Questions to Verity Firth MP
Minister for Education and Training

Question 1:
Why is Auslan NOT an accredited language subject in the HSC?

Answer:
xxx

Question 2:
How do you ensure that teachers in “special education” or teachers of the Deaf are adequately trained in Auslan? What is the benchmark?

Answer:
xxx

Question 3:
When will we get professional NAATI accredited interpreters in schools?

Answer:
xxx

Question 4:
Why can’t you just keep classes open and available in case mainstreaming fails the student, rather than close classes and tell parents “bad luck” without them having any choices? Why do you allow teachers who can’t sign properly to teach signing students? Bad signing = bad education.

Answer:
xxx

Question 5:
There is very little public education/awareness targeted to the hearing population. Because of this they perceive those with an impairment as ‘weird’ and ‘abnormal’. What is being done to change this in the education sphere?

Answer:
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Question 6:
Why in Western Sydney Region is the funding for oral/sign interpreters becoming less even though students’ needs are becoming greater ie students are deaf and have come as refugees or from a non English speaking country and some have little or no education?

Answer:
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Question 7:
Why don’t Deaf or Hearing Impaired students who may have additional disabilities receive additional support via additional money for Learning Support Officers?

Answer:
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Question 8:
Why is there a push for Deaf and Hearing Impaired students to be mainstreamed and not go into support classes in units?

Answer:
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Question 9:
Why does there appear to be a push not to inform parents about support units closing, where they are located and what support is available for deaf students?

Answer:
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Question 10:
There appears to be misinformation about cochlear implants, the students are still deaf at the end of the day and options such as classes in support units are not being offered. Why?

Answer:
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Question 11:
Apparently funds for student support is allocated per student to schools to use as needed. Funds per student is not enough  to pay for an interpreter so only schools with enough students can provide interpreters and then students have to share an interpreter when they might want different elective subjects. What can be done about this situation?

Answer:
xxx

Question 12:
Apparently funds for student support is allocated per student to schools to use as needed. Funds per student is not enough to pay for an interpreter so only schools with enough students can provide interpreters and then students have to share an interpreter when they might want different elective subjects. This causes a catch 22 when not enough enrollments because the service needed is not provided by the school. What can be done to break the cycle and change improve this situation?

Answer:
xxx

Questions to Paul Lynch MP
Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability Services, and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs

Question 1:
Is there any research or answers to why at 21 years oral deaf people must buy hearing aids or learn to sign? This is scarey with so many young people having no money to keep hearing aids functioning after 21 years of age and so dispose of them and rely on sign.

Answer:
I acknowledge and understand the concerns of the community in relation to this issue. A key part of the Government’s strategic approach is to work continually to identify and address equity issues in difficult areas with competing priorities.

The Australian Government is responsible for aids and equipment for people with hearing impairment. The Australian Government Hearing Services Program, administered by the Office of Hearing Services, provides information on hearing aids and a range of hearing services as well as advice on policy and strategic directions for the provision of hearing services.

A Senate Inquiry into Hearing Health in Australia is currently underway and is due to report in February 2010. The terms of reference for the Inquiry include the adequacy of access to hearing services, including assessment and support services, and hearing technologies.

A NSW Ministerial Standing Committee on Hearing (MSCH) was established in 2004. The role of the Committee is to set strategic directions for hearing services in NSW. The Committee is supported by the NSW Department of Health.

Question 2:
Why does ALL private health cover have limited rebates on hearing aids? We should be able to customise this to our needs!

Answer:
The NSW Government is currently working with the Australian, State and Territory Governments to explore new, sustainable, long-term solutions to financing the disability service system.

A National Disability Strategy is being developed under the new National Disability Agreement. The National Disability Strategy will provide an avenue through which new initiatives, such as a National Disability Insurance Scheme for example, can be explored.

On 23 November 2009, the Australian Government announced that an inquiry will be undertaken by the Productivity Commission, which will examine a range of options for long-term care and support including consideration of whether a no-fault social insurance approach to disability is appropriate in Australia.

The issue of health care rebates, private health insurance, aids and equipment regarding hearing is the responsibility of the Australian Government and a copy of your email has been forwarded to the Hon. Bill Shorten MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services for his consideration.

