sms emergency service coming soon for deaf people d · donate to deaf australia? a donation form is...

Vol. 19, Issue 3, April 2010 www.deafau.org.au 1

outlookDeaf people are accepted,

respected and included in the Australian Community.

SMS EMERGENCY SERVICECOMING SOON FOR DEAF PEOPLE

Deaf Australia is delighted with the Australian Government’s announcement on 20th April

that an SMS emergency service for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing will be established.

The move was announced by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy in an address to the CommsDay Summit in Sydney.

The announcement follows a feasibility study into the provision of an SMS emergency service, conducted by ACMA in 2009.

Deaf Australia has been advocating for an SMS emergency service for a number of years. Following a forum and roundtable discussion on access to emergency services hosted by Deaf Australia in 2008, where it was agreed that “something is better than nothing” ACMA agreed to conduct the feasibility study.

“We are absolutely delighted with this news. Finally Deaf and hard of hearing people will be able to feel more safe when they go out into the community because they will be able to call emergency services if they need them,” said Deaf Australia President Kyle Miers.

Deaf Australia congratulates the Minister on this progressive step forward for equal access for Deaf and hard of hearing people.

Currently Deaf and hard of hearing people are only able to access emergency services by using a TTY (telephone typewriter) or computer modem and calling the National Relay Services on the dedicated 106 emergency number. TTYs are not portable, so when a Deaf or hard of hearing person leaves their home or workplace they have no access to emergency services.

With the establishment of an SMS emergency service Deaf and hard of hearing people will finally have access to emergency services regardless of where they are.

Deaf Australia also congratulates the Minister on his announcement that the Government will consult on improvements to the National Relay Service (NRS). Deaf Australia will continue to advocate for a Video Relay Service to be included in the NRS.

The Minister’s speech is at http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/speeches/2010/006

The Australian Government

announced on 20th April, 2010 that an

SMS emergency service for people

who are Deaf or hard of hearing will be

established.

Vol. 19, Issue 3, April 20102 www.deafau.org.au

Deaf Australia Inc (Head Office)

271A Stafford RoadSTAFFORD QLD 4052

TTY: (07) 3357 8277Fax: (07) 3357 8377

Voice: (07) 3357 8266Email: [email protected]

Website: www.deafau.org.au

Deaf Australia SydneyThe Auslan Shop

Dara House361-365 North Rocks Road

NORTH ROCKS NSW 2151PO BOX 4681

NORTH ROCKS NSW 2151TTY: (02) 9871 8400Fax: (02) 9871 8218

Voice: (02) 9873 3420

Deaf Australia BoardPresident: Kyle Miers, VicSecretary: Ann Darwin, Vic

Treasurer: Gavin Rosey-Mundy, NSWBoard Members: Irene Holub,Vic; Danni

Wright, NSW; Daniel Shanahan, NT; 1 Vacant.

Deaf Australia StaffExecutive Officer, Outlook Editor:

Karen Lloyd AMPolicy Officer: David Parker

Training Co-ordinator: Rachel ByrnesASC Consultant: Dr Donovan CresdeeASC Course Co-ordinator: Neil Wood

Auslan Products: Sally StrobridgeProducts Design: Michelle BrennanOffice Administrator: Gaye Lyons

Education Programs Administrator: Rebecca Driscoll

Trainee Administration Officer: Sheena Helton

Accounts: Tony BonfiglioThe Auslan Shop Co-ordinator:

Sue Wright

Office Volunteers:Janelle Ravlich

John Louttit

SignPost Volunteers:Andrew Wiltshire, Todd Wright,

Caroline Conlon, Sofya Gollan, Tony Clews, Marcel Leneham, Donovan Mulligan.

Membership and Advertising EnquiriesPhone: (07) 3357 8266TTY: (07) 3357 8277 Fax: (07) 3357 8377

Email: [email protected]?

If you are a member of Deaf Australia’s Outlook Newsletters, please email [email protected] to update your new

postal address.Donate to Deaf Australia?

A donation form is available near the back of each newsletter.

about Deaf Australia Inc

Deaf Australia (then called the Australian Association of the Deaf) was established in 1986 to work at the national level in collaboration with its state branches. Deaf Australia is the Australian national member of the World Federation of the Deaf, is a founding member of Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO), and works cooperatively with many organisations to achieve a better quality of life for deaf people.

Deaf Australia’s Mission: Deaf Australia is the only leading national peak body for deaf people managed for and by deaf people. We represent, promote and preserve the Australian Deaf community and its language and culture. We provide an advocacy and information service for and about deaf people. We work with the deaf community and stakeholders in the best interest of deaf people.

