EU-Workshop: "Steps Towards an Improvement of the Participation of Deaf Persons in the Information Society" February 25 - 28 1999 KLAGENFURT FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT Aims: The main goal of the workshop is to improve the participation of deaf people in social life. To ensure this, barriers in everyday life shall be identified and suggestions for improvements made. One reason for the limited participation is that deaf-related work is almost completely carried out on a project basis and thus a continuous development in the interest of the deaf cannot set in. The workshop should lead to a stronger coordination of deaf activities and research as well as to the establishment of permanent structures for this work. The workshop consists of two main parts: 1. Taking stock of the current situation: Participants from all the EU-countries will get the chance to exchange information on the situation of the deaf in their respective countries. They will be asked to pay special attention to regulations and hindrances specific to their countries. Representatives of national deaf organizations and deaf/hearing scientists will talk about projects finished or in progress (concentrating on the topics of deaf education and sign language), paying special attention to possible practical solutions. A subsequent discussion shall lead to a collective evaluation of the situation of the deaf. 2. Preparation of a final document: Having identified the concrete concerns of the deaf in this way, their requests and suggestions on how to remedy the situation will be jointly formulated. Information and possible solutions will be put together in a final document, which will then be delivered up to the European Commission as well as to the individual EU-countries. This will hopefully result in an improved co-operation between the deaf organizations, administrative authorities, social partners and non- governmental organizations. A joint plan concerning the coordination of national activities to inform the public will be prepared, aiming at a new attitude towards deaf persons and their sign language as well as their problems. Participants: Each of the EU-countries will be represented by a delegation consisting of deaf persons (with interpreters) and deaf or hearing scientists. Additionally, there will be representatives of the European Union of the Deaf (EUD) and of the organizers of the workshop. The workshop is limited to a maximum number of 103 participants, composed as follows: 3 deaf persons for the EU-countries with the largest population (Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy and Spain) 2 deaf persons for any other EU-country two scientists (preferably deaf) for each EU-country 2 interpreters for each EU-country 5 representatives of the EUD 5 representatives of the organizers (™sterreichischer Geh”rlosenbund, A-H, SEMA, SITC, Research Center for Sign Language and the Communication of the Hearing-Impaired). There will be no fee for the workshop. Compensation: The participants will receive some compensation for outlay: Deaf persons will receive free board as well as a contribution to lodging expenses (53 ECU per day). Additionally, they will receive a contribution of 100 ECU to meet travel expenses. Scientists will receive free board as well as a contribution to lodging expenses (53 ECU per day). Interpreters will receive a lump sum of 850 ECU each (estimated expenditure of work: 10 hours) Presentations: Each of the EU-countries is scheduled for two presentations (of 20 minutes each): The deaf participants should present the situation of the deaf organizations and the sign language of the respective country as well as make suggestions on necessary improvements The scientists should present research on deaf issues, concentrating on results with practical applications. Afterwards, there will be a chance to discuss the presentations (10 minutes). Anybody interested in giving a presentation should fill in the additional form 'Presentation' at the end of the registration form. It is probable that - due to the limited number of participants - not all topics can be dealt with in presentations; all of them, however, may be displayed visually at the workshop, e.g. in the form of posters. If certain technical equipment is needed for the presentation/display, this should be stated in the form. Workshop languages: Presentations may be held either in a national sign language or in English. Sign language presentations will then be translated into English and from there into the other national sign languages and International Sign. Guidelines for presentations: In order to facilitate work for the interpreters as well as for the editorial staff of the final document, we would ask you to prepare your presentation in advance of the workshop and to send it to the Center for Sign Language Research and Communication of the Hearing-Impaired (cf. contact address below): Submissions may be sent in written form (preferably in English) or on video-tape (national sign language or International Sign with a spoken or written English translation). A final date for the submissions will be given in the second announcement. When preparing your presentation, please try to refer to the following topics (in order to avoid repetitions, we would ask you to check the EU-study on the situation of deaf persons in Europe "SIGN ON EUROPE" first): laws, political initiatives or concepts (on a national or regional level) with regard to: - sign language (official recognition and usage) - vocational integration and equal rights - social rights (e.g. legal claim to interpreting services, subtitles on TV) - education and educational methods + for deaf persons (children and adults of different age and social standing, including early training ("Fruehfoerderung"), with