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Deaf want to air grievances with MPs | The National Business Review - New Zealand - business, markets, finance, politics, property, technology and more
Deaf and hearing impaired people will ask MPs to lend them an ear on a day in September they have dubbed "Be Heard Day".
National Foundation for the Deaf chief executive Louise Carroll said several government decisions had negatively affected people with hearing loss.
"Because of this, MPs don't understand how their decisions are making life so much tougher for people who are hearing impaired and deaf," Mrs Carroll said.
The foundation is asking all MPs to free up 9am to noon, on Saturday, September 18 for people who are hearing impaired and deaf to meet with them at their electorate office to discuss concerns.
Mrs Carroll said people with hearing disabilities faced a raft of serious, life-impacting, issues ranging from ACC coverage and hearing aid funding through to education and isolation.
Research showed about 450,000 New Zealanders had a hearing loss and nearly 290,000 of them regard their hearing loss as disabling.
"This is the largest sensory disability group in the country, but the disability is invisible," she said.
"And so, we want to talk to our MPs - we need to be heard."
She believed the event was a world first and the foundation wanted to hold it yearly.
So far the response from MPs had been positive, she said.
Deaf and hearing impaired people will ask MPs to lend them an ear on a day in September they have dubbed "Be Heard Day".
National Foundation for the Deaf chief executive Louise Carroll said several government decisions had negatively affected people with hearing loss.
"Because of this, MPs don't understand how their decisions are making life so much tougher for people who are hearing impaired and deaf," Mrs Carroll said.
The foundation is asking all MPs to free up 9am to noon, on Saturday, September 18 for people who are hearing impaired and deaf to meet with them at their electorate office to discuss concerns.
Mrs Carroll said people with hearing disabilities faced a raft of serious, life-impacting, issues ranging from ACC coverage and hearing aid funding through to education and isolation.
Research showed about 450,000 New Zealanders had a hearing loss and nearly 290,000 of them regard their hearing loss as disabling.
"This is the largest sensory disability group in the country, but the disability is invisible," she said.
"And so, we want to talk to our MPs - we need to be heard."
She believed the event was a world first and the foundation wanted to hold it yearly.
So far the response from MPs had been positive, she said.