Games for deaf demonstrate need

Games for deaf demonstrate need

The New Zealand Deaf Sports Association demonstrated in Wellington at the weekend — at its 33rd annual games — how well it would use the Government funds it is hoping for so the association can hire its own interpreters.

President Tony Walton said the association could use 13 interpreters around the country to help 5000–6000 deaf sportspeople, and he is hopeful the Government is finally beginning to listen to its plea for help.

It would take $300,000 to set up an interpreter system.

Basketball representative Nicky Morrison, 24, who was at the games, was one of a large number of babies born deaf in 1965 because their mothers had rubella.

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NZSL story – Taonga source: Tony Walton

From New Lynn to Avondale: A Necessary Move

Tony served as President of the New Zealand Association of the Deaf from 1999 to 2003. At the time, the focus was on supporting Deaf youth – not relocating. But when asbestos was discovered in the ceiling of the New Lynn building, with removal costs estimated at $600,000, a major decision had to be made. With support from a funder willing to underwrite the risk, the building was sold and a new location was secured. The Avondale office officially opened in November 1999.

NZSL story – Taonga source: Tony Walton

Tony Walton on Building a More Accessible Deaf Aotearoa

Tony reflects on his involvement with the New Zealand Association of the Deaf (now Deaf Aotearoa). In 1989, during the World Deaf Games, New Zealand had only two or three qualified NZSL interpreters – a serious shortage. NZDSA was strongly sign-based, while the NZAD board leaned more oral. After the Games, Tony joined NZAD as a delegate to learn how it worked, eventually becoming President. His focus was on Deaf youth, leading to the creation of Friends of Young Deaf (FYD), better Māori engagement and involvement with more NZSL interpreters. One key goal was to have 13 interpreters nationwide, giving every major town and city access. Interpreter pay and access were limited back then – very different from today.

Megan Mansfield

Megan Mansfield

Nicki Morrison

Tony (Anthony) Walton

Tony (Anthony) Walton

Taonga source:

The Evening Post

Reference number:

SignDNA – Deaf National Archive New Zealand, A1989-008

Bibliographic source:

The Evening Post, 1989

Copyright status:

This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Note:

This item has been transcribed and/or OCR post-corrected. It also has been compressed and/or edited.

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