←

The Rebuttal

Tag: hearing-loss

  • Thinking Universal

    adefinty2
    Graphic is of a chart that describes seven principles of Universal Design. There are eight circles, the middle circle states Universal Design Principles. It is surrounded by seven circles that are attached to the middle circle by a line. The circles state the seven principles – Equitable, Flexible, Simple and Intuitive, Perceptible, Tolerance for Error, Low Physical Effort and Physical Accessibility.

    Access, now there is a word. I preach it a lot, but I do not always practice it. I really need to improve. Often, for example, I publish Rebuttal’s without an Auslan version. My only excuse is time and impatience. I really need to improve. That also includes me providing descriptive text for any graphics I use. At the end of each paragraph that I type in this article I will stop and translate it to Auslan. Hopefully, in this way I can publish an accessible article, even if my Auslan is a bit crappy.

    Why this article? Well, I am witnessing many incidences around lack of phone access for people who are Deaf and hard of hearing from organisations that really should know better. Yesterday a friend posted on Facebook about being contacted by Hearing Australia. As they do, they call by voice to a Deaf or hard of hearing person’s phone to remind them of appointments. If no response, they send a follow up text message asking the receiver to call them to schedule their appointment.

    I find the Hearing Australian phone communication system really frustrating. People who are Deaf and hard of hearing can call through the Relay Service or Convo, but why should they? They should have options to text, email or even text chat. Hearing Australia need to do better.

    It will surprise no one that one of the worst for phone access for people who are Deaf and hard of hearing is the NDIS. Whether it is a person waiting for contact about their new plan or a person who is going through a review. The NDIS will call them. At first, they will receive a text message saying that the NDIS will call them within 15 minutes and to please answer. You can’t even respond to the message because it is a private number.

    What can the person who is Deaf or hard of hearing do? They can’t text, they can’t email, they are stuck. So, the NDIS calls and the person who is Deaf or hard of hearing cannot answer. It is appalling. What is worse is if the person cannot make contact, after three calls the NDIS apparently marks them as non-responsive. Countless people who are Deaf or hard of hearing receive these messages every day and are extremely frustrated. The NDIS have to do better than this.

    There are other organistions besides these two that are equally culpable when it comes to phone access. Hospitals, banks, Government departments and so on. However, I have highlighted Hearing Australia and the NDIS because firstly, Hearing Australia are Australia’s oldest and largest service provider for audiology. Secondly, the NDIS are Australia’s largest disability support system with over 700 000 participants on their books. You would think that these two major organisations would be setting an example about what constitutes good access. It is mind boggling that they are so bad.

    This is why I encourage people to think universal. I am referring here to Universal Design. It is a simple concept where people think about all of the people that might access a service or structure like a building. You build a building so that parents in prams can access the building through a ramp which in turn provides access for wheelchair users. You have adequate lighting for people that require good lighting but at the same time lighting that will allow access for people who may have sensorineural issues.

    Alarm systems are both auditory and visual. Information boards can be in text, audio and provide Auslan translations for things like evacuations and safety. The very concept of Universal Design is that designers of services and infrastructure consider as many scenarios as they possibly can, at the start and not as an afterthought later. They might not be able to cover everything, but Universal Design is a hell of a lot more financially sensible than adding things later after everything is fully rolled out and established.

    I think as a minimum, organisations such as Hearing Australia and the NDIS need to be showing how it is done. They have no excuse for being “hearingcentic”. As Australia’s biggest providers of services and supports for people who are Deaf, hard of hearing and who have disabilities they need to be setting an example and demonstrating what accessible supports are.

    Do better!

  • Looking Back

    adefinty2


    While at a Deaf soccer presentation last week a person came up to me and said something along the lines of, ” It’s you??? I love The Rebuttal, I read your articles all the time. I feel like I know you personally.” A little bit later this same person came up to me and asked if I would still keep writing The Rebuttal as I head into retirement. Said she, ” ….. I read them while I am on the toilet.” I thanked her for this endearing and lasting vision.


    Getting comments like that never gets old. It really gives me a buzz. Four of us came up with The Rebuttal concept in 2006. We basically thought that the grassroots Deaf community were being largely ignored. There were a group of “Elites” that were controlling the agenda. We saw The Rebuttal as a way of challenging these Elites and, hopefully, as a way to give a bigger voice to the grassroots Deaf community.


