Type of Project: Funded project
Communication aids for securing the political work of the DG

The goal of the project is barrier-free participation in all areas of social life, both professional and private. In order to secure political work, the use of interpreters and, if necessary, communication assistance and appropriate technology is required to ensure communication. Once a year, for example, the German Society invites its members to its working conference and general meeting. This event starts on Fridays at 7 pm and ends on Sundays at 11 am. Due to the broad spectrum of members dealing with hearing impairment, a unique multifaceted communication need arises that must be met through the use of appropriate communication aids. Three sign language interpreters, three written interpreters, one communication assistant, and appropriate hearing technology will be used during the meeting to ensure that the content is covered. In the future, the need for communication could expand to include deafblind assistants. There are also three specialist committees within the German Society: Technical Committee Education, Work and Accessible Media. These expert committees have the goal of achieving barrier-free communication and equal participation as well as inclusion. For this purpose, meetings of the respective expert committees are held twice a year. Since the working groups consist of both hearing and hearing-impaired experts, sign language and written interpreters are used to ensure communication. Furthermore, external appointments take place during the year, e.g. with media institutions, the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs or representatives of politics. Relevant events are also attended. For these events, too, sign language and written interpreters must be ordered to ensure barrier-free communication. In addition, the German Society will conduct training in 2019 and 2020 to promote young talent. Participants will receive key information on advocacy for and with people with hearing disabilities. They will also learn to recognize cross-association issues, assess different needs of hearing-impaired people and derive appropriate measures. The situation of young people with hearing disabilities is given special attention in the respective content. In this way, multipliers are to be gained who, after the training, are prepared for future challenges for competent cooperation in member associations as well as in the German Society of the Hearing Impaired - Self-Help and Professional Associations e. V. (DG).