Day 91 - Southland Deaf Community - We need interpreters

We need interpreters

By: Philippa Strong

Southland Deaf Community: 18/06/2024

On behalf of the Southland Deaf Community, I want to bring this to your attention: We badly need Sign Language Interpreters. We have none here in Invercargill or the Southland area, which I find a disgrace.

One of our members is in the hospital quite frequently, and without an interpreter, it is tough. The closest place for an interpreter to travel is Dunedin, about a 2- 3 hour drive one way. Getting an Interpreter for when the Doctors do their rounds isn’t always satisfactory as they never know when they will be seeing the person.

We have been given the option of using NZ Relay, which is unsatisfactory for our Deaf Community. Our Members are older and do not have access to modern IT technology.

Another example myself has been seeing a lot of specialists and being in and out of the hospital and even getting an interpreter as my husband, who is profoundly deaf to be able to attend the appointments has been difficult as we sometimes haven’t been able to get an interpreter which means I have to try and listen what the doctor is saying and having my husband Roger tapping me on the shoulder and asking me what the doctor is saying. I am not an interpreter or fluent in sign language, so as you can see,  we need interpreters in Invercargill.

We shouldn’t have to pay for Interpreters. It should all be government-funded as it is a health disability, and funding for Interpreters only covers some things, not all. As funding cuts are going to be taking place, this is going to be very difficult for the Deaf. The Southland Deaf Community will fight for this, so I want your support. They have not asked to be Deaf, the same way the Blind haven’t asked to be Blind; people haven’t asked to have disabilities.

Philippa Strong
Treasurer/Secretary
Southland Deaf Community

Last Updated 18/06/2024

RESOURCES

• Southland Deaf Community

• Protest Letter ver 1 (PDF)