Vilnius Deaf People Rehabilitation Centre started the project “Potential of adaptation of 112 emergency number to the needs of Deaf People: Lithuanian and Norwegian („Deaf Access 112“). Main goal of the project – to adapt single emergency call number 112 services to Deaf People Community and to capacitate those people to use number 112 to as accessible extent as it is available to hearing people.

Project is partly funded by Norwegian Financial Mechanism, therefore one of the partners Norwegian National Centre on Emergency Communication in Health. Other partners: Lithuanian Deaf People Association, National Deaf People Rehabilitation Centre and 112 Emergency response centre.

In the course of project partners will exchange their experience, will get acquainted with Norwegian and international progress in the field of adaptation of services to Deaf People as well as will clarify their needs towards more friendly emergency services and will discuss potential alternative of making number 112 accessible to their needs. Outcomes of the project will be delivered in feasibility study that would provide guidelines for the creation particular technical and organizational solutions as well as for provision Deaf friendly 112 services.

There live about 8000 deaf people in Lithuania. Some of them live with their hearing relatives that assist them in case of emergency. However self-dependant members, their family are often remain out of help” – states project coordinator Rima Kuralavičiūtė. “Employees of Vilnius Deaf People Rehabilitation Centre on numerous case interceded members of deaf community, when they have been hurt and couldn’t call for help, and their offender weren’t detained and punished” she added.

“We understand the demand among deaf people to call for help directly, without intermediation, therefore we are the partner to this project” claimed Artūras Kedavičius, Chief Manager of the 112 Emergency Response Centre. “By having a possibility to contact Emergency Response Centre directly deaf people would safe precious time, as a result emergency assistance would be rendered them in quicker way”.

Vilnius Deaf People Rehabilitation Centre is autonomous, voluntary and non-profit organization, operating in the field of rehabilitation of deaf people and seeking the integration of those people. Centre provides consultation, employment, leisure, socio-cultural activity services to the deaf people of Vilnius County.

Lithuanian 112 Emergency Response Centre is public institution. Main task of it is to answer 112 emergency calls and to initiate the provision of the immediate assistance to those in need. Emergency Response Centre operates in 28 municipalities that populate 2/3 of total population of Lithuania.

bpc112.lt