1. The Finnish Association of the Deaf Linguistic Rights of the Deaf in the field of Vocational Education Kaisa Alanne The Finnish Association of the Deaf The Research Institute for the Languages of Finland DEAFVOC2 Conference 19.11.2010

2. Contect The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in short Council Equality Directives in short Policies in Finland (cases) How do these documents impact the linguistic rights of the Deaf? Summary The Finnish Association of the Deaf

3. CRPD The Convention and the Optional Protocol Signatures and Ratifications: 147 signatories to the Convention 90 signatories to the Optional Protocol 96 ratifications of the Convention 60 ratifications of the Protocol (15.11.2010 un.org/disabilities/) The Finnish Association of the Deaf

4. Most important articles for Deaf people Non-discrimination on the basis of language and linguistic rights mentioned in many items of the convention starting from the preamble Sign language mentioned 8 times in 5 different articles: The Finnish Association of the Deaf

5. Article 2: Definition Article 9: Accessibility Article 21: Freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information Article 24: Education (3b, 3c, 4, 5) Article 30: Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport The Finnish Association of the Deaf

6. Article 24: Education 1. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to education. With a view to realizing this right without discrimination and on the basis of equal opportunity, States Parties shall ensure an inclusive education system at all levels and lifelong learning… The Finnish Association of the Deaf

7. Article 24: Education b) Facilitating the learning of sign language and the promotion of the linguistic identity of the deaf community; c) Ensuring that the education of persons, and in particular children, who are blind, deaf or deafblind, is delivered in the most appropriate languages and modes and means of communication for the individual, and in environments which maximize academic and social development. The Finnish Association of the Deaf

8. Article 24: Education 4. In order to help ensure the realization of this right, States Parties shall take appropriate measures to employ teachers, including teachers with disabilities, who are qualified in sign language and/or Braille, and to train professionals and staff who work at all levels of education. Such training shall incorporate disability awareness and the use of appropriate augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of communication, educational techniques and materials to support persons with disabilities. The Finnish Association of the Deaf

9. Article 24: Education 5. States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities are able to access general tertiary education, vocational training, adult education and lifelong learning without discrimination and on an equal basis with others. To this end, States Parties shall ensure that reasonable accommodation is provided to persons with disabilities. The Finnish Association of the Deaf

10. Equality and EU COUNCIL DIRECTIVE (2000/78/EC): establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE (COM (2008) 0426): on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation

11. Concepts Some conpects are ambiguous and subject to interpretation, for example: –Reasonable accommodation –Disproportionate/undue burden How can ’reasonable’ be fairly assessed, especially in Deaf education?

12. Other documents Government Disability Policy Programme, 2010 –Disability view The Language Policy Programme of the National Sign Languages of Finland 2010 –Linguistic-cultural view

13. The Finnish Situation The status of Finnish sign language changed in 1995, when the rights of persons using Sign language was secured in the section of fundamental rights in the renewed Constitution of Finland (specifically the section on language rights). The people using sign language were seen for the first time as a linguistic and cultural group

14. This did not guarantee satisfactory implementation of linguistic rights, there are still shortages in the legislation. Therefore the new language policy programme 2010- 2015 was prepared. The programme works as a tool for improving the linguistic rights of Sign language users and strengthening the status of Sign languages.

15. The aims of SL Policy 1. Sign Language Act 2. Council of Sign Language Affairs 3. Securing services in sign language 4. Sign language research 4. Implementation of CRPD

16. Summary What challenges does the UN Convention present to vocational training of the Deaf? –Today no country meets all the requirements of the UN Convention. What does the EU Equality directive require? The role of the DEAFVOC2-project in the challenges facing vocational training?