Deaf kids lose sign teaching services

Deaf children are having to resort to watching DVDs and reading dictionaries to learn sign language after the Government axed funding for teaching positions.

Four deaf teachers, who taught New Zealand Sign Language and deaf culture to more than 260 deaf children, were made redundant at the end of the last year when the Government cut funding.

Without classes to teach children how to sign, parents are angry and worried about how to help their deaf children.

Manawatu mothers Charmaine Strickland and Michelle Lyons-Papuni both have deaf sons who use both verbal and New Zealand Sign Language to communicate.

"They're bilingual in language and in culture ... they fit into two worlds, the hearing and the deaf," Mrs Strickland said.

"Are we, as parents, meant to sit our children in front of a DVD and hope they learn the language and culture and are we, as parents, left to access night classes, where available, at a cost of $150 per course to teach our children New Zealand Sign Language?"

Jackie Davidson, of Feilding, had one of the deaf teacher positions, covering territory from Taranaki to Paraparaumu.

"I'm quite emotional about it [losing her job]. Within websites you can access sign language, but it's not real and it's very different from communicating with a real person," Mrs Davidson said.

She said if her position is not reinstated she will have to look for an alternative career.

"I may have to become a caregiver in a rest home. I would like to continue working with deaf children, I really love it, so I hope all the parents of deaf children march on Parliament to advocate for this."

Van Asch Education Centre previously provided the funding for the teaching positions, also known as deaf resources personnel, from 2002 to June 2008. The Government filled the gap until now when the centre's funds dried up. With a push from Mrs Strickland and Mrs Lyons-Papuni, Rangitikei MP Simon Power was able to secure interim funding from the Ministry of Education for 18 months, but on December 15 the funding stopped.

Minister of Disability Issues Heather Roy said it would be "inequitable" for the Government to fund only one of New Zealand's two sign language teaching providers. The other service is Kelston Deaf Education Centre in Auckland. "The Ministry continues to work with both Deaf Education Centres on a range of issues to improve education for deaf and hearing impaired children and students," Mrs Roy said.Labour Disability Issues spokeswoman Lynne Pillay said the cuts were shortsighted.

"The funding cuts are consistent with what's happening across the board, like with the adult and community education funding ... the fate of New Zealand Sign Language shouldn't be at stake.

"It's a devastation to us [Labour's Disability Issues department] and I can't imagine what it's like for the families and the deaf children," Ms Pillay said.

She said all they could do was keep pushing and hold the Government to account.

Moving to Christchurch, where there is still a deaf resource teacher working for the Van Asch centre, is a possibility for Mrs Lyons-Papuni and her son.

"You do what you have to for your kids. It's not really a viable option, workwise and financially, but if we don't stand up for our kids, who will?"

- © Fairfax NZ News