Deaf Australia’s Vision:Deaf people are accepted, respected and included in the Australian community.

Did you know?Deaf Australia has been lobbying for your rights for 24 years, with a great deal of success. In this time, captioning on free to air TV, pay TV and in cinemas has improved and continues to improve. Twenty-three years ago there was a bit of captioning on free to air TV and that was about it.

In this time the NRS (including Internet NRS) and NABS and Auslan for Employment were established. Access to education, especially at TAFE and university has improved. You can now get an interpreter and/or notetaker for most courses. Bilingual education programs are now available for children. And lots more.

In this time, the Australian Government has directly allocated millions of dollars to establish new services for Deaf people. Millions more dollars each year have been paid by telcos to fund the NRS. All these millions of dollars are a direct result of Deaf Australia’s lobbying by ourselves and in co-operation with other organisations. But none of this money comes directly to Deaf Australia.

Deaf Australia still operates on small grants from the Australian Government, and some fee for service activities.

Deaf Australia needs more support to do the things we do for Deaf people. If you are able to make a donation or bequest, however large or small, it will make a difference. Even a $2.00 per pay day regular donation to Deaf Australia will make a difference to what we can do. It will go a very long way to improving Deaf people’s lives, including your own life and your children’s lives.

All donations to Deaf Australia are tax deductible.


Features

10KOOKABURRA AWARDS Nominate someone for a Kookaburra Award.

DISCLAIMER:Deaf Australia Outlook contains opinions from many contributors.

This does not mean these opinions are supported by Deaf Australia Inc.

Funded by the Australian Government through the Department

of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

1 SMS EMERGENCY SERVICE The Australian Government has announced that an SMS emergency service will be established.

4 FROM THE PRESIDENT An update about cinemas, SMS emergency services, members survey and the National Deaf Conference.

5 FROM THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER An update on what Deaf Australia has been working on.

6 CINEMAS APPLICATION FOR EXEMPTION REFUSED The Australian Human Rights Commission has rejected an application from the big 4 cinemas for an exemption from complaints.

8 HISTROY TO HAPPEN IN VANCOUVER, CANADA An historic declaration will be made at the 21st International Congress on Education of the Deaf (ICED) in Vancouver, Canada in July 2010.

12DOROTHY SHAW YOUNG WRITERS COMPETITION Calling young Deaf and hard of hearing story tellers. The 2010 competition is now open.

13SUPPORTERS GROUP Not a member? Become a supporter. Here’s how.

14STRATEGIC PLANNING WEEKENDIs there something you think Deaf Australia should do? Tell us now, in time for our strategic planning weekend.


from the president

Kyle Miers, President of Deaf Australia

There have been lots of developments for the month of April and Deaf Australia

are pleased with a number of things. Importantly, the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has rejected the big 4 cinema’s application for an exemption from complaints because they feel that the cinema’s offer does not meet exemption criteria. Increasing to a meagre 35 cinemas which represents about .03% of total screens, and by anyone’s standards, the proposal is far too low. We are pleased that AHRC has recognised this. Our board member, Irene Holub, will be representing Deaf Australia on the Cinema Captioning working group, working with the deaf community. Deaf Australia will put a question to you, members of the deaf community on ‘What is an acceptable level of cinema captioning?’ Please respond to the survey as it will assist us to advocating for your views.

In another significant outcome, after years of lobbying for SMS Emergency services, the Commonwealth Government recognised that there is a need for SMS Emergency Service and will work to make this happen. Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA) undertook a feasibility study on SMS Emergency Service in 2009 under our direct influence in our

2008 Emergency Service Forum roundtable where we agreed that ‘Something is better than nothing’.

In the same announcement, the Commonwealth Government announced it will conduct community consultations on the National Relay Service. Deaf Australia will continue to lobby for a Video Relay Service.

Our new ‘Supporter of Deaf Australia’ has taken off like wildfire. We have received a large number of signups to supporter status. It is free; however, supporters will need to register and will not have full benefits of a paying member – e.g. they will not receive discounts on events and The Auslan Shop goods, they will not be able to vote. To apply for Supporter of Deaf Australia please see www.deafau.org.au/profile/supporter.php

We have recently undertaken membership satisfaction survey and the results are on Deaf Australia’s website. In general, the members are satisfied with our work, consultation and representation of our consituents.

You should have received by now an announcement of our 2nd National Deaf Conference that will be held in Hobart, Tasmania next year. The

theme for the conference is ‘From Little Things Big Things Grow’. The conference will also celebrate 25th years of Deaf Australia.

