Deaf people in Portugal have been without direct access to the emergency number 112 for almost five years. This situation was acknowledged by the government, which confirmed being aware of the problem and re-examining the issue to find a solution.
The lack of direct access to 112 represents a significant barrier for the deaf community, which cannot use emergency services autonomously like hearing people. This limitation puts at risk their safety and response capacity in emergency situations.
The government guaranteed that it is working on the matter and re-examining the issue, although no concrete date has yet been presented for the implementation of a solution. The situation has remained unresolved for almost half a decade, generating concern among organizations representing deaf people.