    That was 627 articles ago. Consider this, our very first article was bemoaning the lack of Deaf/HoH people in management positions. We pointed out that Deaf Society’s needed to use Affirmative Action to provide management opportunities to Deaf people. I remember arguing at the time that one of the current hearing CEOs got the job at 28 years of age with only a qualification in Youth Work.


    It was time, we said, to promote Deaf/HoH into these roles because expecting them to win just on merit was unfair given the advantages and privileges that hearing people have. Well, with both our major Deaf organisations having Deaf CEOs now, and many Deaf people in management roles, we can all be well pleased with the current status quo.


    Over the years The Rebuttal evolved. It was not just Deaf focused but commented on disability issues in general. At The Rebuttal’s heart Deaf/HoH issues were still the main focus. I guess we just became a little bit more worldly. That said, The Rebuttal was, and is, still mostly about Deaf/HoH issues. We are proud of that.


    My favourite articles of The Rebuttal are the ones with characters portraying the Deaf/HoH experience. My favourite will always be Carrie, the little Deaf girl and the story of how she was often isolated within her hearing family. The idea was not to be critical of hearing people, rather just to show that Deafness is not just about the ears. The article also highlighted just how much of the responsibilities that mothers often bear. If you want to read this article, click here CARRIE


    I guess the articles that people will remember most are the articles that challenged and raised issues. The Rebuttal was extremely outspoken about the loss of the South Australian Deaf community home at 262. When the partnership with Townsend House was first suggested around 2008, members of the Deaf community sent us copies of the suggested business agreement.


    We warned then that the control of 262 was basically with Townsend House and that they could basically do what they liked with 262. Including selling it, which they did five years later. We received a lot of abuse from certain high-ranking people for stating the obvious. We were fearmongering they said. Well look what happened!


    I still think the way the South Australia Deaf community were treated during this whole sorry saga was a disgrace. They ripped the guts out of this proud community and sold 262. An asset that was largely built by the Deaf community members through fundraising and hard labour. In 2021 Townsend House did eventually apologise for the way that they treated the Deaf community, but by then the damage was done.


    We also sometimes challenged our advocacy organisations, much to their disgust. Deafness Forum actually blocked us from posting anything at their Facebook page. A certain someone also accused us of being solely responsible for the demise of Deaf Australia. (Who are still going strong, by the way, with a wonderful and vibrant young CEO)


    Did we get it right all the time? No! sometimes we even publicly apologised if we got our facts wrong. It’s fair to say some noses were put out of joint. We make no apologies, challenge and debate are healthy. We copped abuse too. My wife was actually publicly told to “SHUT UP” for speaking out about Craptiview. My favourite was when a CEO sent Marnie an email asking her to tell me to back off. Why they couldn’t email me directly, I am not sure. It’s fair to say there was a bit of rough and tumble along the way.


    I like to think we tried to be diverse as well. The Rebuttal was not just about politics and advocacy. We had a series where we highlighted quiet achievers in the Deaf/HoH sector such as the late Michael Lockrey and the brilliant Nancy Gibb. We wrote about the experience that Deaf people had during Covid in Pete’s Day. We picked up on new issues like the impact of Artificial Intelligence in The Rise and Rise of Artificial Intelligence. And we even wrote about Being Turned On, Sex and the Deaf, With Hearing People. We certainly were not a one trick pony.


    But mostly, I like to think The Rebuttal and all of its contributors showed that they had a Deaf heart. Through all of it all the aim was to bring attention to the issues, needs and even the quirkiness of Deaf/HoH community. It was a great privilege to do this. I have loved every moment of it, particularly the responses of the readers. The responses made it all the more worthwhile.


    So, to the question of our toilet reading admirer – Will I keep writing The Rebuttal in my retirement? I won’t say never, but I fully intend to switch off for a while. I fully intend to not let the cock up that is the current NDIS and other issues get me wound up. It’s time to just relax and enjoy some the finer things in life. BUT- The Rebuttal remains open to anyone that wants to contribute. We are more than happy, as we have in the past, to print the contributions of others, so feel free to use the platform if it will help.


    Thanks all. It’s been a blast. Now it is time for me to recharge. Who knows what the future holds!

    As a footnote, all articles focusing on and critical of the NDIS and Government programs can be solely attributed to me, Gary Kerridge. No other person has been involved or offered advise or information. Any names mentioned within or within the translation, are no longer involved in producing the Rebuttal, apart from Marnie who offers her translation skills from time to time. 😊