Next month, Deaf Australia will hold a series of strategic planning workshops with board, staff and state branch representatives in Sydney. I will report our activities next month.

In my recent open letter to Deafness Forum, we have put on the table a request for Deafness Forum to meet with us to discuss issues raised. Deafness Forum has yet to take up the offer and the offer is still on the table.

Deafinately YoursKyle MiersPresident

The Australian Human Rights

Commission has rejected the big 4

cinema’s application for exemption from

complaints...


from the Executive Officer

WHAT’S YOUR STORY?Do you have a story that you want to share with us? We invite readers to share

their stories. Write up to 500 words about your real life experience with deafness

and send it to us. Selected articles will be published in future Outlook newsletters.

Please include your name, address, email address and mobile number in case

we need to contact you. Letters may be edited and used in all print and electronic

media with your permission. If you do not want your name published please tell us

when you send your letter. Send your story to “Letters to the Editor”, 271A Stafford

Road, STAFFORD QLD 4053. Email: [email protected]

Karen Lloyd, Executive Officer.

Here is a summary of Deaf Australia’s activities for March 2010. The list does not include normal everyday activities such as updating the website, responding to the hundreds of emails we receive including information inquiries and all the activities involved in organising meetings, running classes and workshops and administering the organisation (finance, legal, reporting etc):

• Along with other organisations funded by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA), attended a workshop to discuss a review of FaHCSIA’s secretariat funding program

• Attended 2 days AFDO strategic planning workshop• Met with Veronica Pardo and Dean Barton Smith to discuss the cinema

captioning campaign• Met with Deaf Children Australia to discuss early intervention issues• Attended a meeting of the Support and Advocacy Working Group of the

Queensland Forum for Children with Hearing Loss• Attended and made a presentation at a telecommunications seminar in Brisbane on 24th March, organised by

Deafness Forum• Developed and distributed a survey, compiled responses and sent a policy advice paper about advocacy

services to FaHCSIA• Continued to liaise with the Australian Human Rights Commission on a number of complaints from Deaf

people against their local cinema. We are currently managing 43 complaints• Developed and distributed documents and video clips for our “I need a next generation NRS” campaign – for

Video Relay Service, Captel and mobile emergency (SMS) services to be included in the NRS • Next Generation NRS campaign website up and running• Also developed and distributed an information kit and dedicated website for campaign ambassadors• Attended Telstra Disability Forum• Sent a funding application to ACCAN for communications representation project (new version of DTAN) for

2010-11• Sent out a media release about Auslan as an official language• Liaised with Deaf community in the ACT about the possibility of establishing an ACT branch of Deaf Australia

or something similar, and attended a community meeting in Canberra about this on 27 March• Videos clips made of Deaf Australia’s Vision and Mission statements in Auslan and loaded to the website

...letters to the editor


captioningCINEMAS APPLICATION

FOR EXEMPTION REFUSED

The Rudd Government will work with cinema industry to help them meet their obligations

under the Disability Discrimination Act.

The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has refused to grant an application

from the Hoyts Corporation, Greater Union Organisation, Village Cinemas and Reading Cinemas for a temporary exemption from the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 ( the DDA) in relation to the provision of captions and audio description. The cinemas had asked for an exemption from complaints for 2.5 years while they worked to increase the number of their cinemas with captioned and audio described movies from 12 to 35. The AHRC said that:

In making this decision the Commission considered:

• Whether the activities that are the subject of the application constitute discrimination contrary to the DDA;

• Whether granting the exemption would be consistent with the objects of the DDA;

• The applicant’s reasons for seeking an exemption;

• Submissions by interested parties; and

• All relevant provisions of the DDA.

The Commission also had regard to the reasonableness of the exemption sought, weighing up the nature and extent of its discriminatory effect against the reasons advanced in its favour. While the Commission has in the past granted temporary exemptions on the basis of commitments by applicants to take action progressively to meet the objects of the DDA, in this instance on balance the Commission did not consider the application to represent sufficient progress to be considered reasonable. A fuller version of this decision and statement of reasons will be posted shortly on the Commission’s website. In a media release, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, the Hon. Bill Shorten said: “People with a hearing or vision impairment have the same right to enjoy a trip to the movies as the rest of the population.

“I am acutely aware of the difficulties faced by people with a hearing or vision impairment in getting access to a cinema. They often have to travel for long distances or are restricted to certain sessions at a cinema. “Requiring patrons with a hearing impairment to attend a Wednesday

matinee during work hours should not be considered meaningful access. “The cinema industry has made some progress in providing better services for both hearing and vision-impaired customers in recent years, but it needs to recognise that it has a responsibility to cater for the entire community.

