not only ensures barrier-free access but also builds trust in counseling and enables an exchange at eye level,' said the Minister, adding that the demand for counseling is increasing: 'Therefore, we will sustainably increase the funding for the social counseling center this year to ensure optimal care,' said Hofmann. 'Inclusion means that all people have access to communication - without barriers. This also applies to our public offers, for advice, information, and participation in social life. It's important that we continue to work on these topics and that society continues to develop,' concluded the Minister.
