Deaf people without direct access to 112 for almost five years. The MA112 application, which allowed deaf people to request help through video calls to the emergency number 112, stopped working in December 2021, leaving this community without a direct and accessible means of accessing emergency services for almost five years.
The situation affects thousands of deaf people in Portugal who depended on this application to communicate with emergency services autonomously. Without the application, these people face significant barriers in communication with authorities in urgent situations.
An association representing deaf people advocates for the creation of an accessible emergency system funded by the State Budget. This solution would ensure that deaf citizens have equal access to emergency services, regardless of their condition.
The problem arises in the context of broader debates about accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities in Portugal, where the lack of adequate tools for emergency situations represents a serious gap in the protection of these people's rights.
