NDIA Accountability Project

Concerns about support for Deaf Auslan users

Submission to the Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012

From: To: Community Affairs, Committee (SEN); Subject: Submission to the Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012 Date: Thursday, 17 January 2013 6:51:19 PM

Please consider this email a formal submission by me to the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012.

The current disability system has many problems that need to be addressed.

There is insufficient funding for Auslan interpreters in the public and private sector.

  • There is insufficient awareness on the needs of Deaf people
  • There is insufficient funding to provide training for Auslan interpreters at graduate and post graduate level.
  • There are not enough appropriately skilled and experienced Auslan interpreters availble to provide service.
  • There is insufficient information available in Auslan on websites, television etc.
  • Funding for programs does not include funding to pay for interpreters so Deaf people are disadvantaged
  • There is no support for new hearing parents with Deaf children, to assist them to learn Auslan and begin to communicate with their Deaf child/ren.
  • Being culturally Deaf and using Auslan is not promoted positively in the media

The main features of the NDIS that will make a difference to the community are:

  • Better access to mainstream support and services,
  • More opportunities to participate in the community,
  • Access to reliable information about support options

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

  • Education support (technology/services/equipment),
  • Employment support,
  • Interpreters and other communication support

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

I hope that it will consider and include the needs of Deaf Auslan users and provide more readily for their needs. To be honest i still don’t know whether i support the NDIS or not because i haven’t seen any clear information as to what the NDIS will mean for Deaf people who communicate using Auslan

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards, mrs Michaela Sloan