Equality In Education And Employment

EUD is very well aware of the importance of education and supports all efforts to make sure that everybody has full and meaningful access to education and that everybody can receive an education of a high standard.

A positive sign language environment should be promoted in all settings for the deaf child, also children with a cochlear implant, and his/her family. Parents and family members should be encouraged to learn sign language to help them to communicate with their deaf child as fully and as naturally as possible.

In addition, bilingualism should be promoted in compulsory education for deaf children., i.e Deaf children are educated in the sign language and the written language –which is viewed as a second language- of the country. Studies show that this type of education leads to better academic results. However, the trend across the EU is to integrate deaf pupils into mainstream education where they often miss out much of the class room communication through lack of sign language interpretation and where many teachers have neither the training nor the resources to address the specific needs of Deaf pupils.

Governments should make advanced and university-level education more accessible to Deaf students by providing funds for sign language interpreters, note taking and tutorial assistance upon simple request. Universities and other institutions of higher education in Europe should work together to improve access for Deaf students.

Deaf adults also face barriers to lifelong learning when community education facilities refuse to provide adequate support services such as sign language interpreting and note taking.

For most people the opportunity to work is a fundamental part of their lives. Yet Deaf people face significant barriers in getting and keeping jobs. A Deaf person is several times more likely to be unemployed than a hearing person. Accessible training courses and reasonable workplace accommodation, such as special aids, and equipment and sign language interpreters are essential for Deaf workers, especially for those who lose their hearing during their working lives.