The election campaign has come to a head in Spikersuppa in Oslo. But local politician Sonja Myhre Holten (V) also fights another battle: To be politically active even though she is deaf. – It was a panel debate where I was supposed to represent the Liberal Party. I had ordered a sign language interpreter, but of course I didn’t get it. The Left Party was then not given the opportunity to express its policy, she says. Holten is most often on the stand without an interpreter: – I have given up ordering an interpreter here. I can’t bear to go to the basement every time I get a no. Sonja Myhre Holten (V) has had to drop a lot in everyday life because she cannot get an interpreter. Photo: ASTRID JOHANNE SØRNES She believes it is more difficult for deaf people to rise in politics. – The party may think that there is no point in betting on me, because I won’t get an interpreter anyway, says Holten. Disagreement about interpreter shortage In almost nine out of ten cases, you get an interpreter when you order one. That is according to Nav, which is responsible for the interpretation service. – But we do not experience the same, says Petter Noddeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Association of the Deaf. He estimates that only around half of the orders lead to an interpreter being obtained. Last year, there were over 10,000 assignments that were not covered by the interpreting service. – Nav must take responsibility for each and every one of them, says Noddeland. Petter Noddeland from the Norwegian Association of the Deaf believes that Nav must take responsibility. Photo: ASTRID JOHANNE SØRNES But Nav insists that 88 per cent get an interpreter. – It is an average, and therefore the experience for the individual may be different. Some get an interpreter less often, others more often than this. That’s what senior adviser at Nav aids and facilitation, Berit Søgård, says, and adds: – I can well understand that it’s frustrating. After all, we work to ensure that everyone gets it. Berit Søgård from Nav understands the frustration, but insists that a large majority get an interpreter. Photo: PRIVAT Must make priorities Several deaf people news has spoken to tell of cases where they have been refused an interpreter at the last minute – even though they have applied several months before. They mention weddings, school graduations and job seminars. The thousands of uncovered interpreting assignments are due to a lack of interpreters, explains Søgård from Nav. In the Facebook group “100% covered”, deaf and hard of hearing people share experiences where they have not had an interpreter. Photo: SCREEN DUMP – A number of freelance interpreters found other things to do during the pandemic, because then there was lower demand, she says. Mariann Eidberg is the head of the Interpreters in the Association of Academicians, and has carried out an investigation into this. – The main reason why freelance interpreters quit is pay and working conditions, she says. In any case, the lack of interpreters has meant that Nav has to prioritize. – We first cover important events in life, such as emergency situations, funerals and health services. Then there is work and education, says Søgård. Politics and social engagement end up at the bottom of the list, along with other tasks under “daily life”. – Democratic problem This may explain why Sonja Myhre Holten cannot get an interpreter to campaign. – I feel that I am being taken for a fool, she says. It is challenging to communicate politics as a deaf person without an interpreter. Photo: ASTRID JOHANNE SØRNES She points out that it is more difficult for deaf people to understand politics. – I also want to know something about Oslo politics, and the alternatives between the two mayoral candidates. How do they argue for themselves? I want to learn from it too, she says. Noddeland from the Norwegian Association of the Deaf agrees. He calls it a democratic problem. – It is absolutely terrible, he says. – The consequence is that society loses a group that has a lot to contribute. We deaf people know where the shoe presses. We are aware of problems that the rest are not aware of, says Noddeland.
ttn-69
Not allowed to participate in politics because she is deaf – news Culture and entertainment
