NFD Journal: December 1990 (Vol. 4, No. 4)

Some of the items featured in the December 1990 issue of ‘NFD Journal:

Diploma in Interpreting – the necessary support has been set up for an interpreting training course at ATI for 1992. The course will cost $750,000 for the first two years and approximately $360,000 annual funding thereafter. NFD needs to find $24,000 for advertising and recruiting for the Senior Lecturer role.
In a first for Wellington, a course “Introduction to Computing” is provided with 12 students, 7 of which are Deaf/hearing impaired.
The NFD Board has agreed to support a documentary by Shirley Horrocks, suitable for television on the subject of Deafness, Deaf culture and language. It aims to be completed in time for Deafness Awareness Week in September 1991.
An advertisement for a ‘Diving Class for the Deaf’ in Christchurch – ”experience has shown that the hearing impaired communicate better than others underwater. ACT NOW!!”
An update on the dictionary of NZSL, with a position shortly to be advertised for a Managing Editor, with the dictionary expected to take at least three years to complete.

Can you help?

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.

Barry Kirkland

Cheryl Anton (Herd)

Cheryl Anton (Herd)

Clare Hong

David Buchanan

David Hendry

Eileen McGee

Graeme Kennedy

Hilary McCormack

Hilary McCormack

Jennifer Brain (Shearer)

Jennifer Brain (Shearer)

Linda Prouse

Margaret Cooper

Margaret Cooper

Pat Dugdale

Shirley Horrocks

Shirley Horrocks

Shona McGhie

Relevant Links

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Taonga source:

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Reference number:

SignDNA – Deaf National Archive New Zealand, NFDJ1990-4-4-MJN

Copyright status:

This work is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Note:

This item has been compressed and/or edited.

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article – Taonga source: Unknown

Ready to lend helping hands to deaf

The class of eight graduates tonight after four months' study learning the variety of sign language used by New Zealand deaf people.

article – Taonga source: The Press

Interpreters spent year on training

Nearly 90 Christchurch people have spent the last year training to be interpreters at the World Games for the Deaf, with about 50 deaf people teaching the volunteers their language.

article – Taonga source: The Dominion

Interpreter service for deaf urged

One of the New Zealand Association for the Deaf’s priorities is to get interpreters for the profoundly deaf. This was the message in a speech from Mrs Pat Dugdale.

article – Taonga source: The Dominion

Job Advertisement: Interpreters for the Deaf

Applications are invited for the first New Zealand course of interpreter training.

article – Taonga source: Capital Times

A sign of communication

It's one of NZ's official languages yet still a mystery to most of us; the sign language used by the Deaf community. As part of Deaf Awareness Week, we asked Kerry Locker-Lampson about being an interpreter.

article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

An ear for the deaf

The 600 people in Wellington at last have their own sign interpreter. Rachel Locker was appointed as sign language interpreter for the deaf on Monday.

article – Taonga source: NZ Herald

Signs from the silent world

Deaf students have the right to equal access to tertiary education but who will pay for sign language interpreters?

video – Taonga source: Attitude Pictures

NZSL has become an integral part of Coffee Educators

Not long after opening Co-Ed Cafe and the associated training school, Claire Matheson began running courses for students of Newlands College Deaf Unit. NZSL is now used in meetings and training, and they have menus in sign language.

Attitude Pictures

article – Taonga source: Unknown

Deaf people being left on the outer

A shortage of sign language interpreters means as many as 7700 deaf people are struggling to access services in their communities.

article – Taonga source: Harbour News

Tech course to help the deaf

A significant step for New Zealand's deaf community has been taken this week. The country's first permanent sign language interpreters' course began on Monday at the Auckland Institute of Technology. At present there are only four official interpreters servicing New Zealand's more than 24,000 deaf people. Sixteen students from around the country started the two-year course this week.

article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Job Advertisement: Sign Language Interpreter

Applications are invited for the above position based in the Wellington Welfare Office for the Deaf. Interpreting work will include areas such as welfare, court, political meetings, medical, etc. Application giving full curriculum vitae and a VHS video tape of yourself of no less than 15 minutes presented in sign language.

Wellington Deaf Society