emphasis on higher education and university studies + for deaf children of hearing or deaf parents + for hearing or deaf parents of deaf children - services offered by private self-help organizations or private initiatives Examples of interesting questions would be the following: Which laws refer to deaf people in your country? Is sign language legally established in your country? Are there any supportive measures for the education/vocational training of deaf people? Which professions do deaf people choose? Are there any supportive measures on the job (e.g. interpreters, counselling)? Can you identify special problems for deaf people in everyday life? What about art and deaf culture? How much do deaf persons participate in the culture of hearing persons? Moreover, we would like to know the point of view of your organization with regard to the following questions: In your opinion, which regulations are (particularly) positive? What would you criticize? Name short- and long-term requests and needs of the deaf. Name the main factors for positive and negative influences, e.g. do you think that there is a relationship between educational methods and job chances of deaf persons? Please try to comment extensively on the positive points so that they may serve as suggestions for less advanced countries. Exhibition: We are planning a small exhibition of deaf-related material during the workshop. Therefore we would ask you to bring along (or send them in advance to the Center of Sign Language Research and Communication of the Hearing-Impaired, cf. contact adress below) whatever relevant material you can find in your country, e.g.: literature about deaf-related projects course material (books, video-tapes, CD-ROMs) references to newer deaf-specific studies information on initiatives of the deaf and on deaf culture Duration of the workshop: Presumably the workshop will start on Thursday, February 25 at 4.00 p.m. and end on Sunday, February 28 at 12.00 o'clock. Second Announcement: You will receive the second announcement in the second week of January, 1999. Contact addresses: The Austrian Deaf Association ("Oesterreichischer Gehoerlosenbund") as main contractor will take care of the deaf participants. Therefore we would ask all deaf participants to address their communication to them at: Oesterreichischer Gehoerlosenbund Waldgasse 13 A-1100 Wien AUSTRIA Fax: ++43 1 602 34 59 TTY: ++43 1 622 08 53 As for the hearing participants, for more information, questions or requests please contact us at: Center for Sign Language Research and Communication of the Hearing-Impaired Department of Linguistics and Computer Linguistics University of Klagenfurt Universitaetsstrasse 65-67 A-9020 Klagenfurt AUSTRIA Tel. ++43 463 27 00 - 474 or 348 Fax: ++43 463 27 00 - 351 E-mail: franz.dotter@uni-klu.ac.at REGISTRATION FORM YES, I would like to participate in the EU-Workshop "Steps Towards an Improvement in the Participation of Deaf Persons in the Information Society", February 25 - 28, Klagenfurt. Name:___________________________________First Name:_________________________ DEAF HEARING Profession:__________________________________________________________________ Function in deaf organization, if any:____________________________________________ Address:____________________________________________________________________ Post Code:_____________Town:________________________________________________ Country:____________________________________________________________________ Fax:_______________________________________________________________________ E-mail:_____________________________________________________________________ TTY:_______________________________________________________________________ Tel.:_______________________________________________________________________ I want a: Single room Two-bed room I would like to share the room with:__________________________________ Three-bed room I would like to share the room with:__________________________________ Please check the appropriate price category: Single room Two-bed room Three-bed room 26 ECU 23 - 27 ECU 18 ECU 31 ECU 30 - 33 ECU 38 ECU 56 ECU 50 ECU 68 ECU All prices (per person) include breakfast. All rooms are with bathroom facilities. Special diet, if any: Vegetarian Other (please specify):______________________________________ Date:__________________ Signature:____________________________________ PRESENTATION YES, I want to give a presentation. Name:___________________________________First Name:_________________________ DEAF HEARING Topic: ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ Summary of the presentation (voluntary): _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ I need the following technical equipment: ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ REGISTRATION FOR INTERPRETERS YES, I would like to function as a sign language interpreter in the EU-Workshop "Steps Towards an Improvement in the Participation of Deaf Persons in the Information Society", February 25 - 28, Klagenfurt. Name:___________________________________First Name:_________________________ YES, I can translate a sign language presentation into spoken English. YES, I am competent in International Sign. Address:____________________________________________________________________ Post Code:_____________Town:________________________________________________ Country:____________________________________________________________________ Fax:_______________________________________________________________________ E-mail:_____________________________________________________________________ TTY:_______________________________________________________________________ Tel.:_______________________________________________________________________ Date:__________________ Signature:____________________________________