Better Services For The Deaf In The Pipeline
The National Foundation for the Deaf has been asked to take a leadership role in an unprecedented approach to solving
some of the issues within the hearing impaired community.
For the first time a group of representatives from the hearing sector service providers, funders, the ACC and the
Ministry of Health attended a Wellington forum this week, funded by the NFD, to discuss the provision of services and
technology for the adult hearing impaired.
Marianne Schumacher, executive manager of the NFD said the aim of the group is to gain new information and insights into
various issues surrounding our deaf and hearing impaired community.
“All those groups attending are concerned that hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders are hearing impaired and current
services are inadequate. There are not enough audiologists, waiting lists are huge and there is no integration of health
and social care.
“The perception of the disability is that it is a mechanical problem which can be fixed, or not, by a hearing aid. But
hearing impairment is about the lack of communication and the psychological and sociological issues around this
isolation need to be considered. The “whole” person should be treated, not just the ear,” said Ms Schumacher.
The forum was attended by visiting Scientist-in-charge at the Scottish Institute of Hearing Research in Glasgow, Prof.
Stuart Gatehouse who shared his experience and thinking on developing a collective long term vision and strategy for
providing better services for the hearing impaired.
The NFD was commissioned to form an action group to process the initiatives. The first step is to map out the complete
system – a who’s who in the sector and what they are doing.
“While this is a daunting task, it is essential to identify all parties and look at the big picture before developing
service delivery models and best practices,” said Ms Schumacher.
ENDS Released on behalf of The National Foundation for the Deaf Inc by Donovan Boyd Communications, Auckland.
For further information please contact :
Marianne Schumacher Executive Manager, The NFD Tel: (09) 307 2922 Or Liane Donovan Donovan Boyd
Communications Tel: (09) 379 2121 027 222 7348