With Auslan I am Equal! National Week of Deaf People 14 23 October 2016
With Auslan, I am Equal! draws upon the principle of basic human rights in relation to Auslan (Australian Sign Language) for deaf people to effectively participate as an active member of the Australian community. It is about recognising deaf individuals as primarily visual beings belonging to a linguistic minority (deaf community) and call for Auslan to be recognised and be available for deaf persons at all stages of life, including from birth. With Auslan, I am Equal! aims to raise awareness about the Deaf Community on different levels. It is about gathering together, becoming united, and showing that unity to the rest of the Australian Community. With Auslan, I am Equal! strives to promote the human rights of deaf people and highlight topics that merit attention. With Auslan, I am Equal! aims to call for unity from rest of Australian community through consistent coordinated and widespread mobilisations to ensure that the campaign and activities are visible through sufficient media coverage. Past themes: 2004 Celebrating our International Deaf Community 2005 Deaf People and Financial Access 2006 Celebrating the Deaf Australian Community 2007 Communicate IT 2008 Living Auslan Protecting the language of Deaf Community 2009 Year of Reconciliation: Bringing us all Together 2010 Rapprochement of Cultures 2011 From Little Things Big Things Grow 2012 Sign Bilingualism is a Human Right 2013 Equality for Deaf People 2014 Strengthening Human Diversity 2015 With Auslan Right, Deaf Children Can
Key Messages: Taking place under the theme, the NWDP is filled with key messages. 15 23 OCTOBER With Auslan, I am Equal Identify Issues: Many of the issues refers to international human rights law for each key message surrounding the theme. Birth Right CRPD Article 21.e and 243b Obligates the government to encourage the learning of Auslan and promote linguistic identity of Deaf Community. Deaf Identity CRPD Article 30.4 Requires the government to recognise and support specific cultural and linguistic identity including Auslan and deaf culture.
CRPD Article 2 Makes clear that Auslan are equal in status to spoken languages. Equal Language CRPD Article 2.1b Allows deaf people to choose to give and receive official communications in the way they choose, including in Auslan. CRPD Article 23.3 Requires the government to provide early and comprehensive information services and support to children with disabilities and their families, including information about deaf culture, Auslan and bilingual education. CRPD Article 24.1 Requires the governments to ensure inclusive education system at all levels. Bilingual Education CRPD Article 24.3b Ensures the right to learn Auslan and promote linguistic identity of the Deaf Community. CRPD Article 24.4 Requires teachers of deaf children to be qualified in Auslan. EDUCATION Lifelong Learning CRPD Article 5, 24.5 and 27 Requires the government to ensure vocation and lifelong learning. Equal Employment Opportunity CRPD Article 27 Requires the government to provide reasonable accommodation (adjustment and support) for deaf employees. Accessibility CRPD Article 9 and 21 Requires governments to provide for accessibility to information and communication.
CRPD Article 5 Requires that the government prohibit all discrimination on the basis of disability and guarantee to persons with disabilities, including deaf people, equal and effective legal protection against discrimination on all grounds. CRPD Article 12 Requires the government to ensure that persons with disabilities, including deaf people, enjoy legal capacity on an equal basis with others in all aspects of life. Equal Participation CRPD Article 20 Requires the government to guarantee and promote an environment that ensures effective and full participation in political life on an equal basis with others, including the opportunity to vote and be elected. CRPD Article 23 Requires the government to take effective and appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against persons with disabilities, including deaf people, in all matters relating to marriage, family, parenthood and relationship, on an equal basis with others. CRPD Article 24 Obligates the government to facilitate the learning of Auslan and to promote linguistic identity of the Deaf Community, so that they learn life and social development skills to facilitate their full and equal participation in education as a member of the community. General Questions and Answers 1. Is Auslan recognised as a language of rights for deaf people in Australia? 2. Are the decision makers aware of the richness and variation of Auslan? 3. Do deaf people have access to information in Auslan? No. Auslan is not recognised as language right for deaf people. The current trend is focusing on National Disability Insurance Scheme decision makers are placing every disability supports under the NDIS. Some information is accessible in Auslan. More work is needed to improve access to information. 4. Is Auslan seen as a fundamental human rights for all deaf children, and that Auslan should be the first language of a deaf child Generally, no. Auslan may be offered if 1., parents want the child to use Auslan and/or
to which other language skills in a spoken/ written language is built on? 5. Are the general attitudes towards Auslan positive? 6. Are the parents of deaf child given information about the importance of Auslan for their child s linguistic development and cognitive skills in the early childhood? 7. Are the medical professionals aware of the linguistic input needed for a child to develop a language? 8. Are there schools for deaf children that promote quality education in Auslan? 9. Is Auslan included as a subject in the educational curriculum? 2., subjective to school resources (funding, teacher s skills). The jury is still out. Generally, no. Most parents are unaware of the importance of Auslan. We believe that NDIS will help to alleviate this issue. Yes and no. More work is needed to focus on ensuring that medical professionals are aware of this. There is no clear report on this. Yes. Curriculum Australia will be launching new curriculum in Auslan for K Y10 in 2017. 10. Do hearing teachers sign fluently? Not all hearing teachers sign fluently. 11. Are professional Auslan interpreters available in education settings? Not all schools employ professional interpreters. 12. Have the government taken legal action to ensure that private businesses remove existing barrier to access for deaf people? Yes. We have the Disability Discrimination Act. State/ Territory government also have anti-discrimination/ equal opportunity acts. But these legislations are complaint based. It means if one feels discriminated, they must lodge their complaint (in English, not Auslan). 13. Have the government taken steps to provide communication access to deaf persons? If yes, is Auslan interpreting one of the options? 14. Who usually cover the costs for Auslan interpreters? Not all communication is accessible. Census 2016 recently had all questions available in Auslan. Employers, providers or the government.
