Did you know how many sign language around the world? Is there any official sign language under the Government or not?

Did you know that there is a Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) under the United Nations or not?

Sign Language Rights for All

Mmm, it is easy to forget about us – Deaf people in the same room with the hearing people over many years. I was one of them, BUT for now, I have got my partner, and we went out together to a cafe, visiting someone. He always tells the person “mum (me)  is deaf and uses the text, face to her when speaking.” When I am on my own, I occasionally remind someone in the same room or sending email and text on how to talk, signs, or not to use voice over mobile. I wear a pair of hearing aids, BUT it is difficult to follow anyone’s speaking because of the background noise, and there was too many statics, just like the radio. Many Deaf people do not wear hearing aid based on their choice not to wear it while several other deaf/hard of hearing people do wear a hearing aid for security or their comfort zone within their families or workplace.

With sign language conversation and having an interpreter who signs for Deaf people, it is easier and helping Deaf people to understand than reading in media, watching tv with captioning or without captioning or unable to listen on the radio, mobile. In the New Zealand Census record – there are approximately 23,000 Deaf people in NZ. NZ Census Stat 2019

Sign Language Interpreter on TV

Our NZ Interpreter working in the Government

Does any of you have any idea when you meet a Deaf person and how to speak to them? Think about if you meet someone who is from France or Spain and can you speak French or Spanish? Do you have the ability to speak the French language or to use ‘gesture’ even to use sign language?

For example French as in English -Je ne parle pas très bien français. = I don’t speak French very well.

Or in Spanish as in English – Hable despacio por favor.= Speak slowly, please.

Note this week, it is considering that fall on the same week for the Mental Health Week.

It is crucial for any Social Service staff, Counsellors, Health Boards, MPs of Health, Police staff to think about our communications with Deaf persons/Hard of Hearing people through sign language rather face to face in speaking conversation. It is vast barriers since the Health System, and the services failed for us over many years.