Question 3:
Why do we have to pay a lot of money towards private health insurance, repairs, speech therapy and processors and insurance while normal people save money for holidays, renovations and mortgages? For example, I pay $500 a year for insurance on my cochlear implant speech processors. I pay $88 per month to my health fund. I pay $400 – 500 a year for batteries for my cochlear implant. Imagine over 40 years, work out how expensive it is to be deaf: $2000 x 40 years = $80,000.

Answer:
As advised in response to questions 1 and 2, the issue of health care rebates, private health insurance and aids and equipment regarding hearing is the responsibility of the Australian Government.

The NSW Government will continue to work with the Australian, State and Territory Governments to explore new, sustainable, long-term solutions to financing the disability service system.

Question 4:
How can govt and private enterprise ensure the social inclusion or all deaf people in education, health, welfare and law in all of Australia?

Answer:
The NSW Government has implemented a number of strategies to improve the lives of people with a disability. In accordance with the NSW State Plan, the NSW Government is implementing its 10-year disability plan Stronger Together, along with Better Together, which is a whole-of-government strategy to improve the way that NSW Government services work together to meet the needs of people with a disability so they can participate in work, education and community life to the fullest extent possible.

In the year 2009-2010, the NSW Government is investing $2.26 billion to help make life easier and more fulfilling for people with disabilities, and for their families and carers. This includes making it easier for people with disabilities to work and be part of their local community and increasing care and respite support for those living with significant disabilities, and for their carers.

Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) also supports people with a disability to become active in their communities through social groups, work and other activities. ADHC promotes awareness, acceptance and inclusion of people with a disability through programs like International Day of People with a Disability.

The new National Disability Agreement (NDA) came into effect on 1 January 2009. The aim is to create a system that places people with a disability, their families and carers at its centre. The NDA commits all governments to the objective that “People with disability and their carers have an enhanced quality of life and participate as valued members of the community”. To achieve this aim, several ambitious reforms have been initiated to achieve a high quality, sustainable, well planned and responsive service system.

Government of a National Disability Strategy which aims to address the barriers that are faced by Australians with a disability and promote social inclusion through a focus on addressing issues beyond the specialist service system.

The Strategy is being developed through the Council of Australian Governments and will provide direction and focus at a national level. The Strategy will deliver a whole-of-government, whole-of-life approach to disability planning. It will also be the mechanism to ensure that the principles underpinning the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities are incorporated into policies and programs which have implications for people with a disability, their families and carers.

To advance social inclusion of people with a disability and their full participation in the community and the economy, the National Disability Strategy will be a broad whole-of-government response to achieve progress in key mainstream areas such as education, health, justice, transport, housing and infrastructure.

Question 5:
Regardless of whether a parent chooses a signing or an oral pathway for their children they need choice between early intervention services. What is being done to ensure adequate funding is provided to a diverse range of reputable early intervention providers to allow this choice BEFORE school age?

Answer:
ADHC funds 83 organisations to provide 136 services delivering early childhood intervention services for children with a disability or developmental delay, aged from birth up to (but not including) six year. These services generally work collaboratively with specialist hearing services to accommodate a child’s specific hearing needs and support families’ preferred communication modes.

Access to early childhood intervention services is one option for support for children with a hearing impairment. Children may also access mainstream services in their local community, for example preschool, child care centre or playgroup. In these settings, support may be provided by specialist hearing services or other disability specific early childhood intervention services.

Question 6:
How can Deaf people actually be INVOLVED in decision/policy and be consulted? How does your department make sure it gets to hear the opinions and frustrations of its stakeholders?

Answer:
The NSW Government provides a range of opportunities for people with a disability their families and carers to have input into policy development and consultation processes.

Peak Activity Organisations
ADHC funds Peak Activity Organisations to assist the NSW Government to implement its strategic directions for people with a disability, their families and carers.

These organisations are required to obtain information from members or the community as the basis of providing advice to the Government on emerging issues and trends.

This helps ADHC and other government agencies to develop well informed public policy through input from a diversity of views of the disability, ageing and carer sectors, and also provides independent advice on complex, controversial and emerging issues.

ADHC also recognises the role non-government organisations play in the development, implementation and delivery of programs for older people, people with a disability and their carers.

