Sign Language Day: The Ministry of Internal Affairs implements pilot projects and innovative technologies for people with hearing impairment
Today, September 23, International Sign Language Day is celebrated. Ukraine is home to more than 40 thousand citizens, for whom sign language is the only way to communicate and interact, and for more than 200 thousand Ukrainians it is native. It is important to emphasize that they are consumers of public services and have the right to be heard.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine supports the implementation of the National Strategy for the creation of a barrier-free space in Ukraine, which was developed within the framework of the initiative of the First Lady of Ukraine Elena Zelenskaya “Without Barriers”. In particular, the document provides support for people with hearing impairments, providing wide access to information, the opportunity to be included in the life of society and realize their potential.
In accordance with this Strategy, the Ministry is implementing large-scale pilot projects and innovative technologies for people with hearing impairments in its activities.
For deaf and hard of hearing people, it is possible to make a 24-hour voiceless call to the emergency services “101” and “102” using the “FM Translator” application, which is installed on smartphones.
A pilot project has been launched on the official websites of the National Police of Ukraine and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, which provides for the possibility of hearing and hearing impaired people to directly contact the report.
Thanks to the widget installed on the sites, citizens can ask questions online and make a phone call (to any phone number listed on the contact page).
For a convenient and prompt solution of the issue of people with hearing impairment, software was installed on the tablets of the Kiev crews of the patrol police, which carries out round-the-clock online sign language translation.
In November 2020, tablets were installed in the service centers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kiev, Odessa, Lviv, Dnipro, Kharkiv for quick video communication with sign language interpreters. As of today, more than 2000 applications of deaf people have been processed.
Another pilot project implemented in February 2021 is 24-hour access to the services of sign language interpreters in border control zones. The software has already been installed at the airports of Boryspil, Zhuliany, Odessa, Lviv and Stanytsia Luhanska checkpoint.
All projects will be scaled up, and new ones will be implemented in all structural units and central executive bodies.
