With Auslan – I am Equal! - Deaf Australia · National Week of Deaf People is about getting...
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National Week of Deaf People 14 – 23 October 2016 With Auslan – I am Equal!
Transcript of With Auslan – I am Equal! - Deaf Australia · National Week of Deaf People is about getting...
NationalWeekofDeafPeople14–23October2016
WithAuslan–IamEqual!
NationalWeekofDeafPeople2016
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WithAuslan, I amEqual!…drawsupon theprincipleof basic human rights inrelationtoAuslan(AustralianSignLanguage)fordeafpeopletoeffectivelyparticipateasanactivememberoftheAustraliancommunity.Itisaboutrecognisingdeafindividualsasprimarilyvisualbeingsbelonging toa linguisticminority (deafcommunity)andcall forAuslantoberecognisedandbeavailablefordeafpersonsatallstagesoflife,includingfrombirth.WithAuslan,IamEqual!…aimstoraiseawarenessabouttheDeafCommunityondifferentlevels.Itisaboutgatheringtogether,becomingunited,andshowingthatunitytotherestoftheAustralianCommunity.WithAuslan,IamEqual!…strivestopromotethehumanrightsofdeafpeopleandhighlighttopicsthatmeritattention.WithAuslan,IamEqual!…aimstocallforunityfromrestofAustraliancommunitythrough consistent coordinated and widespread mobilisations to ensure that thecampaignandactivitiesarevisiblethroughsufficientmediacoverage.Pastthemes:
2004–CelebratingourInternationalDeafCommunity 2005–DeafPeopleandFinancialAccess 2006–CelebratingtheDeafAustralianCommunity 2007–CommunicateIT 2008–LivingAuslan–ProtectingthelanguageofDeafCommunity 2009–YearofReconciliation:BringingusallTogether 2010–RapprochementofCultures 2011–FromLittleThings–BigThingsGrow 2012–SignBilingualismisaHumanRight 2013–EqualityforDeafPeople 2014–StrengtheningHumanDiversity
2015–WithAuslanRight,DeafChildrenCan
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KeyMessages:Takingplaceunderthetheme,theNWDPisfilledwithkeymessages.
IdentifyIssues:Manyoftheissuesreferstointernationalhumanrightslawforeachkeymessagesurroundingthetheme.
BirthRight
CRPDArticle21.eand243bObligatesthegovernmenttoencouragethelearningofAuslanandpromotelinguisticidentityofDeafCommunity.
DeafIdentity
CRPDArticle30.4RequiresthegovernmenttorecogniseandsupportspecificculturalandlinguisticidentityincludingAuslananddeafculture.
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With Auslan, I am Equal
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EqualLanguage
CRPDArticle2MakesclearthatAuslanareequalinstatustospokenlanguages.CRPDArticle2.1bAllowsdeafpeopletochoosetogiveandreceiveofficialcommunicationsinthewaytheychoose,includinginAuslan.CRPDArticle23.3Requiresthegovernmenttoprovideearlyandcomprehensiveinformationservicesandsupporttochildrenwithdisabilitiesandtheirfamilies,includinginformationaboutdeafculture,Auslanandbilingualeducation.
BilingualEducation
CRPDArticle24.1Requiresthegovernmentstoensureinclusiveeducationsystematalllevels.CRPDArticle24.3bEnsurestherighttolearnAuslanandpromotelinguisticidentityoftheDeafCommunity.CRPDArticle24.4RequiresteachersofdeafchildrentobequalifiedinAuslan.
EDUCATION
LifelongLearning
CRPDArticle5,24.5and27Requiresthegovernmenttoensurevocationandlifelonglearning.
EqualEmploymentOpportunity
CRPDArticle27Requiresthegovernmenttoprovide‘reasonableaccommodation’(adjustmentandsupport)fordeafemployees.
Accessibility
CRPDArticle9and21Requiresgovernmentstoprovideforaccessibilitytoinformationandcommunication.
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EqualParticipation
CRPDArticle5Requiresthatthegovernmentprohibitalldiscriminationonthebasisofdisabilityandguaranteetopersonswithdisabilities,includingdeafpeople,equalandeffectivelegalprotectionagainstdiscriminationonallgrounds.CRPDArticle12Requiresthegovernmenttoensurethatpersonswithdisabilities,includingdeafpeople,enjoylegalcapacityonanequalbasiswithothersinallaspectsoflife.CRPDArticle20Requiresthegovernmenttoguaranteeandpromoteanenvironmentthatensureseffectiveandfullparticipationinpoliticallifeonanequalbasiswithothers,includingtheopportunitytovoteandbeelected.CRPDArticle23Requiresthegovernmenttotakeeffectiveandappropriatemeasurestoeliminatediscriminationagainstpersonswithdisabilities,includingdeafpeople,inallmattersrelatingtomarriage,family,parenthoodandrelationship,onanequalbasiswithothers.CRPDArticle24ObligatesthegovernmenttofacilitatethelearningofAuslanandtopromotelinguisticidentityoftheDeafCommunity,sothattheylearnlifeandsocialdevelopmentskillstofacilitatetheirfullandequalparticipationineducationasamemberofthecommunity.
