Happiness to hear and be heard

№ 5 (12062) 14.01.10 More than 15 thousand people with impaired hearing live in Belarus. Probably, only they know the real value of sounds. In majority of the European countries all TV programs are broadcasted with closed caption – specially for deaf people. This is only may be a dream in this country. According to Anatoly Nikitin, vice chairman of the Belarusian Society of Deaf People, Non-Governmental Organization, people with impaired hearing should be satisfied with a creeping line in the news programs.

Joining Belarus to the UN Convention of Rights of Disabled People and passing, on 23 October 2009, the Law “On Entering Amendments and Addenda in Certain Laws of the republic of Belarus on the Issues of Social Welfare of Disabled People” gives birth to hopes that the situation will change for the better.

For more information see the Belarusian/Russian version.

15 January 2010