Human Rights Commission calls for more sign language education

Schools and early childhood centres need more resources to teach New Zealand sign language, the Human Rights Commission has advised following a year-long inquiry into the into the use and promotion of the language.

It is one of 15 recommendations the commission made in its report of the inquiry, designed to help remove barriers experienced by deaf people. The full report and its recommendations were revealed at Parliament late this afternoon.

Other recommendations included prioritising training in disability awareness and deaf culture, and sign language for early intervention health care staff. The report also recommended the creation of an expert advisory group on sign language and a statutory board to take charge of promoting the value and use of sign language alongside the country's other official languages.

Disability Rights Commissioner Paul Gibson this morning told TV ONE's Breakfast the inquiry looked at the complaints the commission had received and found there had been changes in the deaf community's expectation. Deaf people were not being included in many areas of life, through a lack of interpreters and a lack of support resources through the education system. "And we thought there's an opportunity to present the case and make a change," Mr Gibson said.

(2013-09-03/tvnz)