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The 12 points are:
1. Subtitles
Captioned movies are here! Every month, a movie with subtitles will do
a 13-city circuit around New Zealand, including Wellington. The movies
and the dates and times they will show in Wellington, are displayed on a
special web site www.captionmovies.co.nz and on Teletext page 506.
Captioned moves are one by-product of the 12-point action plan (now known
as 12PAP) which was adopted by the Hearing Association national body at
the biennial conference in Wellington on March 30.
2. Audio loops
Work to get loops more widely used in movie
theatres and similar buildings.
3. Dedicated facilities
Get dedicated
areas in places like hospitals, banks, etc where the hearing-impaired
can discuss their business in private, without the next person in the
queue hearing it all.
4. Advertising contact addresses
Work with the
advertising industry to display e-mail or fax addresses so those
who cannot use the phone can still contact the supplier.
5. Funding for
audiologist fees
Campaign to get government subsidies for audiologist
fees.
6. Funding for hearing aids
Push for better subsidies for hearing
aids. The current subsidy is $198 when aids can cost $1000-up.
7.
Medical insurance
Work with insurance companies to provide more cover
for hearing-related issues.
8. ACC bulk funding
Push for compensation
for hearing loss from noise damage that better-reflects the importance
of hearing.
9. Noise levels
Push for lower noise levels permitted in
clubs and bars, to protect the hearing of patrons and workers.
10.
Public awareness
To work with the government to promote better public
awareness of hearing loss and its causes.
11. Transport
Work for more
visual facilities in public transport, especially long-distance transport.
12.
Accommodation
Work for more hearing-awareness among hotel/motels especially
in relation to safety and teletext TVs.
So, what’s been the result over the past nine months?
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Captioning: We joined a series of Human Rights Commission hearings
on captioned moves, and these became a reality in October. We have
also been talking with the TV companies about subtitles, especially Sky
TV. These talks are on-going and showing promise.
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Audio loops: Loops are already
required by law for movie theatres, some halls, and certain areas
of rest homes, but have been ignored because the requirement is not obvious
in the Building Act. The Act is under review, and we have successfully
lobbied the Minister, Lianne Dalziel, to have the Act modified. This
means we will have more ability to force the issue with affected buildings.
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Dedicated
facilities: No action yet.
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Advertising contact addresses: Written to
the Advertising Standards Authority, and matter to be followed through.
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Funding for audiologist fees: We have sent a survey to all audiologists
seeking information to help us build our case. Response has been
poor. Followed this up by seeking help from the Audiologist Society, but
nothing forthcoming. Contact established with an audiologist action group
which is also planning to seek subsidies. More action to come. We have
also surveyed all district health boards on what funding and support they
currently provide, and this information will be used to support our case
to the government.
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Funding for hearing aids: We need more solid information from the audiologists
before we can push this forward.
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Medical insurance: We have surveyed
the insurance companies that provide medical cover, will take this
further once the responses have been analysed
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ACC bulk funding: Gathering information,
but not much action.
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Public awareness: No action so far.
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Transport: Plenty of action here:
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Met with management of Wellington and
Auckland airports. Wellington suggested we produce help cards for
members to present when they have trouble hearing (see below).
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Met with Air New
Zealand who are modifying their electronic booking forms to include
a panel where you can say you have a hearing loss (or other disability),
which will alert staff and cabin crew. Also wrote to Qantas but
no response – will
pursue once Air NZ move.
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Air NZ suggested we produce a video on what it
means to have a hearing loss which they will then use in staff training.
This is being investigated.
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Written to Tranz Scenic and major bus operators
but no response.
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Presented a submission to parliamentary committee considering
the break-up of railway services (see next item).
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Presented a submission
to the Coroner investigating the death on March 28 of 68-year-old
American tourist William Miller who was killed at Kaikoura Station when
trying to re-board a train. He did not realise he was not meant to leave
the platform when the train stopped there. This is because Mr Miller
had a significant hearing loss. Our submission was that transport companies
must take account of the fact that potentially 10% of the population
has a hearing loss, and they cannot rely on public address systems to
get important information to passengers. The same points were made to
the parliamentary committee. The inquest into Mr Miller’s death was held a fortnight
ago, and the submission was well received. We now await the coroner’s
findings, and will use this to push the case with other transport
operators, including airports, for more screen-based presentation
of information.
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Accommodation: We have met with the Hospitality Association
of NZ to discuss the needs of the hearing-impaired for privacy
at check-in, for safety issues such as hearing fire alarms after
they have removed their hearing aids for the night, and the need for
teletext TVs. This last issue will also depend on Sky TV enabling captioning
on their satellite services which also carry TV1, 2 & 3.
Other key areas of work have been:
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Help cards: We have designed a help card that is the size of a business
card. All members will receive two. These cards have four simple
ways in which others can help you hear. Hand one over to the supermarket
receptionist or the police next time you’re breath-tested. Cards
will also be distributed to hospitals, audiologists, and similar sites
for the public to take and use. Cards are due in the New Year.
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Counter cards: These cards in
clear plastic stands tell customers that if they have a hearing loss,
they should advise the receptionist, cashier, etc so that person
knows how to help. On the back of the counter card are the same four ways
people can help. More than 1000 of these cards are already in use in Christchurch
and adjacent areas. Cards are due in the New Year.
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Web site: A new national
website is being developed by the same people who have built the
Wellington branch website, and the Christchurch Association website before
that.
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Logo:
We have developed a new logo for the national association that will
be available for all associations around the country. This logo is a fern
bent in the shape of an ear, and is vibrant, representing New Zealand
and hearing. The logo will be applied to the web site and national letterhead.
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Other groups: Contacts have been established with the Disabled Person’s
Assembly, and other groups in our sector.
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