We, Sense International Romania and the Association Beyond Senses – the association of deafblind people in Romania, feel a deep disappointment and sadness that deafblindness has once again been left orphaned by any type of criterion that would lead to a correct identification of people who have both senses affected – both sight and hearing.

We have taken note of the appearance of the joint order of the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Health no. 2300/1457/2025 published on Thursday, November 6, 2025, in the Official Gazette of Romania, Part 1, no. 1027 Bis.

The letters we submitted to the Ministry of Labor (S.I.R. 136/12.09.2025, A.N.P.D.P.D. no. 041964/12.09.2025), respectively the Ministry of Health (137/22.09.2025) during the period in which these criteria were in public debate – lacking an official response, our participation in numerous debates and meetings on this topic, all remained completely without echo.

It is difficult for us to understand why people with deafblindness, as well as their rights, are ignored, as long as they exist, and the difficulties they face are real. In the public sector, topics such as the rights of people with disabilities, accessibility and inclusion are constantly debated, but when it is time for concrete measures, everything remains, once again, only at a declarative level.

Beyond any official formulations, letters and bureaucratic aspects, our approach is about PEOPLE. Deafblind people already have a status in the legislation conferred by Law 448/2006, deafblindness being recognized as a distinct disability, code 10. However, in the absence of criteria, these people do not benefit from the rights they are entitled to nor the support they so badly need.

We request the Ministry of Labor, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity, the National Authority for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Ministry of Health to provide a point of view and a detailed description of the reasons behind the complete ignoring of our approaches so that, depending on the responses received, we can take our approach further involving the national authorities, the relevant European and international forums.

Why does the new legislative act not include a clear definition of deafblindness, namely a set of criteria related to this distinct type of disability (deafblindness - code 10)?