Democratic advances for Deaf people

As NZSL Week draws to an end Deaf Action commends Parliament for taking steps to allow Deaf people access to democracy through the provision of New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Interpreters during Question Time in Parliament and during Post Cabinet Press Conference.

For us in the Deaf community it means we can see all the information presented, not just the part usually chosen by media. For the 2020 election, we can expect to be better informed as voter, and till then, become more engaged as citizens tackling not only issues related to us but also issues related to our country and our global community.

This week we look forward to the first reading of the Election Access Fund bill which equals accessible democracy.

In 1880, the first School for the Deaf was established in Christchurch, the appointment of Gerrit van Asch ensured Deaf children in New Zealand were taught via the oral method. It has taken 138 years of advocacy from the Deaf community of New Zealand to reach the point where NZSL is being used as a regular part of the way the New Zealand Government engages with New Zealanders. Deaf Action NZ is proud to have had a key role in facilitating these actions.
The Deaf community will continue their work to achieve equity in society, while also maintaining our responsibility to protect and promote NZSL.

We want to ensure that Deaf people are included and respected in the development of learning materials, programmes and services using NZSL to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of these resources.

Deaf Action NZ is a run for and by Deaf New Zealanders. Its missions is to advance the human rights and represent the interests of Deaf, deaf and hard of hearing people in Aotearoa New Zealand.

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