02/20100
MEP Ádám Kósa speaks to Independent Living News!
Hungarian lawyer, Ádám Kósa, is the first deaf person and sign language user to be elected to the European Parliament. On top of this success in June 2009, he has also recently been nominated as President of the European Parliament's Disability Intergroup. The re-established Intergroup was launched with a New Year's Cocktail in Brussels on the 27th of January. At the launch, the Intergroup also presented the Disability Pact for 2011 - 2021, proposed by the European Disability Forum (EDF). MEP Ádám Kósa has answered the following questions for readers of Independent Living News!
What made you decide to pursue politics?
In January 2009, the Hungarian EPP- ED Group asked me if I would accept to be a candidate to the European Parliament or not. After a short pondering, I decided that this opportunity could not be missed in the name of the Hungarian community of disabled persons. But apart from this, my only aim has always been to represent disabled people (and of course, the deaf community) according to my best knowledge.
What has been the biggest challenge for you as a deaf person in your career?
To finish university!
How did it feel to be the first person to address the European Parliament in sign language?
It was great and as it was historical in its own way, it made me think over my life.
02/20101
European 112 Day celebrated all over Europe
11th February 2010 marks the second edition of the European 112 Day. The emergency number 112 is common to all 27 countries of the European Union and is used to contact emergency services free of charge. MEP Adam Kósa also attracts attention to the service of the association.
While the surveys have shown that more than 9 out of 10 Europeans are positive towards the creation and existence of this life saving number, still 3 out of 4 are unaware of these 3 digits that could save their lives when in need of reaching the police, ambulance or fire services. Therefore, events to promote the knowledge and good use of 112 are organised today in several European cities from Portugal to Finland and from Belgium to Bulgaria.
The European Parliament has been launching a series of initiatives* to disseminate the information during the last months and is also celebrating the European 112 Day. “Having access to the European Emergency Number 112 is every European citizen’s right; informing about this right is my role as Member of the European Parliament who was elected to represent the voice and work for the best interest of citizens”, commented Adam Kosa, Member of the European Parliament and President of the Disability Intergroup.
Additionally, a three-year project named REACH112, partially funded by the European Commission, is running in five countries. It will deploy a new text/voice/video communication solution to allow thousands of people to communicate in video, voice and text simultaneously, with special focus on disabled people. The project will also offer access to relay services to help connect users with different abilities to others and will also provide access to the emergency services. "The REACH 112 project initiative will provide modes of communication to find a way to communicate in each situation, may it be with a live real-time text conversation, with sign language, with lip reading, with voice or with any simultaneous combination of these modes. This will also be a major step ahead for persons with disabilities in the equality to access emergency services in a society designed for all", he added.
“Please remember to teach 112 to your children: 112 is 1 mouth, 1 nose and 2 eyes!”, he concluded.