“I believe that there is a market for captioned films and new technology that allows the entire community to enjoy films and that the cinema industry should be looking to capture these potential customers.

“The Rudd Government will work with cinema industry to help them meet their obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act.

“We are committed to improving accessibility to all forms of electronic media for the hearing and vision-impaired.”


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2nd National Conference &

25th Anniversary Celebration

Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart, Australia 13 – 15 May 2011

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world news

The 21st International Congress on Education of the Deaf (ICED) will be held in Vancouver, Canada from July 18 to 22, 2010.

HISTORY TO HAPPEN INVANCOUVER, CANADA IN JULY 2010

From the World Federation of the Deaf:The 21st International Congress on Education of the Deaf (ICED) will be held in Vancouver, Canada from July 18 to 22, 2010. Educators and researchers in Deaf education have met regularly since their inaugural conference held in Paris in 1878 to discuss various issues in Deaf education. In the second ICED conference in Milan in 1880, the congress passed a number of resolutions that have had a lasting and negative effect on the education and lives of millions of Deaf people across the world, in particular, by removing the use of sign language from educational programs promoting strict adherence to a oralist education. In 2008, a rather historic campaign was launched to request a rejection of the resolution passed in 1880 and issued a demand for a formal apology from educators and researchers meeting in Vancouver in 2010. The campaign originally started in British Columbia, Canada and spread to the US and many parts of the world. These proposals led to negotiations with the ICED 2010 planning committee. The final declaration is a collaboration between a group of Deaf grassroots activists and the ICED2010 planning committee and it will be presented at the ICED conference’s opening meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia. Highlighting the linguistic human right aspect, the declaration calls upon all Nations to adhere to the principles of the United Nations emphasising especially those outlined in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and calls for the endorsement of the resolutions adopted by the WFD Madrid Congress in 2007. In addition, the declaration includes a call for a commitment by the Congress to devote itself for working in partnership with Deaf people in order to ensure the educational rights of Deaf globally. This declaration presents a historical moment for the Deaf community acknowledging the errors of the 1880 Milan Congress and the harmful consequences that have resulted from these resolutions. The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) board discussed the drafted declaration in its most recent meeting in Turkey earlier this month and will make its comments known to the committee preparing the document. WFD is likely to be represented in the ICED conference in Vancouver by its president Mr. Markku Jokinen.

Vancouver, Canada


Kookaburra AwardsOur Community and Westpac are undertaking a search to find Australia’s Kookaburras – the loud and proud stirrers – the community groups, the people and the projects that changed our communities for the better.

The 2010 Kookaburra Awards will offer prizes to individuals, groups and projects that really made a difference – that stretch people’s vision of what’s possible in Australia’s society today. At times, we might think of these people as ratbags, or cranks, or worse. We call them radical, or subversive, or infuriatingly single-minded. But we can’t deny that they made a difference in the world. Nominate now for a 2010 Kookaburra Award!

There are prizes for:

• COMMUNITY GROUPS: It’s not about being the biggest, or the best resourced, or the highest-profile group, it’s about being a group that does what it does brilliantly – and one that stands out as a bea con of innovative community leadership and works to change things for the better.

• PROJECTS: It’s not about having a project that brought in a large grant, or came in below budget. We’re looking for projects that have changed people’s lives; that make people say “Gosh, I didn’t know you could do that. Awesome!”

• INDIVIDUALS: It’s not about being a saint, or a guru, or a great philanthropist: it’s about being some one who can bring ordinary people along with a movement to change their lives, and ours.

Each winner will receive a total prize package valued at more than $10,000, plus free tickets (including flights and accommodation for those outside Victoria) to attend Australia’s best community conference – Communities in Control 2010 on 31st May 2010. The winners will be announced at the conference in front of an audience of 1500 community groups, MPs and dignitaries.

If you know of people, groups and projects in your community that fit that description, make sure their names are put forward for a Kookaburra Award.

Go to www.ourcommunity.com.au/control/control_article.jsp?articleID=4438

Nominations close on Friday 12 May 2010.


Dorothy Shaw Young WritersCompetition 2010

Now Open!Deaf Australia is pleased to announce that the Dorothy Shaw Young Writers Competition (DSYWC) will be run again this year and is now open for entries. The competition, for young Deaf and hard of hearing people aged 6 – 18, is in memory of Dorothy Evelyn Shaw, who inspired so many and contributed to so much to the Deaf Community.

