Interpretation - Social Area

The House of Parliament passed a ”Law on Interpretation for Individuals with a Hearing Disability” aiming at ensuring easy access to interpretation at various activities for the deaf, deaf blind, deafened and the hard of hearing.

Due to this new law DDA has worked hard to ensure as many positive changes as possible. The law is a definite improvement for people with a hearing disability as it introduces a joint entry for all users of interpretation as well as the right to use interpreters within a range of areas. This right is something that DDA has worked hard on ensuring – and it is something that means a lot to the deaf.

At the same time the law is a big step backwards in various other areas and this is indeed deplorable.

Unfortunately the new interpretation law introduces a limit to the booking of social interpreters meaning that deaf people are not free to participate in classes at university extension, open university, recreational activities or social gatherings at either schools, private parties, christenings, birthdays, weddings etc.

This is a definite violation of article 19 in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities stating ” Living independently and being included in the community”. The minister has stated that the annual limit for social interpretation the first year will be no more than 7 hours.

”DDA is indeed concerned and disappointed that this law has been passed. I do not understand how anyone in this country can think that 7 hours of social interpretation is enough. We are disappointed. Our members are disappointed,” president Asger Bergmann says.

Throughout 2009 DDA has tried to influence the social affairs spokesmen of all parties in the House of Parliament along with minister Karen Ellemann in order to have them change the limit, to ensure interpretation abroad and to have the politicians follow the need of interpretation closely and regulate the limit as soon as possible.

This has taken place through dialogues and meetings at Christiansborg, obtained interviews with The Social Services Committee along with the Association of Danish Deaf Blind, working with the press and gathering signatures as well as having a personal meeting with the Minister of Interior and Social Affairs, Karen Ellemann.