Lithuanian blind and visually impaired association criticises culture committee’s LRT council decision

The Lithuanian Blind and Visually Impaired Association (LASS) has condemned the parliament’s Culture Committee for appointing a representative from the Lithuanian Association of Persons with Disabilities to the governing board of Lithuania’s national broadcaster LRT, arguing the chosen organisation does not adequately represent blind or deaf communities.

In a statement reported by LRT, LASS president Paulius Kalvelis called the committee’s decision “paradoxical,” noting that while LRT’s own audits stress the need to improve accessibility for visually and hearing-impaired audiences, the selected organisation lacks direct ties to those groups.

“We talk about accessibility for the blind and deaf, yet their voices are not heard,” Kalvelis said. “Decisions about our needs are made by people with neither lived experience nor organisational competence to represent us.” He added that the move violates the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which requires states to actively consult affected communities.

LASS also criticised the committee for failing to seek broader input from disability organisations before the vote. Kalvelis noted that opposition proposals to hear from experts and advocacy leaders were ignored, despite calls for a more inclusive selection process.

The Culture Committee defended its choice by arguing the Lithuanian Association of Persons with Disabilities represents multiple disability groups, including visual and hearing impairments—a claim LASS dismissed as misleading.