Lack of Auslan services drives discrimination, DeafACT says

DeafACT has launched an e-Petition calling for an ACT government inquiry into the lack of Auslan services available, as well as policy to strengthen services, agreed objectives and targets for these services and transparent reporting.

The group was moved to action by reports from government departments that "they provide access for the Deaf community, but we know that it is not actually the case," president Jacob Clarke said, communicating via email.

He pointed to a number of instances in which Deaf people faced significant disadvantage, including in accessing emergency and specialist medical attention, interactions with emergency services, in aged care facilities and educational institutions.

"Deaf people attending the ED [emergency department] continually report issues where admin staff do not know how to book interpreters," he said.

"Medical staff also seem quite happy to use family members (who often have limited signing ability and even less medical knowledge) or rely on the Deaf person being able to lipread them in preference to having vital health information accurately interpreted."

Mr Clarke wants to see the petition hit 500 signatures, which would mean it is not only referred to the relevant minister after its closing date of December 30, but that it would be referred to an appropriate Assembly committee.

"We want individual government departments to be held accountable," Mr Clarke said.

"We want them to report every year on what has been achieved and where are the recognised gaps."

While he noted the provision of Auslan interpreters at daily Covid pressers, he said the coronavirus pandemic further highlighted inadequate Auslan services available.

MyDHR has no option to book an Auslan interpreter for vaccination booking, and the ACT Covid website has no Auslan videos, with everything written in English.

There is also no option for those isolating to notify ACT Health they are Deaf, Mr Clarke said.

"Attempted phone calls were ignored because they cannot answer, prompting ACT police to check," he said.

Member of the Assembly Nicole Lawder, who is sponsoring the petition, said in a statement she understood for Deaf people using Auslan "there are many, many barriers they face on a daily basis".

"From movies without captions, to appointments with various health and mental health professionals, to everyday workplace interactions, it is hard to comprehend the challenges without being right there," Ms Lawder said.

Ms Lawder said improving services would "require a range of responses" and "would come at a cost, just as improved services for any or all in our community might come at a cost".

"But it is also an investment in the future of some of our residents, our Deaf Canberrans," she said.

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