Since its inception in 1992, the response to the Australia-wide story writing competition has been wonderful with so many students submitting entries. All entrants are issued with a certificate of recognitition and winners receive cash prizes. Prizes are also awarded to the school that each winner attends. Every year, all efforts are made to arrange publicity of the winners in local newspapers and school magazines.

The theme for 2010 is “Across the story bridge”. We hope that the competition will be enthusiastically supported once again.

Entries close at 5.00 pm on Friday, 27th August 2010. Winners will be announced during the National Week of Deaf

people, 9th to 15th October 2010.Information Sheet and Entry Form

Please download the Information Sheet and Entry Form from our website www.deafau.org.au/community/youth.php for more information


supporter’s group

Deaf Australia has established a Supporters Group – for Deaf people, hard of

hearing people, hearing people and organisations. If you are not already a member, or you are thinking about becoming a member but would like to know more about Deaf Australia to help you decide, or if you would just like to show that you support us, Deaf Australia Inc invites you to become a supporter of Deaf Australia Inc. There is no fee to become a supporter.

Why should I become a supporter?Deaf Australia Inc. is always actively liaising with governments, industry and service providers for improved access to all areas that affect Deaf/hard of hearing people’s daily lives – employment, interpreting, education, telecommunications, information access, and so on. By becoming a supporter, you, will not only support us in our work and in reports to government but will also show government that you support the work that Deaf Australia is doing for Deaf people. It will also show which organisations are committed to Deaf Australia Inc’s objectives and to working collaboratively with the Deaf Community and its national representative organisation.

What benefits do I get if I become a supporter?Deaf Australia publishes a monthly newsletter, Outlook, which can be received by email so that you are up to date on what is happening in the community and what Deaf Australia is doing for Deaf people. We also

regularly provide emailed information of interest to our members. As a supporter, you will receive this information. Organisations can forward the emailed information to their staff and community members to keep them informed and to promote access benchmarks for Deaf People.

As a supporter, which benefits will I not be entitled to?Members who pay a membership fee receive other benefits as well as information, including voting rights (Deaf members) and discounts on events and Auslan Shop products. These extra benefits are not available to supporters because they are not classified as fully paid up financial members. If you would like to receive the benefits available to full members, you are welcome to become a full member.

What’s in it for junior supporters (up to age 18)?Becoming a junior supporter has great benefits. You will get information about Deaf Australia youth activities such as the Dorothy Shaw Young Writers Competition, youth camps (both national and international) and other Deaf Australia activities where you can meet and have fun with other deaf youths.

How do I become a supporter?Please fill in the “Become a Deaf Australia Supporter” form and send it to Deaf Australia in one of the following ways:

Email: [email protected]: 07 3357 8377Post: PO Box 1083, Stafford Qld 4053

Want to know more or become a full member?You are welcome to view the Deaf Australia Inc. website at www.deafau.org.au or contact us on [email protected]. We also have a Facebook page where we put information from time to time.

New Deaf Australia Supporters Group


noticeboard

DO YOU WANT TO ADVERTISE?

To place an advertisement in future Outlook Newsletters, please contact Gaye Lyons, the Administrator for further information.

1/4 page $30 for one issue, $295 for 11 issues 1/2 page $59 for one issue, $598 for 11 issuesFull page $117 for one issue, $1177 for 11 issues

Email: [email protected] TTY: (07) 3357 8277

STRATEGIC PLANNING WEEKEND

On the weekend of 22-23 May Deaf Australia will be holding a strategic planning weekend for our board, staff and 2 representatives from each of our state branches.

FaHCSIA has provided us with some special funding for this planning workshop. With this funding, for the first time we are able to include state branches and we are very excited about this. We hope that this will lead to a closer and more co-ordinated working relationship with our state branches.

If there is anything you think that Deaf Australia and / or our state branches need to make a priority for the next 3 years, now is the time to tell us – before 20th May. You can let us know by sending an email to Karen Lloyd at [email protected] or contact your state branch.


donation

activities/eventsDO YOU WANT TO PLACE ACTIVITIES OR EVENTS HERE?

To promote your activities or events please contact Karen Lloyd. Please include your name, organisation name, email address and mobile number in case we need to contact you. Some suggestions of activities to send to us are: Art Events Yoga Classes Social Events

Festival Events Fund Raising Activities

Email: [email protected] TTY: (07) 3357 8277

sms emergency service coming soon for deaf people d · donate to deaf australia? a donation form is...

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