Today, on the 14th of November 2022, at the reception ceremony at the presidential palace, president of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor presented special awards, named the Apple of Inspiration, to four individuals whose actions symbolise the values of solidarity, inclusiveness and the life-giving power of people working for the common good.
The apples of inspiration were awarded to Dr. Simona Gerenčer, secretary of the Deafblind Association of Slovenia DLAN, Mr. Matjaž Juhart, Mr. Bojan Mord and Mr. Jože Tekavčič.
Dr. Simona Gerenčer is a pioneer of scientific research and professional work with people with deafblindness in Slovenia, co-founder of the Deafblind Association of Slovenia DLAN and initiator of the entry of the language of the deafblind in the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia. Together with people with deafblindness and a team of professionals, she develops the language of people with deafblindness and many ways of communication. She is an interpreter for Slovenian sign language and language of deafblind, a supervisor in the field of social care and a co-founder of the Association of Interpreters for the Deafblind of Slovenia – TAKTIL (Združenje tolmačev gluhoslepim Slovenije TAKTIL).
For the period 2020-2024 she is also a member of the presidency of the National Council of Disabled People’s Organisations of Slovenia (Nacionalnega sveta invalidskih organizacij Slovenije). She is involved in research, national and international projects, is the author of numerous articles and books from the field of deafblindness, and is active in the field of social and disability care.
In 2019-2021, she was a member of the Expert Group of the Constitutional Commission of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia for the inclusion of sign language and the language of the deafblind in the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia.
Dr. Simona Gerenčer is particularly most deserving for the fact that our Constitution is the first in the world to include a decree on the language of the deafblind, making the Republic of Slovenia one of the first in the world and a great example to other countries in the field of efforts to improve the situation of one of the most vulnerable groups.
Through her tireless work, Dr. Simona Gerenčer is a great inspiration not only to people with deafblindness and their families, but to society as a whole.
We are publishing Dr. Simona Gerenčer’s full speech, that she had at the award ceremony:
Dear President of the Republic of Slovenia, Ladies and Gentlemen present,
I would like to express my sincere gratitude for this great recognition, which will serve to inspire me even more in my work for the common good.
For almost 17 years, people with deafblindness have had their own independent organisation, that is The Deafblind Association of Slovenia DLAN, which brings together 98% of people with deafblindness in the country, who identify themself as deafblind.
With the second paragraph of Article 62.a of the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia, which includes the language of the deafblind, we in the Expert Group of the Constitutional Commission of the National Assembly wanted to emphasise that they are a completely independent group with their own community, language and culture.
By enlisting the language of the deafblind in the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia, Slovenia has become a model country. At the DLAN Association we are committed to ensuring that the Constitution is implemented as soon as possible and that Slovenia also becomes a role model in the understanding of deafblindness and in the comprehensive regulation of the field of deafblindness. This will enable people with deafblindness not only to get their status and rights sorted out, but also to integrate fully into society and, ultimately, to be emancipated. We have the full support of the international community.
A big thank you therefore goes to the deafblind community in DLAN Association, because without them, the language of the deafblind would not have been developing, it would not have lived, and without them it would not made sense to fight for the rights of the people with deafblindness.
A heartfelt thank you to all the to all employees of the DLAN Association who improve the quality of life of people with deafblindness every day, all over Slovenia. A big heartfelt thank you to all the valued and great supporters of DLAN Association, without whom the justification of the language of the deafblind would not have happened, without whom the inclusion of the language of the deafblind in the Constitution would not have happened. Also, without them, DLAN Association would not have been able to overcome all the obstacles it has faced since its establishment in the Slovenian context.
Because every injustice and pain affects the individual, and deepens the question of the meaning of life for people with deafblindness, I feel it is only right to share this important recognition (the apple of inspiration) with the entire deafblind community and all DLAN Association supporters.
Additionally, with those people with deafblindness who, since the creation of the deafblind community, have been working wholeheartedly for a better tomorrow for all people with deafblindness, and who are extremely valuable to both the Slovenian and international deafblind community.
On behalf of all people with deafblindness and all colleagues and friends of people with deafblindness, sincere congratulations to Dr. Simona Gerenčer for this outstanding recognition. We are very proud of all we have achieved together and look forward to new challenges and successes.
