The National Union of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NSGNRSM) is promoting the pilot project "Digital Interpretation Service for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing" today at the House of Humanitarian Organizations "Dare Jambaz" in Skopje. It foresees that tablets will be placed at several points in certain institutions, such as the ministries of interior, health and other ministries. More than seven thousand deaf and hard of hearing people can make video calls to certified sign language interpreters to help them communicate with institutions and overcome the obstacles and misunderstandings they face.

Liza Velkoska, General Secretary at NSGNRSM emphasized that appropriate education for deaf people is needed, adaptation of the educational process where all relevant stakeholders will be involved so that we can, as she said, exactly what needs to be changed and find a way to continue forward with them. It emphasizes that the vision of this project is to deliver the highest quality remote video interpreting service that will empower deaf people to enjoy an independent and connected life with others in this society.

- Regarding the facilitation of the communication of deaf people, NSGNRSM has taken concrete steps and actions so far. The implementation of the call center project began in 2019 with the help of MTSP and is being implemented to this day. When they need to access a particular service, they communicate with the help of a third party. It instills their mistrust because they have to reveal all the information to the person they are accompanying. Without access to communication, deaf people are not complete, functional and independent. When this person experiences an accident, robbery, domestic violence or something similar, that person cannot report the same event to the police or the social worker without a companion. That person is powerless in that situation and withdraws into himself. When a deaf child cannot hear or understand the teacher, that child is helpless. When he is in such a situation, it very often happens that anger appears which can negatively affect the school environment. This should make us think because very often we can assume that these are people who cannot control their temper, but in fact they just don't know how to express their thoughts, emotions and feelings through words, Velkoska said.

She appeals to Minister Majiti to continue implementing the Ministry of Health project "My Health" used by deaf people until this pilot project gives the expected results.

According to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Oliver Spasovski, in parallel with the reforms in the institutions, it is necessary to raise awareness among the citizens.

- A step further for the general public to participate in the removal of barriers both in the physical and social environment. Therefore, I often say that our society needs a reform of the mind. Everyone deserves equal status in terms of rights and we should all work together towards full integration of deaf and hard of hearing people both in everyday life and in the working environment, said Spasovski.

Fatmir Mejiti, the Minister of Health emphasized that this initiative undoubtedly has a positive impact on the communication and accessibility of the community of deaf and hard of hearing people in our country.

- By placing tablets with a larger number of institutions, including health, as well as under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior and other ministries, it will be possible to more specifically see the needs of deaf and hard of hearing people who will communicate via video call with certified sign language interpreters, said Majiti .

Afrim Bunjaku, CEO of Virtual Assistant Group, the company that will implement the project, said that their goal was to contribute to deaf people and make them completely independent from their family members and friends when they become word for communication. With our solution, he said, we have helped thousands of deaf people learn, find jobs, start their own companies and most importantly be part of our society.

According to the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy, Enver Hussein, through the introduction of the pilot project "Digital Interpreting Service for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing", the deaf and hard of hearing community will receive relevant data by placing tablets at several points in certain institutions where, according to the calls of the call center are most needed. It emphasizes that this digital interpreter will not only facilitate and speed up the way of information transfer and will ensure the reliable and accurate transfer of information that deaf and hard of hearing people need in their daily lives.