BDA report from EUD 2025 GA Warsaw part 2 (RA)

Hello my name is Robert Adams
and I am the Chair of the BDA.

I went with Rebecca to the EUD
conference, and I want to tell you that

this year the EUD celebrates its
40th anniversary as it was founded

back in 1985 in London by the BDA
working closely with the 4 organisations

and I am really pleased and proud
to say that work is carrying on through

research and working
with European countries.

They have representatives from
31 countries, including 26 EU member states.

and 5 countries are not member
of the EU included the UK.

I would like to highlight what
the EUD has achieved:

Advocacy and Policy the EUD strongly
influenced EU disability legislation,

focusing on Deaf rights, gender
equality, and sign language recognition.

Projects and Research which is ongoing,
EUD led several EU-funded projects

focusing on technology, education,
and political participation.

Representation the EUD has participated
in over 30 major events,

ensuring Deaf perspectives were
reflected in European policy,

including CRPD implementation
and the Social Rights Pillar.

Communication the EUD maintained
visibility through newsletters, social media,

and publications. Facebook and
LinkedIn saw audience growth in

followers of the EUD.

Artificial Intelligence and Accessibility,
EUD actively engaged in AI policy discussions,

advocating for safeguards to protect
Deaf people’s rights. It highlighted the

need to include national sign languages
in AI developments and raised concerns

about the EU AI Act’s lack of
strong human rights protections.

So now lets look forward
to the plan for 2025:

We have planned 4 board meetings
Board Meetings through out the year to

manage the EUD work.

To grow EUD TV segments on AI,
Deaf rights, and sign languages,

plus training on the CRPD and
human rights workshops.

Policy Focus, to have more Publications
planned on sign language recognition,

census data on Deaf communities,
and the implementation of key

EU accessibility laws.

We have other projects which will
continue throughout the year these include:

Project Involvement, the EUD will
continue working on apprenticeships,

AI and employment, Deaf education,
diversity in finance, and sign language

resources for teachers.

The motions for the general
assembly are as follows:

Slovenia, Proposed banning sound-producing
fireworks EU-wide. (Rejected)

Slovenia, Suggested creating
an EU-wide Inclusion Day. (Rejected)

France, called on EUD to address
the long-term impact of the

1880 Milan Congress on
Deaf education. (Approved)

Belgium, requested EUD to coordinate
implementation efforts among

member organisations. (Approved)

Belgium, proposed establishing a
recurring forum every four years for

networking and collaboration
across Europe. (Approved)

The 40th Anniversary celebration will
take place in December and the BDA

will be there to remember the founding
of the EUD back in 1985 in London and

we will also remember Jock Young
the first president of the EUD in 1985.

Next year the EUD General assembly
conference will be in Cyprus where

I will have more updates for you.