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Deaf community protest advance centre fund cuts

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Sat, 05 Dec 2009 7:43p.m.

About 15 people protested against proposals to cut funding for the centre

About 15 people protested against proposals to cut funding for the centre

Members of the deaf and hearing impaired community staged a silent protest against proposed education fund cuts outside Prime Minister John Key's electorate office today.

About 15 people protested in sign language against proposals to cut Tertiary Education Commission funding for the Advance Centre, which helps with the education of deaf and hearing impaired people.

The centre said it would have to close if the funding was cut, putting the education of deaf and hearing impaired people at risk.

"Despite repeated requests to meet with the acting minister for disability issues and the minister for tertiary education, and attempts to correspond with the Office for Disability Issues and the prime minister, no justification for cutting the service has been given," the centre said in a statement.

"New Zealand Sign Language is an official language of New Zealand, and it is expected that there will be an increase in complaints to the Human Rights Commission over access to education unless immediate action is taken to save the Advance Centre."

The centre helps deaf and hearing impaired students as well as institutions and teachers.

NZPA
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Comments

08 Dec 2009 12:14p.m.

Craig Young wrote:

This is a human rights issue,
nonetheless. It is about Deaf
people being able to participate
in New Zealand society on the same
basis as hearing fellow citizens.
To insure that they need proper
resource allocation for their specific
needs.

07 Dec 2009 12:52p.m.

cynical wrote:

This decision is wrong - it would have been better to take the squillions of dollars for legal aid, ineffective Human Rights lawyers and Race related settlements (with its open chequebook) and start looking after the people who actually need the help of society. It is difficult to take on that legal machine of corruptness and Injustice but if it is not done, it will only get worse, not better.

06 Dec 2009 03:19p.m.

Craig Young wrote:

I wouldn't neccessarily call the Deaf
community 'impaired,' but this is a
ludicrous decision nonetheless. Would
the government do the same to other
linguistic and cultural minorities? No.
Then why is the Deaf community fair game?

05 Dec 2009 08:53p.m.

Kenobi wrote:

Another great National party moment. instead of hurting everyone equally.. those most in need cop it first.

How about decreasing working for families? or in work tax credits? but no, the sick, injured or impaired are always first on Nationals hit list.