Page Section: Centre Content Column
Deaf community
Using interpreters to promote
dignity and independence
Assistance for consumer in
prison
Communication in a diagnostic medicine
setting
Using interpreters to
promote dignity and independence
A Deaf consumer requested advocacy assistance to address his
concerns about the loss of dignity and independence in the rest
home where he lived. He asked the advocate to arrange a meeting
with the manager, organise an interpreter and to support him at the
meeting.
Using the interpreter, the consumer was able to communicate his
concerns to the manager. These included the manager communicating
with his family instead of him. The meeting proved useful in that
it provided an opportunity for the consumer to raise his concerns
and discuss other matters such as medication and activities. It
also provided an insight for the manager into interpreters, how
they work, how to make a booking and how to access funding when an
interpreter is required.
Following the resolution meeting the consumer told the advocate
that he felt very empowered and said 'Just because I have a
disability, it doesn't mean I have something wrong with my
brain.'
As a result of the meeting the advocate identified there was a
need to have information available about interpreters in the area,
how to book them and information about funding. The advocate worked
with local interpreters to develop a pamphlet which is currently
being piloted.
Go to top
Assistance for consumer in
prison
A consumer in a correctional facility contacted the advocacy
service with a request to have a visit from a Deaf advocate. He was
unhappy about the response from the Health Centre to issues he had
raised about his hearing. During the visit, the advocate
experienced first hand the many difficulties people who are deaf
and have hearing impairments encounter when visiting a prison.
Although the advocate had emailed the site manager to advise who
she would be seeing and that she is Deaf, she encountered problems
at the entry point which is set up for hearing people. She had to
resort to writing the word Deaf in big letters on the palm of her
hand to hold up to the camera to gain entry.
At the meeting to discuss the complaint, the health manager
agreed to assist with a referral to the audiologist. As a result of
this appointment the consumer received hearing
aids.
Go to top
Communication
in a diagnostic medicine setting
A Deaf consumer, who uses NZSL, went for a breast screen. Having
been for a breast screen previously, she did not organise an
interpreter. However, she had questions about the form she had to
fill in and asked the technician to write her explanation down.
Despite this request, the technician continued speaking, and the
consumer left without having her mammogram.
The consumer contacted advocacy by text message, and asked for
contact via Skype. Having heard the possible options for support,
the consumer elected to request a resolution meeting with the
support of an advocate, and emailed a request for a meeting. The
meeting was agreed to and an interpreter was booked to attend.
The manager of the service advised that the technician had asked
that an apology be put forward on her behalf. The consumer was able
to get answers to her queries and an appointment for a breast
screen was scheduled for her.
As a result of the meeting, the consumer was invited to a staff
meeting to discuss the communication needs of Deaf consumers. Staff
were instructed to ask Deaf consumers if an interpreter is required
prior to their appointment, and if an interpreter is not present,
information needs to be written down. The consumer was happy with
the outcome of the meeting.