Deaf girl's family wins case

Miss-Delectable · 07-28-2006, 11:22 PM

http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/s...7-3102,00.html

EDUCATION Queensland yesterday lost a protracted Federal Court battle over the right of a young deaf girl to receive classroom assistance from an interpreter qualified in Auslan, the nationally recognised sign language of the deaf community.

In 2004, Sunshine Coast parents Gail Smith and Jeff Hurst began a court battle for assistance to their daughter Tiahna, now 8, who was born profoundly deaf.

After losing an earlier court case the family moved to Perth to access better services. But yesterday, three judges ruled in the family's favour, which probably means that Education Queensland is likely to have to provide an Auslan translator for Tiahna if the family returns.

Anti-discrimination consultant Jane Phillips, an expert on deafness who has been assisting barrister James Gray and Julian Burnside, QC, with the case said the family might also seek compensation.

No compensation orders were made in the judgment, delivered in Melbourne, but written submissions will be considered.

An Education Queensland spokesman yesterday refused to comment until the department had reviewed the judgment.

07-28-2006, 11:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
Miss-Delectable Capt Tony Nelson, Jeannie Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: No.1 Shopping Capital in Australia Posts: 8,855 Blog Entries: 3	Deaf girl's family wins case http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/s...7-3102,00.html EDUCATION Queensland yesterday lost a protracted Federal Court battle over the right of a young deaf girl to receive classroom assistance from an interpreter qualified in Auslan, the nationally recognised sign language of the deaf community. In 2004, Sunshine Coast parents Gail Smith and Jeff Hurst began a court battle for assistance to their daughter Tiahna, now 8, who was born profoundly deaf. After losing an earlier court case the family moved to Perth to access better services. But yesterday, three judges ruled in the family's favour, which probably means that Education Queensland is likely to have to provide an Auslan translator for Tiahna if the family returns. Anti-discrimination consultant Jane Phillips, an expert on deafness who has been assisting barrister James Gray and Julian Burnside, QC, with the case said the family might also seek compensation. No compensation orders were made in the judgment, delivered in Melbourne, but written submissions will be considered. An Education Queensland spokesman yesterday refused to comment until the department had reviewed the judgment. __________________

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