Language is a fundamental communication tool. When speaking about people with hearing disabilities, sign language constitutes a necessary pillar for daily interaction, for access to information, and for the resolution of issues.
From the Health Secretariat through the Disability Directorate, a video call line was launched for deaf people or those with a hearing disability. It is a service that is enabled 24 hours a day, with personalized attention throughout the year.
The initiative is part of the inclusive policies of the municipal government led by mayor Enrique Cresto. In this sense, the director of Disability Marcelo Primitivo valued the work that has been carried out in conjunction with the Sign Language interpreter Silvina Helbert.
“It is a tool that we launched more than a year ago and that has had a very important assessment by the entire deaf community and the intimate and family circle that surrounds it,” commented Primitivo. And he said that the video call line for deaf people is in operation every day. “Throughout the day they can communicate for any emergency at 345 5 529 222 and they will be attended by the Sign Language interpreter Silvina Helbert or a person from her team,” he stated.
GREATER ACCESSIBILITY, GREATER COMMUNICATION
For her part, the Sign Language interpreter Silvina Helbert labeled the balance of the work as very positive and explained that “upon implementing the line, the reaction of the deaf community was initially very good. It is a listening, informative, and emergency line that is not only used by people with hearing disabilities but also by their relatives who are truly very grateful,” she highlighted.
“From this line, I have been called by ANSES when a person is going to carry out a procedure and needs advice from different shops and companies so that the beneficiaries can buy their products without any problem. Also, from different institutions or when a member of the community wants to have a job interview, with this tool we help the human resources interviewer to conduct it,” she added.
Next, Silvina told an anecdote that happened to her during the implementation of the line. “What will remain in my memory forever was that I provided accompaniment during a birth. Obviously, as it was during the pandemic, I could not accompany the girl in person and she was accompanied with this line. The truth is that it was a very beautiful experience because afterwards seeing the baby and that the mother was fine and that everything went well was gratifying. The woman felt supported and it was very emotional for me and thanks to this tool,” she highlighted.
Finally, she pointed out that she feels very proud to be part of the Disability Directorate team. “I am very grateful to this administration. To mayor Enrique Cresto for giving us the possibility to work with freedom and trust. Also, to the Health Secretary Mauro Garcia and the Disability Director Marcelo Primitivo. The truth is that I feel proud to be able to contribute a grain of sand because this implies an interest in improving communication day by day. The deaf community knows that they have a line to turn to and one can accompany from this small place,” she concluded.