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Deaf Community is being ignored ahead of National Fire Prevention Week, according to the Australian Federation of Deaf Societies
The Australian Federation of Deaf Societies (AFDS) supports the National Fire Prevention Week from October 5-11.
AFDS identifies a significant lack of programs to support people who are Deaf or hard of hearing in accessing smoke alarms.
“Audible smoke alarms save many lives per year, however a significant gap is occurring in the Australian Deaf Community, where access to strobe-light smoke alarms that will wake a Deaf or hard of hearing person is not being supported” says Alex Chapman, the Policy and Strategy Coordinator for AFDS.
“Whilst audible smoke alarms are readily available for purchase for around fifteen to twenty Australian dollars ($15-20), strobe-light smoke alarms cost around four hundred and fifty dollars ($450) and are not widely accessible.”
There is only one program in Australia which supports the availability and cost of Xenon strobe-light alarms, and that is run by the Victorian Deaf Society with the support of the Victorian Government, discounting the cost of the $450 systems to $50.
Mr. Chapman has formally requested that the Federal government support a national strobe-light alarm system to reduce the cost of obtaining an alarm, and increase their availability to the Deaf Community.
“Our National Policy Directives, publicly launched today, has a focus area on strobe-light alarms. The Australian Federation of Deaf Societies has requested that 5325 smoke alarms be made available at a reduced cost to $50 each over four years” Mr. Chapman said.
“It is time that the Federal government acknowledges that Deaf and hard of hearing people are being significantly disadvantaged and forced to live in unsafe conditions because they cannot equitably access smoke alarms that will save their lives.”
Deaf Community is being ignored ahead of National Fire Prevention Week, according to the Australian Federation of Deaf Societies
The Australian Federation of Deaf Societies (AFDS) supports the National Fire Prevention Week from October 5-11.
AFDS identifies a significant lack of programs to support people who are Deaf or hard of hearing in accessing smoke alarms.
“Audible smoke alarms save many lives per year, however a significant gap is occurring in the Australian Deaf Community, where access to strobe-light smoke alarms that will wake a Deaf or hard of hearing person is not being supported” says Alex Chapman, the Policy and Strategy Coordinator for AFDS.
“Whilst audible smoke alarms are readily available for purchase for around fifteen to twenty Australian dollars ($15-20), strobe-light smoke alarms cost around four hundred and fifty dollars ($450) and are not widely accessible.”
There is only one program in Australia which supports the availability and cost of Xenon strobe-light alarms, and that is run by the Victorian Deaf Society with the support of the Victorian Government, discounting the cost of the $450 systems to $50.
Mr. Chapman has formally requested that the Federal government support a national strobe-light alarm system to reduce the cost of obtaining an alarm, and increase their availability to the Deaf Community.
“Our National Policy Directives, publicly launched today, has a focus area on strobe-light alarms. The Australian Federation of Deaf Societies has requested that 5325 smoke alarms be made available at a reduced cost to $50 each over four years” Mr. Chapman said.
“It is time that the Federal government acknowledges that Deaf and hard of hearing people are being significantly disadvantaged and forced to live in unsafe conditions because they cannot equitably access smoke alarms that will save their lives.”