Australian Deaf Community Celebrates National Awareness Week

The NSW Minister for Disability Services, Peter Primrose, today encouraged people to learn more about the deaf community.

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National Week of Deaf People comes to an end today, however the Deaf Society of NSW is continuing the celebrations.

Events next week include an interpreted question time in the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday and Thursday and a panel discussion Deaf Education and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on Tuesday.

Mr Primrose said the theme for National Week of Deaf People was Rapprochement of Cultures and was coordinated by Deaf Australia to celebrate the deaf community's language, culture and history, and to recognize their achievements.

"National Week of Deaf People is also a way of making people aware of their local, state and national deaf communities," Mr Primrose said.

"More than three and a half million people throughout Australia are either deaf or have a hearing impairment."

Mr Primrose said that the NSW Government had allocated $4.4 million this financial year for services specifically to support people who have a hearing impairment.

"These services include community support, early childhood intervention, therapy services, family peer support, personal care and life skills development and attendant care.

"The NSW Government is committed to making sure that people who are deaf have the same opportunities as everyone else and are able to enjoy full participation in community life."

For more information on events visit: www.deafsocietynsw.org.au or www.deafau.org.au