The test period of a video-based sign language interpretation service was launched on Monday with the objective of facilitating communication for people with hearing impairments as well as to make possible the employment of more people with disabilities, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said.

The Prime Minister addressed a ceremonial event at the Budapest headquarters of the Hungarian Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, highlighting that the unemployment rate of people living with disabilities has dropped by 40 percent over the past four years.

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With a budget of HUF 526 million (EUR 1.7m), the video interpreting service is expected to initially help around 70,000 people to arrange matters with the authorities, at the workplace and in health care institutions. This number can be extended later to 100,000.

Prime Minister Orbán noted that Hungary has been the first country in the world to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, adding that the Hungarian Fundamental Law also protects sign language.

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A total of HUF 44 billion (EUR 147 million) have been spent on improving equal opportunities for persons with disabilities under the arrangements of the New Széchenyi Plan, including HUF 900 million (EUR 3 million) spent on persons with hearing difficulties, he said.

The service is available free of charge to members of the Association during the test period, which will run until 28 February 2015.

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According to plans, the majority of government offices will be made accessible to the disabled and the video interpreter service will be available free of charge for people with hearing difficulties.

Member of the European Parliament Ádám Kósa – the first MEP to use sign language – also attended the event and stressed that the new service will help people with hearing impairments to live as equal citizens of society.

(Prime Minister’s Office)