15. Are any important human rights resources such as Disability Discrimination Act, CRPD available in Auslan. 16. Has the government developed minimum accessibility, guidelines and monitoring mechanisms? 17. Has the government taken legal action to ensure that private business remove existing barriers to access for deaf people? 18. Are deaf persons legally allowed to vote or become elected in the political arena? 19. Are deaf persons allowed to become a jury member? 20. Are deaf persons allowed to obtain driving license? No. a. Minimum for Workplace Support (Employment Assistance Fund) limits access to $6,000 per year for Auslan interpreters. b. Captioning standards that requires caption from 6am to 12 mid-night and is comprehensible, readable and accuracy. No. This role is responsibility of Disability Commissioner under the Australian Human Rights Commission. If the conciliation is not successful, there is no government support. Yes. Although there has not been anyone expressed interested to stand in the election. No. At present, the case is currently being heard by the High Court. Yes. A recent change in Commercial Drivers licence will allow deaf people to drive without hearing aid if they can demonstrate they can drive safely.
GET INVOLVED 1. Recognising Auslan as a right for deaf people to use it. Write letters to state/ federal governments asking to them recognise Auslan as a language right for deaf people to: a. Receiving information in Auslan on government websites; b. Communicating with the government, e.g. raising issues, complaints, etc. using Auslan; c. Accessing emergency announcements with Auslan interpreting; and d. Requiring all teachers of the deaf to have proficiency in Auslan. 2. Deaf people as equal citizens in Australia. Write letters to state/ federal governments asking them to improve our citizenship status by: a. Recognising Auslan as a language of right; b. Allowing the use of Auslan interpreters in all court settings, including serving as juror of the courts; c. Requiring access to Auslan provisions in public facilities, services and events, (e.g. health, tourism, conferences and events); d. Translating all human rights and disability access legislations in Auslan (e.g. Disability Discrimination Act, NDIS, Broadcasting Service Act, and the CRPD). e. Removing any barriers to restrict deaf people from participating fully as a citizen of Australia (e.g. commercial driving licence). 3. Deaf children to access Auslan in education. Write letters to state governments asking them to ensure that all deaf children have the right to use Auslan in education settings. This means: a. Ensuring that all teachers of the deaf are proficient in Auslan; b. Ensuring that all Auslan interpreters are professionally accredited; and c. Ensuring that deaf children s parents are given full access to Auslan training and developments.
ENGAGE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA: DeafAustraliaInc @deafaustralia Hash Tags #NWPD2016 #WithAuslanIamEqual #AuslanRights FUNDRAISE FOR DEAF AUSTRALIA: Leave a gift through your will, pledge, or include Deaf Australia in your fundraising events. Any donations over $2.00 is tax deductible. BEQUEST Name and address of the person making the will. Include Deaf Australia s name and Australian Business Number; Type of gift to be received by Deaf Australia; and Signature of the person making the will and date in present of two witnesses. Deaf Australia General Appeal Be a regular contributor, you decide how much to contribute on monthly basis. Direct Debit/ Electronic Transfer Make a direct deposit: Account Name: Deaf Australia Inc BSB: 112-879 Account Number: 003 679 514 By Post: Send cheque or Money Order to: PO Box 1348, Blackburn North, Vic 3130 Contact Deaf Australia at info@deafaustralia.org.au for additional information. All enquiries and requests will be treated in confidence.
ABOUT: National Week of Deaf People is an initiative of Deaf Australia and is celebrated annually by deaf people during the 3 rd week of October. Deaf Australia s state organisations and many other like-mind organisations will organise events, marches, debate, campaigns and meetings to highlight specific themes and issues that merit attention by local and national governmental authorities, including decision makers, members of the general public and media. National Week of Deaf People is about getting together, becoming united, and showing that unity to the rest of the country and world. This celebration also increases solidarity among deaf people and their allies, and is used as a way to stimulate greater efforts to promote the rights of deaf people. National Week of Deaf People activities also welcome the involvement of parents and families of deaf people, interpreters, and professionals who work with deaf people and government officials. Deaf Australia encourage local, state and national organisations to collaborate with State Organisations in their respective state to host activities or events to support the activities to support Deaf Australia and its human rights effort across Australia and persuade individual to join as a *member of Deaf Australia. * Eligible members of Deaf Australia can also become a member of their state organisation. About Deaf Australia Deaf Australia is the only national peak organisation for Deaf people in Australia that is governed and managed by Deaf people. It represents the views of Deaf people who use Auslan (Australian Sign Language). Deaf Australia works with Australian governments and collaborates with key stakeholders to ensure that Australia complies with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Deaf Australia s vision for 2020 is that Deaf people will have made significant advancement to equality and quality of life through: 1. Full human rights, self-determination and political strength; 2. Full access to communication, language and information; 3. Quality education, educators who are Deaf and who are proficient Auslan users, access to universities and life-long learning programs; 4. Full respect for and widespread use of Auslan by non-deaf people; 5. Diverse employment, including, for example, teaching, administration, medicine, psychology, business, law and politics; 6. Full interaction through provision of qualified interpreters and information technologies; 7. Full partnerships with families, educators, health providers, bio-ethicists and policy-makers. Nothing about us without us will have become the standard; 8. Auslan is recognised and linguistic rights are realised in practice.