Deaf money is being discussed again in the Bavarian state parliament: Those affected are frustrated

Created: 03/18/2022Updated: 03/18/2022 06:54

By: Katrin Woitsch

Sign language interpreters are important for people with hearing impairments to participate in everyday life.

But the interpreters are very expensive.

So far, there is no financial support for this in many private areas.

© dpa

The Bavarian state parliament is again discussing whether there should be compensation for disadvantages for the deaf.

They are currently excluded from many areas of life for financial reasons.

Munich - Can Sipahi has followed many political debates on the subject of deaf money in recent years.

The topic has been discussed in Bavaria since 2011 - not much is progressing.

Yesterday Sipahi, the second chairman of the deaf association in Munich and the surrounding area, left the state parliament again in frustration.

He had come to the social committee to emphasize once again how important deaf money is for those affected.

The committee had commissioned a sign language interpreter for this.

Deaf people with disadvantage compensation: Bavarian state parliament has been arguing for years

The Greens had asked the state government with an application to take up and implement the concept of the professional associations.

The CSU* and Free Voters rejected this application with their majority of votes.

They also want to pay deaf people compensation for disadvantages – but initially only a one-time payment of 145 euros.

Not all people with hearing impairments would receive this amount either.

Claudia Köhler from the Greens* calls this plan "a joke".

Deaf people have such high costs to be able to participate in social life, she emphasizes.

The Greens are demanding a deaf allowance of 315 euros per month for all people with hearing impairments - that would be around 60 percent of the blind allowance.

Parliament discusses: Nothing is progressing for the deaf

In Bavaria, 15,000 people are affected, and 56 million euros would have to be budgeted for in the budget.

"Compared to what we paid for protective masks that were too expensive, that's not a large sum," argued Green MP Kerstin Celina in the committee.

There is money for so many areas, but nothing is progressing for the deaf, she criticized and again called on the state government to finally keep its promise and pay compensation for disadvantages.

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Bavaria: People with hearing impairments without financial support

This is already happening in many other states.

There is no nationwide uniform regulation.

The question is what amount can be implemented permanently, said Thomas Huber (CSU).

"I know the one-time payment is just a drop in the ocean - but it would be a support."

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Equal opportunities stand or fall with communication.

Can Sipahi

Can Sipahi is disappointed that the governing parties do not want to move away from the concept of a one-off payment.

That doesn't help those affected, he emphasizes.

A professional sign language interpreter costs 85 euros per hour.

In addition, there are the travel costs.

Deaf people rely on interpreters in many areas of everyday life.

For example, for some doctor visits or bank talks.

Even an owners' meeting is not feasible for the deaf if they don't have an interpreter, he explains.

There are many areas of life in which the deaf are still excluded.

They could not seize opportunities because participation is so difficult.

"Equal opportunity stands and falls with communication."

State parliament decides on deaf allowance at the beginning of April

Sipahi is deaf from birth herself.

He knows how often deaf people depend on help in everyday life - for example from volunteers who speak sign language.

If there were money for the deaf, the deaf could say thank you with an invitation to eat or a voucher, says Sipahi.

In addition, deaf people have higher energy costs, he explains.

They are dependent on more technology in everyday life - and also on more intensive lighting.

Some speeches in the state parliament hit him hard yesterday, he says.

For example, he cannot understand why the deaf allowance was not included in the coalition agreement after so many years of discussions, concepts and technical discussions.

“The Basic Law states that all people are equal.

We deaf people also pay taxes, we vote - it must also be possible for us

At the beginning of April, the state parliament is to discuss the deaf allowance again.

Greens, SPD* and FDP* want to continue fighting for the monthly amount.

Can Sipahi will of course follow the debate again - with the help of an interpreter.

In this case, the state parliament bears the costs.

*