GeneralQuestionsandAnswers1. IsAuslanrecognisedasalanguageof
rightsfordeafpeopleinAustralia?
No.Auslanisnotrecognisedaslanguagerightfordeafpeople.
2. ArethedecisionmakersawareoftherichnessandvariationofAuslan?
ThecurrenttrendisfocusingonNationalDisabilityInsuranceScheme–decisionmakersareplacingeverydisabilitysupportsundertheNDIS.
3. DodeafpeoplehaveaccesstoinformationinAuslan?
SomeinformationisaccessibleinAuslan.Moreworkisneededtoimproveaccesstoinformation.
4. IsAuslanseenasafundamentalhumanrightsforalldeafchildren,andthatAuslanshouldbethefirstlanguageofadeafchild
Generally,no.Auslanmaybeofferedif1.,parentswantthechildtouseAuslanand/or
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towhichotherlanguageskillsinaspoken/writtenlanguageisbuilton?
2.,subjectivetoschoolresources(funding,teacher’sskills).
5. ArethegeneralattitudestowardsAuslanpositive?
Thejuryisstillout.
6. AretheparentsofdeafchildgiveninformationabouttheimportanceofAuslanfortheirchild’slinguisticdevelopmentandcognitiveskillsintheearlychildhood?
Generally,no.MostparentsareunawareoftheimportanceofAuslan.WebelievethatNDISwillhelptoalleviatethisissue.
7. Arethemedicalprofessionalsawareofthelinguisticinputneededforachildtodevelopalanguage?
Yesandno.Moreworkisneededtofocusonensuringthatmedicalprofessionalsareawareofthis.
8. ArethereschoolsfordeafchildrenthatpromotequalityeducationinAuslan?
Thereisnoclearreportonthis.
9. IsAuslanincludedasasubjectintheeducationalcurriculum?
Yes.CurriculumAustraliawillbelaunchingnewcurriculuminAuslanforK–Y10in2017.
10. Dohearingteacherssignfluently? Notallhearingteacherssignfluently.
11. AreprofessionalAuslaninterpretersavailableineducationsettings?
Notallschoolsemployprofessionalinterpreters.
12. Havethegovernmenttakenlegalactiontoensurethatprivatebusinessesremoveexistingbarriertoaccessfordeafpeople?
Yes.WehavetheDisabilityDiscriminationAct.State/Territorygovernmentalsohaveanti-discrimination/equalopportunityacts.Buttheselegislationsarecomplaintbased.Itmeansifonefeelsdiscriminated,theymustlodgetheircomplaint(inEnglish,notAuslan).
13. Havethegovernmenttakenstepstoprovidecommunicationaccesstodeafpersons?Ifyes,isAuslaninterpretingoneoftheoptions?
Notallcommunicationisaccessible.Census2016recentlyhadallquestionsavailableinAuslan.
14. WhousuallycoverthecostsforAuslaninterpreters?
Employers,providersorthegovernment.
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15. AreanyimportanthumanrightsresourcessuchasDisabilityDiscriminationAct,CRPDavailableinAuslan.
No.
16. Hasthegovernmentdevelopedminimumaccessibility,guidelinesandmonitoringmechanisms?
a. MinimumforWorkplaceSupport(EmploymentAssistanceFund)limitsaccessto$6,000peryearforAuslaninterpreters.
b. Captioningstandardsthatrequirescaptionfrom6amto12mid-nightandiscomprehensible,readableandaccuracy.
17. Hasthegovernmenttakenlegalactionto
ensurethatprivatebusinessremoveexistingbarrierstoaccessfordeafpeople?
No.ThisroleisresponsibilityofDisabilityCommissionerundertheAustralianHumanRightsCommission.Iftheconciliationisnotsuccessful,thereisnogovernmentsupport.
18. Aredeafpersonslegallyallowedtovoteorbecomeelectedinthepoliticalarena?
Yes.Althoughtherehasnotbeenanyoneexpressedinterestedtostandintheelection.
19. Aredeafpersonsallowedtobecomeajurymember?
No.Atpresent,thecaseiscurrentlybeingheardbytheHighCourt.
20. Aredeafpersonsallowedtoobtaindrivinglicense?
Yes.ArecentchangeinCommercialDriverslicencewillallowdeafpeopletodrivewithouthearingaidiftheycandemonstratetheycandrivesafely.
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GETINVOLVED1.
RecognisingAuslanasarightfordeafpeopletouseit.
Writeletterstostate/federalgovernmentsaskingtothemrecogniseAuslanasalanguagerightfordeafpeopleto:a. ReceivinginformationinAuslanongovernment
websites;b. Communicatingwiththegovernment,e.g.raising
issues,complaints,etc.usingAuslan;c. AccessingemergencyannouncementswithAuslan
interpreting;andd. Requiringallteachersofthedeaftohave
proficiencyinAuslan.
2.
DeafpeopleasequalcitizensinAustralia.
