In 2009 there was a Community Goals meeting to work together on some goals for the whole Deaf Community. In the last two years, many of these Community Goals have been accomplished by individuals, and Deaf organisations too.

Below is a list of Community Goals from the last meeting:

Community Goals Checklist

Community Goals are from the community. The responsibilities for achieving these goals are shared by the community. This is a list of some of the achievements since the last Community Goals meeting in 2009. There may be more not yet recorded here.

Vision:  Deaf Awareness  Deaf Access  Deaf Advancement

Justice:  Deaf must have the same rights and obligations as all citizens to equal justice.

• Research on Deaf people in Prison currently underway.
• Promoting use of qualified interpreters in court when Deaf are present
• 111 text service established
• Domestic Violence DVD made
• On driving licenses, LTSA removed the requirement to wear hearing aids while driving.

NZSL:  We must preserve, promote and protect NZSL through developing a NZSL strategy to ensure full participation in political and public life on an equal basis with others.  This will be achieved directly through Deaf/NZSL representation.

• NZSL Week
• On line NZSL Dictionary
• Thumbs Up NZSL Curriculum resource developed by Ministry of Education
• National Anthem in NZSL, Maori and English Resource developed
• Sign with your Baby DVD made
• NZSL Act Review completed

Technology:  Recognise that Deaf have greater dependence on communication of information (ICT) with technology. Technology facilitates access so is not to be seen as a luxury item.

• 111 text service established
• VRS established
• VRI on the way
• Complaints made to human rights commission around caption access for Sky
• Research project on Caption access
• TVNZ purchased new equipment to speed live captioning
• Maori TV have captions on a programme
• Skype, MSN more widely used
• Access to hearing aids for those who are born Deaf or become Deaf at a young age improved

Deaf Clubs:  Committed to provide a community base where members can meet and participate in Educational, Sport, Social & Recreational activities.

• Tauranga and Nelson Deaf Clubs established

Interpreters:  Must have a clear booking system and effective interpreter services which is fully funded and provides the community with competent interpreters for access.

• iSign established
• Deaf Way report identified need to access funding for interpreter for a wider range of situations for Deaf
• SLIANZ conference focused on ethics
• Process about to start on redeveloping Interpreting ethics with input from all
• VRS (Video Relay Service)
• VRI (Video Remote Interpreting)

Maori/Pacific Island Deaf Communities: Recognise and promote the importance of access opportunities for Maori and Pacific Island Deaf people and their whanau.

• Deaf Aotearoa has own waiata
• Kapa haka group established in Waikato
• DVD on Maori place names in Waikato developed
• Interpreters on Waitangi for Waitangi Day

Employment: We must ensure that Deaf people have equal access to employment and economic opportunities through providing skills, knowledge and awareness.

• Ongoing advocacy with other disability groups
• Establishment of the Disability Employers Network

Health:  Promote access to health services for Deaf of all ages as Deaf people have the right to receive the highest standard of health care without discrimination or barriers.

• Deaf Access Centres being established
• Access to hearing aids improved
• Increase in funding for interpreters

Education:  NZ Deaf children and their families/whanau must have equal and appropriate access to the National Curriculum and educational services, through the provision of professional staff proficient in NZSL. NZ deaf children must be able to learn NZSL and develop the linguistic identity of NZ Deaf Community.

• Ministry of Education now acknowledge the right for deaf students to access their language, identity and culture
• Ministry of Education commissioned a report on NZSL in Deaf Education.
• Thumbs Up NZSL Curriculum resource developed by Ministry of Education
• NZSL Week School Kit available to all schools.
• Many schools who have a Deaf student purchased the kit.
• Project Energize report focuses on Deaf Youth in NZ (12 years and up), what their needs are and what they want in the future.
• National Youth Coordinator employed at Deaf Aotearoa

Broadcasting: Media to promote positive awareness of NZSL and Deaf Culture. Deaf people are to have equal and appropriate access to broadcasting. We believe that because NZSL is an official language of NZ that the *content* of NZ produced broadcasting should include NZSL

• Christchurch Earthquake: NZSL Interpreter available at media briefings
• Worked with TVNZ for Deaf survey on Teletext pages
• Actively promoted the need for a sign language based programme
• NZSL Week promotes positive awareness of NZSL and Deaf people

Sport:  NZ Deaf people must have full and equal access to sporting and recreational services. Recognise and promote the importance of sports access opportunities for all Deaf people.

• NZ Deaf Sports invited to participate in Australian Deaf Games.

Youth:  Strengthen, unify and develop opportunities for Deaf Youth in Aotearoa in order to ensure the wellbeing and positive self identity of Deaf Youth

• Project Energize report focuses on Deaf Youth in NZ (12-24), what their needs are and what they want in the future.
• National Deaf Youth Coordinator employed
• Deaf Youth Group established in Auckland
• Promoted need for deaf identity to be recognised as part of Deaf education

Remember that these are Deaf Community Goals. The Deaf Community and the various Deaf organisations are responsible for achieving these goals, not just one organisation.