Barcelona: Catalan crisis for Deaf and Interpreters

The crisis leaves many deaf without interpreters

Link to original article in El Periodico

FIDEL MASREAL
BARCELONA

Going to the doctor, filing your tax returns, applying for the dole or meeting your solicitor are some of the basic tasks for which, from now on, many deaf people will have to do without an interpreter. The Federation of the Deaf of Catalonia, Fesoca, along with other organisations throughout the state have been waiting since earlier this year for the Ministry of Health and Social Policy to renew the grant which, in the case of Catalonia, provides contracts for 10 of the 21 interpreters in the Association.  

This situation has led to Fesoca having to terminate the interpreters’ contracts on the 30th April in the absence of funds to pay their wages. One of those affected is Albert Gonzalez, who is doubly let down: "It’s not only the fact we are now unemployed and what that entails, but a really human task, facilitating communication and access between people is no longer being provided."

Gonzalez explains that interpreters are planning to hold protests to highlight their situation. "Deaf people are disappointed because they don’t understand how a sign language law can be passed and yet basic services such as in health or the workplace are being cut," says the president of Fesoca, Encarna Muñoz. "Zapatero’s government is not fulfilling its commitment to prioritise social services", she concluded.

THE INTENTION / Sources at the Ministry of Health argue that the Government is willing to continue offering the grant but cannot do so until there is a legal change in contracting whereby Fesoca and similar organisations are approved by the Department of Finance’s Regional Tax Office. As a result of the cut from 21 to 11 interpreters, over 330 requests per month by deaf users will not be met and cities like Badalona, Terrassa and Sabadell will no longer have an interpreting service.

Among the services most demanded by users are job interviews, visits to the regional employment office and company meetings relating to redundancy. According to Fesoca there are 161,000 people in Catalonia with a hearing loss and 22,000 requests are made annually for interpreting services. 50 interpreters would be required to meet this need.