New Zealand: Right to Sign - Sign Language Week Kicks Off May 5

[Francis Hult]

Scoop Independent News

 

Right to Sign - Sign Language Week Kicks Off May 5

 

"The Freedom to Sign is Our Freedom of Expression" is the slogan for the second annual New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) week, which kicks off May 5 with events around the country. 

 

National Coordinator of NZSL Week Angela Lindsay says, "This year, the purpose is to raise public awareness that NZSL also gives Deaf people a voice." 

 

The right to use New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) is now recognised by the New Zealand government and the United Nations, but a shortage of interpreters could mean deaf people cannot exercise that right. 

 

Currently there is a shortage of NZSL interpreters and Auckland University of Technology (AUT) is the only tertiary institute that offers a Diploma in Sign Language Interpreting. Its five to eight graduating interpreters are not enough to serve the 7,000 people who are Deaf and who use NZSL.

 

Full story:

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0805/S00030.htm

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