Deafblind Self-Advocacy

A man appears in front of a black background. He has short grey hair and salt and pepper facial hair. He is facing the camera a during Auslan. The DBA logo appears in the top left corner.

Transcript:

Deafblind people have many barriers. Self-advocacy means you know your rights and feel comfortable explaining them to others. Doing this takes practice and time to learn and to feel confident. Sometimes, even if you can explain your needs really well you still might have barriers. These are times when it’s important to use advocates or advocacy organizations like Deafblind Australia to help.

Here are 5 steps to help you know how to advocate when you have a barrier.

Step 1

What do you want?

For example you might need a CommGuide, Interpreter or Environmental Improvement.

Step 2

Who can give it to you?

Organizations, local services, local or state government or education providers.

Step 3

What do they need to hear?

Focus on the relevant impact and risks and offer a solution.

 Step 4

Who do they need to hear from?

YOU. Seek extra support with an advocate, a personal support system, or request Deafblind Consultant. Link below for Deafblind Consultant.

Step 5

How do they need to hear it?

There may be steps you have to follow to make the request. For example, applying online. Meeting in person. Or using a specific form.

Here are some examples of different barriers and how to use the 5 steps.

EXAMPLE 1

Your NDIS plan does not include something you needs as a Deafblind person. You asked for a hearing aid with rechargeable batteries and the NDIA said no.

Step 1: What do you want?

Funding to buy hearing aids with rechargeable batteries. This is because the ones with small batteries that you need to replace aren’t a good match for a Deafblind person.

Step 2: Who can give it to you?

The NDIA.

Step 3: What do they need to hear?

IMPACT: You do not feel confident changing hearing aid batteries and are not confident going out because if your hearing aid batteries go flat you will be stuck with no hearing aids and won’t be able to replace them.

RISK: If the batteries run flat and you can’t swap them without support you might get stuck out in the community unable to communicate.

SOLUTION: Funding rechargeable aids will remove these barriers and risks.

Step 4: Who do they need to hear from?

You. You might need an advocate, family member of friend to support you.

Step 5: How do they need to hear it?

In writing using the “Request for a Review” of a decision form submitted by email or by post.

 EXAMPLE 2

The footpath outside your house is damaged and it is difficult for you to move around safely.

Step 1: What do you want?

The footpath to be fixed quickly.

Step 2: Who can give it to you?

Your local council.

Step 3: What do they need to hear?

IMPACT: You cannot leave the house alone and may miss important appointments.

RISK: Risk of injury from falling over

SOLUTION: Fix the footpath as soon as possible.

Step 4: Who do they need to hear from?

They need to hear it from you so you can explain your situation and why it’s important. You might need an advocate to help you or a family member or friend to support you.

Step 5: How do they need to hear it?

The council might have a form on their website or a phone number you can use to report things that need fixing in your area. You could also use the app called Snap Send Solve to let the council know there is a problem.

A man appears in front of a black background. He has short grey hair and salt and pepper facial hair. He is facing the camera doing Auslan. The DBA logo appears in the top left corner.

Transcript:

Commonwealth, Federal and State legislation makes sure that people with disabilities and the people who care for them have the same rights and access to opportunities as all other citizens in Australia.

Laws and legislation use complicated language an include a lot of information that might seem overwhelming. Federal laws and laws listed by states can be found at Deafblind Information Australia. You are also protected by international law. This is called the Convention on the Rights of a person with disability or the CRPD. There is a link below to the CRPD and a link to an Auslan interpreted video with more information about the CRPD.

The Australian Government has agreed to protect the human rights of people with disability through the CRPD. Recent research shows that Australia is in violations of many human rights and is not following the agreement within the CRPD. Many deaf bind people have experienced in the past or are now experiencing abuse, violence and neglect. There is a royal commission into these issues. We’ve included an Auslan captioned and voiced video below to explain more. You can reach out to DBA for assistance unmaking sure your experience is part of this royal commission.

A man appears in front of a black background. He has short grey hair and salt and pepper facial hair. He is facing the camera doing Auslan. The DBA logo appears in the top left corner.

Transcript:

DBA’s Reference Group shared that many members were not confidently prepared for various emergency situations.  We want to provide one place where you can go to prepare and understand emergency situations.

On this page you will find information about preparing for an emergency, making an emergency call, requesting interpreters during an emergency situation, how to access interpreters for private and public health appointments and how to access an interpreter for a police appointment or interview.

Preparing for an emergency

A safety plan allows you to prepare for possible emergencies. Your safety plan is unique. We have created a document to help you prepare your safety plan. This document is listed below.

Making an emergency call

Australia’s primary emergency call service number is 000 which can be dialled from any fixed or mobile phone, pay phones and certain Voice Over Internet Protocol or VoIP services.   You can still receive emergency help if it is not safe to speak or if you cannot speak.

• When using Internet relay, ask for 000.
• When using captioned relay ask for 000.
• For SMS relay text 0423 677 767 and include 000 in your first message.
• Ordinary phone dial one 800-5557 727 and ask for 000
• For TTY dial 106

All calls to emergency numbers whether from fixed, mobile, payphone or VoIP services are free of charge.  For more information about calling services, visit the 000 website by following the link at the end of this page.

Requesting an interpreter in an emergency situation

A service: police, hospital etc can book an interpreter through their regular agency, face to face or using VRI.  Auslan Connections have an after hours emergency number a services to call outside of business hours.

For Queensland and the NT please contact 0455 068 500 via call or SMS.

For NSW and the ACT please contact 0412 422059 via call or SMS.

For Victoria and Tasmania please contact 0394731174 for voice or NRS calls or if in Victoria, you can also contact Echo Interpreting after hours on 0449259153 via SMS.

Health appointments

You will find a link to a video at the end of this page that you can show your healthcare workers if they need support to understand your rights to access.

Public health appointments

If you have an appointment with a public hospital they are responsible to pay for an Auslan interpreter for you as they receive government funds for this.

Private health appointments

If you have an appointment with a private health care provider such as a GP, dentist, physio or a private hospital, you use your NDIS plan to pay for an Australian interpreter. You can book with any Australian agency you like. NABS will use your NDIS plan to pay for the interpreter it is not free anymore

If you don’t have NABS because you are over 65 years of age, are aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, are not an Australian citizen or are not eligible, then ABS will arrange a free Auslan interpreter for you.

Over 65s with a My Aged Care package can use Auslan Connections to access these services and appointments.

Police appointment

If the police want to interview you, they are responsible to pay for an Auslan interpreter for you as they receive government funds for this.  You can show the following statement to self-advocate if you are facing barriers to access.

‘You are required to provide me with an Auslan interpreter.  As a Deafblind person, my access rights are protected by the following:

• Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006
• Criminal Procedure Act 2009, as highlighted in Section 33
• Equal Opportunities Act 2012, includes a ‘positive duty obligation’ which means that departments and agencies need to take proactive and reasonable steps to address causes of discrimination, regardless of whether a complaint has been made or not.
• Victorian Government Policy Using Interpreting Services.

Auslan Interpreters can be booked through VITS and Auslan Connections.

Through this video, you may have seen the text sliding with names of websites.  You will find all the links listed below this video that you will be able to click and go directly to those websites.