Disability Action Plans
Also in NSW, Government departments are required under the Disability Services Act, 1993 (NSW) to develop a Disability Action Plan. These plans set out intended actions and strategies to remove barriers, improve access to services, facilities and jobs by people with a disability. ADHC has led the implementation of a new NSW Government Disability Action Planning policy, planning and reporting framework. A key component of Disability Action Plans is developing a customer and stakeholder profile and providing opportunities for consultation.

Disability Council of NSW
The Disability Council of NSW is the official advisory body to the State Government on disability matters. The Council also provides advice to the Commonwealth on the effect of national policy at a State level.

The Disability Council of NSW works with others to achieve a socially just community in which Government policy and practice reflect the lives and experiences of people with a disability as individuals, family members and participants with many roles in a broad range of diverse settings. While the Disability Council of NSW is not a directly representative organisation of people with a disability, it provides expert advice regarding their interests to promote positive change.

Consultation and Feedback
ADHC also consults and seeks feedback from stakeholders, including members of the community regarding changes to, or new policies and services.

ADHC welcomes feedback and suggestions about all aspects of its activities which can be provided through a number of methods. Information about how to provide feedback is available on the ADHC website at www.dadhc.nsw.gov.au.

Question 7:
I have been rejected for jobs because of OHS risks that I can’t hear emergency alarms. The employer refused to discuss installing flashing lights or a vibrating pager. What can be done about employers like this? Can the department consider some kind of education campaign?

Answer:
An employer who refuses to consider an applicant for a job because they have a disability may be in breach the Anti-Discrimination Act 1997 (NSW). This Act prohibits employers from discriminating against people with a disability. The NSW Antidiscrimination Board can provide further advice and assistance and can be contacted on 9268 5555.

The Australian Government Workplace Modifications Scheme operated by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations also assists employers in meeting the costs of modifying the workplace or purchasing special equipment for new employees with a disability and they can be contacted on 9246 0600.

Questions to Sharan Westcott
Clinical Manager at Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre

Question 1:
Are the Deaf cultural and community aspects and  included in training for Audiologists and Cochlear Implant professionals?

Question 2:
Please explain why you said cochlear implants must be implanted before a child is 1, you mean for them to learn language auditorally because you don’t need to hear to learn sign language?

Answer (to both questions):
Yes there is a lot of training and awareness of the Deaf and Cultural Community Aspects included in training for Audiologists, you can contact Catherine McMahon and Macquarie University if you wish to know what is in included in the basic Audiology degree.  At SCIC all the Cochlear Implant professionals working with Deaf are well informed on the Deaf and Cultural Community Aspects. SCIC uses interpreters for contact with all clients from a non- English speaking background and this includes AUSLAN and Signed English interpreters for the families and numerous signing adults that now want a Cochlear Implant, so we actually have a growing number of Cochlear Implant clients from the Deaf community.

At SCIC we ensure that all families are informed of all communication options for their children, and there are a number of families where the child has a Cochlear Implant and is also signing. At our seminar evening tonight “Where are they now”, a signing Deaf family will be presenting on why they decided their child should have a Cochlear Implant and also sign and their experiences so far.

I would also like to say that in my more than 30 years experience as an Audiologist working with Deaf and Hearing Impaired people I have frequently had Deaf signing adolescents and Adults approach me to have hearing aids fitted (in earlier years) and now cochlear implants so that they could hear and learn to speak.. I always have to explain that if they have not used amplification everyday since early childhood that the hearing aids and cochlear implantation will not help them achieve these goals later in life. At this point in their life a device (Cochlear Implant or hearing aid) will provide sound but the brain will only be able to interpret the sound as noise, as research has shown that the brain does not have the neuroplasticity to attach meaning to speech sounds later in life. Does the Deaf community counsel families regarding this factor when they are considering communication options?

Question to Chevoy Sweeney
Parent of Deaf

Question:
Deaf parents lack access to ‘parenting skills’ workshops, covering health/early education issues for their hearing children. Parents of deaf children have access to this but not deaf parents of hearing children. What can be done about this?

Answer:
I agree with you in that many deaf parents with hearing children miss out on learning skills as they are unable to access parenting programs etc.  I think it is important to acknowledge that many hearing parents miss out on learning skills to parent their deaf children too.

I think that if you were to approach organisations, such as the Deaf Society or Deaf Australia with your concerns, they may be able to lobby for provision of information for deaf parents; maybe by providing workshops, parenting groups, etc.

If you were to approach an organisation, list the topics that you think parents should know more about.