Miss-Delectable
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- Apr 18, 2004
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http://www.themercury.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,16562958%5E3462,00.html
FOR most people mobile phones are a convenience, for Somerset newlyweds Lee and Des Butler they are a lifeline to the world.
For the Butlers, and the rest of Tasmania's 340-strong deaf community, mobile phones have revolutionised their ability to communicate with the hearing world.
"Before mobile phones it was very difficult," Mrs Butler said through interpreter Leissa Dane.
"We did, and still do, have TTY [teletypewriter] machines, but they are not portable and you can only use them from home.
"Now, thanks to mobile phones, we can communicate with hearing people from anywhere without the need for special technology."
Mrs Butler said in their case the phones had made it much easier to conduct her husband's business as a gardener.
"Now I can simply send a text message to his mobile," she said.
The advent of mobile phones also means Mr Butler's customers can contact him directly when he is working.
Mrs Butler said mobile phone technology had also made it easier to communicate with her children.
"If I am out shopping with one of my daughters and we lose each other it's a simple matter of text-messaging," she said.
"In the past it was difficult to find each other because there was no point in them calling out to me."
Mrs Butler feels her personal safety has also improved due to mobile phones.
"If I am out in the car and it breaks down I can phone for help now," she said.
And thanks to lobbying by the Tasmanian Deaf Society, Mrs Butler can contact the RACT herself on a dedicated mobile phone number provided for deaf members to text for help.
Unfortunately the deaf community does not get the same service from emergency services -- police, fire and ambulance.
To contact them they still need to use TTY machines or the National Relay Service because there is no mobile number available.
Auslan interpreter Ms Dane said while mobile phones had opened up a whole new world for the deaf, they had not completely replaced traditional technology.
"Mobile phones are great for short messages and for communicating when away from home, but it is difficult to conduct longer conversations or conversations where detailed information is needed by text message," Ms Dane said.
Despite the limitations Mr and Mrs Butler, who married just two months ago, would be lost without their mobile phones and say for the most part they use their phones just like hearing people.
"He's always sending me lovely texts," Mrs Butler said as she retrieved an "I love you" message.
And just like hearing people the couple often misplace their mobile phones.
"But hearing people can ring their own number to find it -- we can't do that," Mrs Butler said.
FOR most people mobile phones are a convenience, for Somerset newlyweds Lee and Des Butler they are a lifeline to the world.
For the Butlers, and the rest of Tasmania's 340-strong deaf community, mobile phones have revolutionised their ability to communicate with the hearing world.
"Before mobile phones it was very difficult," Mrs Butler said through interpreter Leissa Dane.
"We did, and still do, have TTY [teletypewriter] machines, but they are not portable and you can only use them from home.
"Now, thanks to mobile phones, we can communicate with hearing people from anywhere without the need for special technology."
Mrs Butler said in their case the phones had made it much easier to conduct her husband's business as a gardener.
"Now I can simply send a text message to his mobile," she said.
The advent of mobile phones also means Mr Butler's customers can contact him directly when he is working.
Mrs Butler said mobile phone technology had also made it easier to communicate with her children.
"If I am out shopping with one of my daughters and we lose each other it's a simple matter of text-messaging," she said.
"In the past it was difficult to find each other because there was no point in them calling out to me."
Mrs Butler feels her personal safety has also improved due to mobile phones.
"If I am out in the car and it breaks down I can phone for help now," she said.
And thanks to lobbying by the Tasmanian Deaf Society, Mrs Butler can contact the RACT herself on a dedicated mobile phone number provided for deaf members to text for help.
Unfortunately the deaf community does not get the same service from emergency services -- police, fire and ambulance.
To contact them they still need to use TTY machines or the National Relay Service because there is no mobile number available.
Auslan interpreter Ms Dane said while mobile phones had opened up a whole new world for the deaf, they had not completely replaced traditional technology.
"Mobile phones are great for short messages and for communicating when away from home, but it is difficult to conduct longer conversations or conversations where detailed information is needed by text message," Ms Dane said.
Despite the limitations Mr and Mrs Butler, who married just two months ago, would be lost without their mobile phones and say for the most part they use their phones just like hearing people.
"He's always sending me lovely texts," Mrs Butler said as she retrieved an "I love you" message.
And just like hearing people the couple often misplace their mobile phones.
"But hearing people can ring their own number to find it -- we can't do that," Mrs Butler said.