Activist Group Demands Reparation for Unfair Treatment Against the Deaf Community - Advocacy Group Seeks Reimbursement for Injustices Suffered by Deaf Community
In Hamburg, the Hamburg Social Association has called for a disability allowance for deaf and deaf-blind people, citing Thuringia as an example where sensory-disabled individuals receive an additional 172 euros per month. The demand is based on the recognition that deaf and deaf-blind people are still disadvantaged in society.
Klaus Wicher, the chairman of the Hamburg Social Association, has emphasised that this call is not a demand for compensation, as they are already pushing for a compensation fund for adults who experienced suffering and injustice in schools due to their hearing impairment. The parliament has echoed this call, urging the red-green Senate to campaign at the federal level for a compensation fund.
Wicher believes that supporting deaf-blind and deaf people, as is done in Thuringia, could help many in Hamburg. He has highlighted the injustice and suffering that deaf people have faced, particularly in schools during the 1990s, due to the forced ban on sign language and the obligation to speak aloud.
The Social Association has not specified any conditions or qualifications for eligibility for the proposed disability allowance. However, they have emphasised the importance of addressing the historical injustices faced by deaf people, especially in educational institutions.
The recognition of German Sign Language as an independent language in 2002 with the passage of the Disability Equality Act is a significant step forward. However, the injustice suffered by deaf people, especially in educational institutions, has not been comprehensively addressed, recognised, and compensated for to this day, according to the Citizens' Assembly.
The apology issued by the Senate and the Citizens' Assembly for the injustice suffered by deaf people until the 1990s is not considered sufficient by the Social Association. Klaus Wicher, chairman of the Hamburg Social Association, stated that it is difficult to demand a compensation fund without contributing to it oneself. He further stated that the Senate is expected to provide funds for the compensation.
The Social Association's efforts are part of ongoing global movements advocating for deaf rights, including better access to sign language and accessible communication. Given the lack of specific information, local news sources or organisations focused on deaf rights in Germany might provide more detailed insights into current efforts and progress in Hamburg.
The Hamburg Social Association, in light of Thuringia's community policy, has proposed vocational training programs for deaf and deaf-blind individuals in Hamburg, emphasizing the importance of vocational training for their integration into society. In addition, they are advocating for a science-based health-and-wellness program to address the historical injustices experienced by deaf people, particularly in educational institutions, and improve their overall well-being.
