Miss-Delectable
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Christchurch Deaf Community's City Plan Input | Stuff.co.nz
Flashing lights with fire alarms, visual displays on public transport and raised seating at public events can make central Christchurch more visually friendly, the city's deaf community says.
At yesterday's draft central-city plan hearings, Deaf Aotearoa executive board member Kellye Bensley said the plan should include more deaf-friendly elements.
Possible improvements included requiring fire alarms to include flashing lights, providing raised seating for events in public areas and visual prompts on public transport.
Playgrounds should be "easily visible" so deaf parents could keep an eye on their children while taking a break at a cafe.
"If I take my child down to a play area, I need a clear line of sight so I can see that he's OK."
Bensley supported greater use of sign language and believed it could be used in videos as part of public information displays.
"Because New Zealand sign language is an official language, I'd like to see it used in official information like that."
She said staff at council-owned facilities should undergo deaf-awareness training so they knew how to communicate with hearing-impaired people.
"When they hear I'm deaf, a lot of people panic and don't know what to do, so it would be nice to let them know that I'm not scary and I don't bite."
Bensley said she supported the draft plan, which was "a great opportunity to create our own point in history".
Flashing lights with fire alarms, visual displays on public transport and raised seating at public events can make central Christchurch more visually friendly, the city's deaf community says.
At yesterday's draft central-city plan hearings, Deaf Aotearoa executive board member Kellye Bensley said the plan should include more deaf-friendly elements.
Possible improvements included requiring fire alarms to include flashing lights, providing raised seating for events in public areas and visual prompts on public transport.
Playgrounds should be "easily visible" so deaf parents could keep an eye on their children while taking a break at a cafe.
"If I take my child down to a play area, I need a clear line of sight so I can see that he's OK."
Bensley supported greater use of sign language and believed it could be used in videos as part of public information displays.
"Because New Zealand sign language is an official language, I'd like to see it used in official information like that."
She said staff at council-owned facilities should undergo deaf-awareness training so they knew how to communicate with hearing-impaired people.
"When they hear I'm deaf, a lot of people panic and don't know what to do, so it would be nice to let them know that I'm not scary and I don't bite."
Bensley said she supported the draft plan, which was "a great opportunity to create our own point in history".