On November 28-29, EFHOH participated in the European Days of Persons with Disabilities 2024 in Brussels. The event, organized by the European Commission and the European Disability Forum, focused on the progress of the EU Disability Rights Strategy 2021–2030, marking the midpoint of its implementation.
Day 1: Advancing the Disability Strategy and the Right of Independent Living
The opening discussions reflected on the strategy’s achievements, including establishing AccessibleEU and the European Disability Card. However, panelists highlighted ongoing challenges, such as the employment gap (only 50.8% of persons with disabilities are employed compared to 75% of the general population) and the slow transition from institutionalized care to independent living. The importance of intersectional policies to address the unique challenges faced by women and girls with disabilities, as well as those with invisible disabilities, was also a key topic of discussion.
EFHOH President Lidia Best highlighted to the panelists the growing impact of hearing loss, noting WHO estimates of 630 million affected by 2030 and over 900 million by 2050. She urged the Commission to include a targeted hearing loss strategy in the Disability Rights Strategy, emphasizing its importance in addressing isolation, mental health, and participation in the labor market. The panel’s response was measured, stressing the need for a comprehensive approach addressing all disabilities, though no specific commitments to hearing loss were made.
Day 2: Accessibility and Inclusive Cities
On the second day, the panelists focused on accessible infrastructure and inclusive urban development, with particular emphasis on using digital technologies to create “smart cities” that are universally accessible. They discussed the benefits of inclusive design, which not only supports persons with disabilities but improves the overall functionality of urban spaces for everyone.
During this session, EFHOH President Lidia Best underlined the need for effective communication for people with hearing loss, stating: “If we don’t have effective communication, we feel left out. We don’t understand what the person is saying. Asking for repeat often meets with attitude issues, where people find it aggressive.” She stressed the need for hearing loops and speech-to-text in public spaces to ensure full participation in public spaces.
We appreciated the accessibility measures implemented during the EDPD 2024 sessions, especially those addressing hearing loss. The provision of speech-to-text interpretation and FM systems, alongside multilingual interpreters, ensured that participants with hearing loss could fully engage in the discussions.
Overall, the EDPD 2024 highlighted the need for greater accessibility, inclusive employment, and community-based support. EFHOH will keep advocating for hearing loss to be explicitly recognized within the EU Disability Rights Strategy, ensuring it is properly addressed in future policies.
