A television documentary on the plight of a deaf man has spurred the Glen Eden-based New Zealand Association of the Deaf into action. It wants to see the man, wrongly imprisoned for two years, receive compensation for his ordeal. FIONA STEWART reports.
It was a story of gross injustice. But to think it happened in modern times, in our own court system, is unbelievable and inexcusable.
Ivan Curry is deaf.
He has little comprehension of the English language and his communication skills are almost non-existent.
But a policeman who had never before communicated with a deaf person got a confession from Ivan. As a result the innocent man spent two years on remand in jail.
When the case finally came to court in 1990 a jury quickly found Ivan not guilty of the murder of his 15-month-old child.
The child had lost consciousness, possibly through an epileptic seizure, and its injuries had been caused by a desperate resuscitation attempt.
At no stage was Ivan offered the services of an interpreter.
Nor did he receive an apology or compensation for his lost two years. The Police Complaints Authority has started an inquiry into the case.
And these are issues now being taken up by the Glen Eden-based New Zealand Association of the Deaf.
President Jennifer Brain, of Te Atatu, says the association will write to the Minister of Justice and the Police Commissioner.
“Ivan should receive some kind of compensation,” she says.
“I don’t know how much but at least a couple of years’ wages.”
At present the association has four interpreters working around the country. That number is expected to increase when students graduate from the first deaf interpreter’s course currently under way at the Auckland Institute of Technology.
“An interpreter should be available as a matter of right to ensure this kind of thing doesn’t happen again,” says Mrs Brain.
“The documentary highlighted the problem and really that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Deaf people often go through the justice, education and health systems without any interpreters. No other New Zealanders have so little recognition of the basic right to communicate.”
Mrs Brain adds many hearing people simply assume a deaf person has understood them when that’s not the case.
“The police assumed Ivan understood when he did not.”
Mrs Brain has been deaf since birth.
She was educated in mainstream schools and at a school for the deaf.
“I was angry and frustrated when growing up,” says the mother of six. “But I was ambitious and wanted a career. Although I hated high school socially, I did well academically and went on to become a school dental nurse.”
Mrs Brain has been with the association five years and this is her second term as president.
The association aims to promote and advance the quality of life for deaf people.
“We want to make more people aware of deaf people’s needs and get equal rights for deaf people,” Mrs Brain says.
As far as fundraising goes the association has a lot of trouble.
Public sympathy is rightly mostly given out to people with visible disabilities.
About 400,000 people in this country have some form of hearing loss and there are about 24,000 who are profoundly deaf.
Unless they have teleprinters they can’t use the telephone.
They can’t hear babies cry and they can’t hear the doorbell ring — daily activities taken for granted by people who can hear.
“I would like to see Telecom introduce a service whereby a deaf person could telephone an operator,” says Mrs Brain.
“That operator could then make the call required by the deaf person. For example I could ring the service and through it make a doctor’s appointment.”
Mrs Brain also has some thoughts on how hearing people can best communicate with someone who is deaf.
“Don’t be afraid to look at us and smile – that will put us at ease,” she says.
“Be prepared to speak a little slower but there’s no need to yell and scream. Be prepared also to write simple messages and if required contact an interpreter.”
Mrs Brain can lip-read but she also uses a hearing aid.
“But you can only lip-read if you have an understanding of the language,” she says.
“So many words are similar in the way they are mouthed and many letters to a deaf person look the same. I’ve had a couple of embarrassing moments when I’ve taken someone completely the wrong way.”
And that’s another way hearing people can help.
“Make sure the deaf person you are talking to knows the topic,” says Mrs Brain.
“Don’t be afraid to make gestures. We do appreciate people making an effort with the right attitude.”
