People working Deaf people in health settings

Useful information for people working with the Deaf community:

Qualified New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) interpreters should be used during most interactions
The use of non-qualified interpreters (family, friends and staff) is not often appropriate. Research indicates a significant amount of information is missed or misinterpreted
Many Deaf people have limited literacy due to poor access to education so writing notes may be ineffective
Lip-reading has an estimated 30% accuracy, hence the importance of using qualified NZSL interpreters
Many Deaf people don’t like the term ‘hearing impaired’ as they don’t see themselves as having something that is wrong with them
Many Deaf people identify themselves as part of a linguistic and cultural minority who share cultural norms like other cultural minority groups
Deaf people are visual. Face the person when talking/signing don’t turn away
Speak clearly and slowly and ensure good lightening, don’t yell
Take the time to check the Deaf person has understood. If not repeat using brief notes, gesture, drawing or pictures to explain

Booking NZSL interpreters

There are 3 main NZSL interpreter booking agencies in NZ, (https://www.healthnavigator.org.nz/languages/n/nz-sign-language-interpreters/).

Only iSign and the NZ Video Interpreting Service (NZVIS) are funded to provide interpreters free for most health and disability related appointments (excluding DHBs who pay).

iSign

Phone: 0800 934 683

Free text: 3359

Email: bookings@isign.co.nz

www.isign.co.nz

New Zealand Video Interpreting Service (NZVIS)

Free call: 0800 4877877

www.nzvis.co.nz

Wordsworth Interpreting:

Free call: 0800 967 379

SMS: 027296 7379

Email: bookings@wordsworth.nz

www.wordsworth.nz

Connect Interpreting:

Phone and text: 021961815

Email: book@connectinterpreting.co.nz

(Auckland);

booknz@connectinterpreting.co.nz

(National)

www.connectinterpreting.co.nz

Paying for interpreters:

See the table below for more information about who pays:

New Zealand Government agencies and Crown entities	Police, Work and Income (WINZ), Oranga Tamariki (old CYFS), ACC, Courts, Councils, DHB Hospitals, Parliament	THEY PAY
Health and disability services	Health appointments, GPs, Private hospitals, Housing, Banks and budgeting, Parenting and childcare, Disability services, Legal appointments, Driving courses and tests, Funerals and Tangi, Support services (eg: Women's Refuge)	PAID VIA DEAF AOTEAROA ISIGN
Employment / Work training	Interpreting services for work jobs may be paid for by WORKBRIDGE Job Support Funds or Training Support Funds. Deaf people must apply to Workbridge for access to this funding. Deaf Aotearoa Facilitators can help you with your application.	APPLY FOR FUNDING
Schools	Deaf parents’ access to their children’s schooling, e.g.: enrolments, parent-teacher interviews, special assemblies, prize-givings school productions.	PAID VIA DEAF AOTEAROA ISIGN
Not funded	Churches, Family reunions, Weddings, Parties	THEY PAY

Resources

Overview of NZSL: https://www.healthnavigator.org.nz/languages/n/nz-sign-language/#Overview

Staff training videos: Communicating with people from the Deaf community for better health outcomes within a health setting (14min): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHawe_dDsTw&feature=youtu.be

Research: What did Deaf people tell us about their experiences accessing healthcare? https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal-articles/deaf-new-zealand-sign-language-users-access-to-healthcare

Following are 11 short videos translated into NZSL summarising the research: https://www.ccdhb.org.nz/your-health/disability-responsiveness/new-zealand-sign-language-and-deaf-resources/

Where to learn NZSL

There is a list of NZSL classes available at http://teachsign.org.nz/students.

Alternatively, you can learn NZSL online at http://www.learnnzsl.nz/#/id/co-01.

Working with Deaf people in health settings