Romanian context

Policies related to AAC in Romania are generally presented in several legislative documents: Law  no. 448 /2006 (with subsequent amendments) on the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities; Convention of 26 September 2007 on the rights of persons with disabilities, Law No 27/2020 on Romanian Sign Language and the National Strategy on the social inclusion of persons with disabilities 2014-2020.  

1. LAW No. 448/2006  provides for the transcription or translation of information and cultural materials into information access systems specific to people in certain disability categories: Braille alphabet, audio recordings, visual writing with enlarged letters, mime-gesture language, pictograms;
2. Article 2 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities defines “communication” as follows: “Communication” includes languages, text display, Braille, tactile communication, large print, accessible multimedia, as well as written, audio, plain language, human reader, augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of communication, including accessible information and communication technology;

Art 24, point 3 states that States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities have the opportunity to develop skills that facilitate their full and equal participation in education and as members of the community. To this end, States Parties shall take appropriate measures, including:

1. Facilitating the learning of Braille, alternative script, augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of communication, orientation and mobility skills, facilitating peer support and mentoring;
2. Facilitating the learning of sign language and the promotion of the linguistic identity of the deaf community;
3. Ensuring that the education of persons, and in particular children, who are blind, deaf or deafblind, is delivered in the most appropriate languages and modes and means of communication for the individual, and in environments which maximize academic and social development.

The main objectives are contained in the National Strategy on the social inclusion of persons with disabilities: 

• accessibility of mainstream education at all levels through:  the adaptation of physically built environment and transport; adapting teaching resources and methods (e.g.  sign language, flexible school curriculum, teaching/learning aids – Braille, enlarged or simplified texts, websites, etc. electronic assistive technologies; provision of individualised support services for inclusive education and independent living; 
•  facilitating  learning of alternative writing and verbal communication systems, means and forms of orientation and mobility skills by children and young people with disabilities, where appropriate, and to facilitate support and guidance between people with the same problems;

/

The application of AAC in Romanian schools is made  by  the teachers working with children with special educational needs, depending on the child’s needs and the teacher’s knowledge and expertise. Currently, at university level there are specialized courses (e.g. the courses “Alternative and Augmentative Communication Systems”, ”IT, Communication and Access Technologies” , ”Sign Language”  offered to students at the Department of Special Pedagogy at Babeș-Bolyai University) for the initial training of the teachers. However, the training of teachers to use certain AAC systems depends on the strategy and resources allocated by each educational institution. 

The main problem is the application of AAC for children integrated into mainstream education and the limited material resources.

/

Parlamentul României, (2006)” LEGE nr. 448 din 6 decembrie 2006 (**republicată**)privind protecția și promovarea drepturilor persoanelor cu handicap*)”  https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocumentAfis/210804

Guvernul României, (2007),  HOTĂRÂRE nr. 268 din 14 martie 2007 pentru aprobarea Normelor metodologice de aplicare a prevederilor Legii nr. 448/2006 privind protecţia şi promovarea drepturilor persoanelor cu handicap EMITENT GUVERNUL Publicat în   MONITORUL OFICIAL nr. 233 din 4 aprilie 2007 https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocumentAfis/80918

Monitorul Oficial, (2010) ”CONVENŢIE din 26 septembrie 2007privind drepturile persoanelor cu dizabilităţi” EMITENT ACT INTERNAŢIONAL Publicat în  MONITORUL OFICIAL nr. 792 din 26 noiembrie 2010 https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocumentAfis/123948

Ministerul Muncii, Familiei, Protecției Sociale şi Persoanelor Vârstnice ( 2014) ”Strategia Națională Privind Incluziunea Socială A Persoanelor Cu Dizabiltăţi 2014-2020”  https://www.mmuncii.ro/j33/images/Documente/protectie_sociala/DPPD/2014-01-31_Strategie_DPPD-2014-2020.pdf