German MP makes first address to chamber in sign language

A German lawmaker made history on Thursday by giving the first address to parliament delivered in sign language and simultaneously spoken by an interpreter.Heike Heubach, MP from the centre-left Social Democrats who has been hearing impaired since childhood, addressed climate change in a debate on urban planning.

Heubach represents a constituency in the southern state of Bavaria and joined parliament in March to replace MP Uli Groetsch, who left the legislature to take up a post as a national police ombudsman.Fellow lawmakers applauded Heubach in sign language by raising and waving their hands as she took the podium and during her speech, and then giving her a standing ovation.