Deaf Services
Response to the
Joint Standing Committee on the
National Disability Insurance Scheme
Assistive Technology Inquiry
Deaf Services 915 Ipswitch Road September 2018 Moorooka Queensland, 4105
PO Box 465, Moorooka QLD 4105
Voice: 07 3892 8500 Fax: 07 3892 8511 TTY: 07 3892 8501 ABN: 62 118 664 298
CEO - Brett Casey
Deaf Services Response to
Assistive Technology Inquiry
September, 2018
Background
Joint Standing Committee on NDIS: Assistive Technology
The committee will inquire into and report on the provision of assistive technology with particular reference to:
- a. the transition to the NDIS and how this has impacted on speed of equipment provision;
- b. whether the estimated demand for equipment to be sourced through the assistive technology process in each roll out area was accurate;
- c. whether market based issues impact the timeliness of provision of equipment;
- d. the role of the NDIA in approving equipment requests;
- e. the role of current state and territory programs in the assistive technology process; and
- f. *any other related matters.
*Deaf Services will only be addressing f any other related matters specifically access to funding of customised tablets and data for Deaf participants.
Deaf Services
Deaf Services is a not for profit organisation working with the community to enhance services and programs that benefit Deaf or hard-of-hearing adults and children. Deaf Services is the prominent end-to-end service provider, advocate and leader for Deaf or hard-of-hearing community members across all ages with a vision of our cohort of participants being empowered, connecting and achieving their goals. Supports and services cover the entire lifespan:
- Early intervention
- Lifestyle support service (in people’s homes and communities)
- Community Engagement and Development
- Education service - accredited as an RTO provider and unaccredited community courses
- Language services including Auslan interpreting (online and onsite), CALD interpreting and Translating, and
- Ageing well service.
Auslan Virtual Services Hub
Deaf Services has innovated virtual service delivery to respond to the needs of the Deaf community across the state. The purpose of the Auslan Virtual Services Hub is to provide face-to-face service delivery via visual and virtual technology across multiple service delivery interventions. This has
Customised Tablet and Data Access for Deaf Participants
It has been a resounding NO from the NDIA with regards to funding customised tablets and data for participants. Some participants have been funded for tables via comprehensive and expensive therapy reports or through low risk assistive technology in their plans. Customised tablets have been previously funded under Commonwealth schemes such as Better Start and Helping Children with Autism.
Customised tablets have impact beyond being a device to assist with skills development but for Deaf people also as access to programs and tools that can assist in their life skills development, such as language acquisition through Auslan at home, increased participation in the community (interpreting) and overcoming development delays (therapy intervention through ECEI approach). This form of access for a Deaf person can be seen as akin to funding wheel chairs for someone who cannot walk.
Promoting Innovative Practice
promotes an innovative practice it is reliant on consumers to cooperate on booking and collecting the loan ipad to access the desired service. Further, most towns do not have this option for access. To truly reach a point of self-determination and controlling all aspect of life goals, participants should be afforded the opportunity to purchase this assistive device under their NDIS plan thereby allowing choice and control to allocate and access supports when and where they are needed.
In this environment of encouraging service innovation there is reluctance by the NDIA to fund a participant in being able to access innovative service delivery via customised tablets and data, despite these strategies reducing expenses to the NDIA over the short and long term.
Access to customised tablets allows Deaf participants to seek other services such as securing Auslan interpreters remotely, particularly in regional and remote areas where no physical Auslan interpreter is available and some telepractice therapy and Auslan at home thereby meeting their goals that link to participation, inclusion and skills development. This access increasing efficiencies and decreasing the impact of travel distances.
Statistics
It is our understanding the decision by the NDIA to not fund customised tablets or data relates to the 2016 census that identified 86% of households have access to the internet and 66% of households connect to the internet via a customised tablet2. Data relating to internet access whilst away from the home is not readily available (as would be needed for example for a Deaf person to access Video Remote Interpreting, such as at a Dr’s appointment).
It is our estimate that this data is not representative of the Deaf community which was predicted to be 3% of NDIS participants with Deafness as their primary disability, although this is currently sitting at 7%3. Regardless, Deaf people have unique needs under the NDIS that should be considered in the TSP (Typical Support Package) data.
What areas of service delivery under the NDS are impacted?
There are several areas of impact in regards to customised tablet/data use under the NDIS. Delivering services to Deaf participants is a highly specialised area and it is difficult for participants and/or families to access the appropriately skilled staff due to significant workforce shortages and the expenses associated with travel. Under ECEI (Early Childhood Early Intervention) and IFP (Individual Funding Program) pathways of the NDIS there are several funded line items that are impacted:
- Auslan at home skills development (teaching Auslan to a participant and/or carer)
- Interpreting (through video remote interpreting which is cheaper, more responsive and accessible)
- Support Coordination and plan management (there are not many proficient Auslan communicating support coordinators or plan managers – that we are aware of in Queensland)
Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy
Why does a Deaf Person Need a Customised Tablet and Data Funded by NDIS?
Although there are some significant issues with regards to eligibility for Deaf people, the NDIS allows access to the community and services to Deaf people in ways that have never occurred before. This increase in access has of course led to an increase in demand. Customised tablet and data access provides access to services that cannot be delivered by anyone other than someone proficient in Auslan or with access to an interpreter. There is no access in many towns and communities to an interpreter other than through video remote interpreting. Further in major regional and rural towns, The critical issue of shortage of supply of interpreters means innovative solutions such as video remote interpreting though virtual delivery provide an ideal solution for deaf people to continue to get interpreting services due to the business model of virtual delivery where traditional supply of face to face is unavailable. A deaf person may need a customised tablet and data funded by the NDIS for the following reasons:
- Some regional and remote areas in Australia do not have Auslan interpreters residing in them or an appropriately skilled person who communicates in Auslan to deliver other services as noted
- Sometimes the nearest interpreter is 12 hours or 1000km away
- NDIS does not fund travel costs to interpreters or an appropriately skilled person who communicates in Auslan
- Interpreters will not travel long distances if the travel cost is not covered
- The demand for interpreters is so high that they will obviously take the closest job
- Most Auslan interpreting providers that are registered as Service Providers under the NDIS and traditionally charge a two hour minimum for an interpreter booking.
- VRI (Video Remote Interpreting) can be booked for 30 minute increments, allowing funded supports to last longer and cover more bookings.
- Due to limited numbers and specialised skill set Auslan interpreters may not be able to meet the needs of all Deaf participants
- VRI reduces the travel component and frees up more interpreters to meet the needs of other Deaf Participants
- The existing Customised tablet loan programs usually require significant travel from the Deaf person to collect and return them or they are loaned for extended periods (e.g. 8 week therapy block) which reduces the loan pool
- Currently some Auslan interpreting registers are struggling to meet the demand of Deaf participants, requesting Participants book interpreters three weeks in advance
Recommendations
Provision of Data and customised tablets with 4G capacity provided by the NDIS to Deaf Participants. In doing so participants living across Australia will be able to execute their plans in relation to:
Accessing interpreters in efficient and cost effective ways
skill and language acquisition through access to Auslan at home and therapy
using one’s native language (Auslan) for basic services such as support coordination,
plan management information and referral services