2nd International Conference of World Federation of the Deaf

The 2^nd International Conference of the World Federation of the Deaf is being held in Sydney from 16-18 October 2013.

The theme of the Conference is “equality for deaf people”. There will be a particular focus on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The keynote presenters are Raghav Bir Joshi, business man, leader and activist for deaf people in Nepal, Rosemary Kayess, a human rights lawyer from the University of NSW and Judith Heumann, Special Advisor for International Disability Rights at the United States Department of State.

There will be four presentation streams:

• Equality in the community
• Equality in youth and education
• Advocating for equality
• Equality in language and linguistics

Presenters will be from all around the world including Africa, Asia, America and Europe. There will be a panel discussion by deaf MPs around the world including Mojo Mathers from New Zealand.

The venue is the Wesley Conference Centre, 220 Pitt Street, Sydney. The Welcome Reception will be at the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Conference Dinner will be at The Ivy.

Official languages of the Conference are English, Australian Sign Language, International Sign. Real time English captions will be provided for all events and presentations.

The Centenary of the Deaf Society of NSW will be celebrated after the Conference from 19-20 October.

Early bird registrations close 1 August 2013.

For more information: www.wfdsydney2013.com or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Accessible Public Transport Review 2012

The Victorian Government is is undertaking a review of Accessible Public Transport Action Plan for Victoria (this new draft was posted to us in hard copy only), and also, at the same time, the Australian Department of Infrastructure is undertaking a review of Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport (you can find this at: http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/transport/disabilities/review/index.aspx) So 2013 is a good time to look at Public Transport Access for Deaf and hard of hearing people in Victoria and Australia! Deaf Victoria made submissions to both reviews. Read our responses below:

Victorian Government Accessible Public Transport Action Plan submission

Department of Infrastucture- Submission to the Issues paper of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport

Melbourne: lets talk about the future

The Victorian Government has released a Metropolitan Planning Strategy for the city of Melbourne. From this, a discussion paper was released called "Melbourne, lets talk about the future"

This paper covers everything that Melbourne has to offer- the economy, housing, communities, welfare, transport and infrastructure over the next 40 years.

Deaf Victoria has provided feedback and comments on this paper on behalf of Victorians Deaf and hard of hearing community.

if you wish to read the paper, and provide your own comments, visit www.planmelbourne.vic.gov.au

000 SMS Emergency Services

The Project, on Channel Ten, aired a segment about the need for an SMS emergency service for Deaf and hard of hearing people in Australia. This prompted the Australian Government to announce that YES, we will have and SMS Emergency service from July 2013.

Read the segment here

Read the announcement from Senator Stephen Conroy here

Read the Media Release from Australian Communications Action Network here

Truck Driving Campaign

To read Deaf Victorias report to the National Transport Commission, on the Asssessing Fitness To Drive Guidelines, Click Here

ARTICLE BY DEAF VICTORIA ON RAMP UP

CLICK HERE

Save Auslan Courses Rally - 30th May 2012 at Parliament House

TRUCK DRIVING FORUM

See PDF

VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT TAFE CUTS - MEDIA RELEASE

See PDF - Click Here

DEAF DEAF WORLD

DEAF DEAF WORLD for your work place to experience is 100% reimbursement from Employment Assistance Fund (EAF)! Tell your Boss or Manager now that you would like to have Deaf Deaf World at your work place. This is fun / educational and clear awareness of what challenges deaf people face daily. We looking forward to coming to your work place! See photos of some of our teams and how much fun we have - and of course at the same time, your work colleagues would understand YOU better. See photos - (Facebook) Click Here

FROM ACCAN - AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISION

Agreement for more captioning on pay TV

Captioning levels on subscription television services will be increased over the next three years, under an agreement reached between the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA).

The agreement was reached together with leading captioning expert body, Media Access Australia and has been endorsed by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

The agreement will see captioning levels increase by approximately five to ten per cent each year across existing subscription TV channels, and includes minimum captioning levels to be provided on all new channels.

Over the next three years, captioning of some subscription movie channels is intended to increase from 55 % to 75 %, captioning of some subscription general entertainment channels from 35 % to 55%, and captioning of subscription sports channels from 5 % to 15 %.  

In return, subscription TV providers will be exempt from Disability Discrimination Act complaints about levels of captioning until 2015 so long as they carry out the terms of the agreement.

“I commend the members of ASTRA for their commitment to continued increases in captioning levels. I’m very pleased we were able to reach this agreement,” said Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes.

This week’s agreement is the latest in a series of decisions by the Australian Human Rights Commission which have resulted in captioning levels increasing by around 5% every year since 2003 for free to air TV, and since 2004 for subscription TV.

“This agreement will ensure that over 2 million Australians who are deaf or have a hearing impairment will have more choices in the programs they can watch,” said Commissioner Graeme Innes.

The number of people with hearing impairments is expected to increase further with the ageing of the Australian population.

“As well as benefiting people who are deaf or have a hearing impairment, captions are also used by many other people, such as in noisy environments like sports bars or airports, or family homes at dinner time,” said Commissioner Graeme Innes.