NZ Deaf News: May 1980 (Vol. 17, No. 4)

Some of the items featured in the May 1980 (Vol. 17, No. 4) issue of ‘New Zealand Deaf News’:

Triumph for Deaf Woman – first deaf woman allowed to train as a teacher for the deaf, starting a precedent that will enable many more deaf people to train as teachers for the deaf.
Snippets from NZAD AGM in Wellington with all Executive members representative from Different Deaf Clubs. It is suggested that NZAD pushes for TC classes in polytechnics and evening classes. TC classes in NZ are flourishing.
A report on the Centennial of the Sumner School for the Deaf on April 4-6, 1980, with Kay Drew ‘interpreting’.
A new trophy is created for the Manawatu Deaf Club singles v married annual cricket match.
An ‘Otago Deaf Woman’s Group’ is established in Otago with an active Total Communication Group. 1970-80 was an important year when Total Communication was officially launched. Now the task of MOACOM is to make sure it stays afloat.
Results from the annual New Zealand Deaf indoor bowls championships 1980.
Stop Press: Special report on teleprinters with a large NZ company expecting to finish a NZ made TTY within the next 2-3 weeks.

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.

NZSL story – Taonga source: John Hunt

Establishing the ‘NZ Deaf News’ in 1962

John Hunt's involvement with NZ Deaf News spanned 23 years. Upon moving to New Zealand in 1962, he was surprised to find out that there was no NZ Deaf News at a time where radio and TV (which was inaccessible for Deaf people) were one of the main medium of news. He established the NZ Deaf News publication with a group of 10 people. The first issue was only 8 pages and with donations, the next one was 16 pages. It grew exponentially and was the place to go for Deaf-related news.

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.

Ann Hanley

Barry Kinnaird

Bev Hickson-Snook

Bev Hickson-Snook

Bruce McHattie

Denise McIndoe (Tong)

Denise McIndoe (Tong)

Edna Garner

Elizabeth Hines (Ooteman)

Elizabeth Hines (Ooteman)

Gloria Fage

Graeme Forrest

Grant Brewster

Gwen Rapley

Jim Moody

John McRae

Kath Smith

Kay Drew

Ken Brain

Malcolm Ward

Margaret Coutts

Margaret Coutts

Mary Johnson

Ngaire Williams

Ngaire Williams

Pauline Sedon

Peter Ferguson

Phonse Carroll

Roy Williams

Steven Overall

Susan Skinner

Susan Thomas (Jeffries)

Susan Thomas (Jeffries)

Tony Oswald

Vernon Pope

William Ashley

Taonga source:

New Zealand Deaf News

Reference number:

SignDNA – Deaf National Archive New Zealand, DN1980-17-4-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: The Evening Post

Split over how to teach deaf worries parent

Parents of deaf children would be saddened to hear that educationists oppose teaching deaf pupils the technique of "total communication", a parent has stated in a letter to the Post.

publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: March 1980 (Vol. 3, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

article – Taonga source: The Dominion

An actor learns about being deaf

Children Of A Lesser God, a play that tackles the communication problems faced by deaf people, opens at Circa tomorrow night. Suzanne Pollard talks to two of the cast about their roles.

Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Centenary Flag: van Asch College 1880-1980

Auckland Deaf Society

publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: March 1976 (Vol. 13, No. 4)

video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

You and Your Child – Deaf edition

'You and Your Child' programme focuses on Deaf children, education and language and interview some parents about their Deaf children.

Television New Zealand Archive

article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Letter to the Editor: Deaf Demand

The Wellington Association for Deaf Children writes to the editor covering Total Communication, the difficulties in the school system, the need for an interpreting training programme, and the need for deaf people to make their own decisions.

Wellington Deaf Society

Object – Taonga source: Deaf Education History Aotearoa NZ

Postcard: Xmas Greetings from Sumner, N.Z. 1880

Deaf Education History Aotearoa NZ

article – Taonga source: Unknown

Van Asch parents upset at idea of role change

The deaf community in Christchurch is appealing for van Asch College to remain a special school for deaf children, after some parents in Sumner and Redcliffs have suggested it become a secondary school.

article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Specialist in deaf education on NZ visit

From the day a child is diagnosed as being profoundly deaf, he should learn the system of "total communication," advocates Australian educationist Mr Brian Reynolds.

article – Taonga source: The Dominion

Communicating from a silent world

Jenny Griffiths, the mother of two profoundly deaf children, talks about communicating with them in Total Communication.