Friday February 17th 2017

STATEMENT FROM DEAF AOTEAROA ON EMERGENCY INFORMATION ACCESSIBILITY

This statement is available in New Zealand Sign Language at: https://youtu.be/1JQi_Rmi19E

Deaf Aotearoa is disappointed by the lack of visibility of a New Zealand Sign Language interpreter at a Civil Defence Emergency briefing in Christchurch yesterday afternoon.

Following the state of emergency declared in the region on Wednesday evening, Deaf Aotearoa prepared NZSL translations of official information from Civil Defence. These video updates were made available on Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

Deaf Aotearoa’s interpreting service iSign then worked with Civil Defence Emergency Management to ensure an interpreter was present for a media briefing held by the Prime Minister and other officials.

Civil Defence was unable to livestream this briefing via its own channels, leaving the Deaf community to rely on news outlets and broadcasters to ensure live information from the briefing was accessible. Those outlets which did broadcast the briefing live failed to include the interpreter adequately in their coverage. This is very disappointing and frustrating.

Since November’s earthquakes, Deaf Aotearoa has been working with CDEM to establish better access to information for NZSL users. In requesting and providing an interpreter, both Civil Defence and Deaf Aotearoa worked hard in this instance. However those broadcasting emergency briefings must also participate in ensuring Deaf people’s right to access information.

Deaf Aotearoa will continue to work with Civil Defence on ways to ensure better visibility in future, to make equal access a reality.

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