Enabling Recreation & Leisure
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Deaf Aotearoa
D
eaf Aotearoa is the Disabled Persons’ Organisation representing the voice of Deaf people, and the national service provider for Deaf people in New Zealand. It is also the New Zealand-representative member organisation of the World Federation of the Deaf. Deaf Aotearoa’s services are available from 13 offices nationwide, including Northland. These services include: First Signs Connecting families who have a deaf or hard of hearing child aged 0-5, with New Zealand Sign Language, the Deaf community and Deaf culture.
Youth Engaging with Deaf youth and promoting positive Deaf identity and leadership in young Deaf people. Hauora A service focused on improving lives and supporting independence, including coordinating access to other services and assistive technology. Employment A specialist employment service for deaf and hard of hearing people, offering a transition service for school leavers, preemployment support, job-seeking, and supporting employers of Deaf staff.
NZSL Promotion This includes Adult Community Education for the Deaf community, tailored Deaf Awareness and NZSL courses for businesses and organisations. NZSL is also particularly promoted during New Zealand Sign Language Week, held annually in May. NZSL Week This year’s NZSL Week theme was, ‘My Language, My Place’. This theme linked to an update of the NZSL online dictionary, which recently added a collection of place name signs. It also emphasises the value of NZSL to New Zealand, with its capacity to express uniquely New Zealand names and concepts. iSign iSign is a nationwide New Zealand Sign Language interpreter booking service. Deaf Aotearoa also works to advocate for the Deaf community, engaging with government departments and other agencies to improve access for Deaf people. Deaf Aotearoa has also been on the international stage this year, attending the World Federation of the Deaf Congress in Paris and bidding to host the next Congress in 2023.
New Zealand Sign Language Interpreting Service
isign.co.nz 0800 934 683 TEXT 3359 bookings@isign.co.nz
Just iSign it!
■ Deaf Aotearoa tutors deliver an NZSL Week Taster Class at St Francis Xavier Catholic School in Whangarei Deaf Aotearoa 1A Deveron Street, Whangarei Phone: 437 2022 | 021 641 178 Website: www.deaf.org.nz Email: national@deaf.org.nz Open: Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm & Friday by appointment