Writeletterstostate/federalgovernmentsaskingthemtoimproveourcitizenshipstatusby:a. RecognisingAuslanasalanguageofright;b. AllowingtheuseofAuslaninterpretersinallcourt
settings,includingservingasjurorofthecourts;c. RequiringaccesstoAuslanprovisionsinpublic
facilities,servicesandevents,(e.g.health,tourism,conferencesandevents);
d. TranslatingallhumanrightsanddisabilityaccesslegislationsinAuslan(e.g.DisabilityDiscriminationAct,NDIS,BroadcastingServiceAct,andtheCRPD).
e. RemovinganybarrierstorestrictdeafpeoplefromparticipatingfullyasacitizenofAustralia(e.g.commercialdrivinglicence).
3.
DeafchildrentoaccessAuslanineducation.
WriteletterstostategovernmentsaskingthemtoensurethatalldeafchildrenhavetherighttouseAuslanineducationsettings.Thismeans:a. Ensuringthatallteachersofthedeafareproficient
inAuslan;b. EnsuringthatallAuslaninterpretersare
professionallyaccredited;andc. Ensuringthatdeafchildren’sparentsaregivenfull
accesstoAuslantraininganddevelopments.
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ENGAGETHROUGHSOCIALMEDIA:
DeafAustraliaInc
@deafaustralia
HashTags
#NWPD2016 #WithAuslanIamEqual #AuslanRightsFUNDRAISEFORDEAFAUSTRALIA:Leaveagiftthroughyourwill,pledge,orincludeDeafAustraliainyourfundraisingevents.Anydonationsover$2.00istaxdeductible.BEQUEST
DeafAustraliaGeneralAppealBearegularcontributor,youdecidehowmuchtocontributeonmonthlybasis.
• Nameandaddressofthepersonmakingthewill.
• IncludeDeafAustralia’snameandAustralianBusinessNumber;
• TypeofgifttobereceivedbyDeafAustralia;and
• Signatureofthepersonmakingthewillanddateinpresentoftwowitnesses.
DirectDebit/ElectronicTransferMakeadirectdeposit:AccountName:DeafAustraliaIncBSB:112-879AccountNumber:003679514
ByPost:SendchequeorMoneyOrderto:POBox1348,BlackburnNorth,Vic3130
ContactDeafAustraliaatinfo@deafaustralia.org.auforadditionalinformation.
Allenquiriesandrequestswillbetreatedinconfidence.
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ABOUT:NationalWeek of Deaf People is an initiative of Deaf Australia and is celebratedannuallybydeafpeopleduringthe3rdweekofOctober.DeafAustralia’sstateorganisationsandmany other like-mind organisations will organise events, marches, debate, campaigns andmeetings to highlight specific themes and issues that merit attention by local and nationalgovernmentalauthorities,includingdecisionmakers,membersofthegeneralpublicandmedia.National Week of Deaf People is about getting together, becoming united, andshowingthatunitytotherestofthecountryandworld.Thiscelebrationalsoincreasessolidarityamongdeafpeopleandtheirallies,andisusedasawaytostimulategreatereffortstopromotetherightsofdeafpeople.NationalWeekofDeafPeopleactivitiesalsowelcometheinvolvementofparentsandfamilies of deaf people, interpreters, and professionals who work with deaf people andgovernmentofficials.Deaf Australia encourage local, state and national organisations to collaborate with StateOrganisations in their respective state tohostactivitiesorevents to support theactivities tosupportDeafAustraliaanditshumanrightseffortacrossAustraliaandpersuadeindividualtojoinasa*memberofDeafAustralia.*EligiblemembersofDeafAustraliacanalsobecomeamemberoftheirstateorganisation.AboutDeafAustraliaDeafAustraliaistheonlynationalpeakorganisationforDeafpeopleinAustraliathatisgovernedandmanagedbyDeafpeople.ItrepresentstheviewsofDeafpeoplewhouseAuslan(AustralianSignLanguage).DeafAustraliaworkswithAustraliangovernmentsandcollaborateswithkeystakeholderstoensurethatAustraliacomplieswiththeUnitedNationsConventionontheRightsofPersonswithDisabilities.DeafAustralia’svisionfor2020isthatDeafpeoplewillhavemadesignificantadvancementtoequalityandqualityoflifethrough:
1. Fullhumanrights,self-determinationandpoliticalstrength;2. Fullaccesstocommunication,languageandinformation;3. Qualityeducation,educatorswhoareDeafandwhoareproficientAuslanusers,accessto
universitiesandlife-longlearningprograms;4. FullrespectforandwidespreaduseofAuslanbynon-Deafpeople;5. Diverseemployment,including,forexample,teaching,administration,medicine,psychology,
business,lawandpolitics;6. Fullinteractionthroughprovisionofqualifiedinterpretersandinformationtechnologies;7. Fullpartnershipswithfamilies,educators,healthproviders,bio-ethicistsandpolicy-makers.
“Nothingaboutuswithoutus”willhavebecomethestandard;8. Auslanisrecognisedandlinguisticrightsarerealisedinpractice.
