Perry
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
‘Last year we had the deaf awareness workshop at my workplace. Someone came and went through the process, but the issues continued. It didn't solve anything.’
Perry, late 50s, is Deaf and uses Auslan.
He’s worked in different teams in a government department for the last 20 years.
Perry told the Royal Commission no-one takes the time or effort to communicate with him respectfully.
Occasionally, the department provides interpreters.
‘They accepted it [my request for interpreting] because I was nagging them, not because they wanted to provide me access.’
Co-workers often make rude gestures and yell at him. They make fun of his signing and say or try to sign, ‘How do you sign deaf and dumb?’
One time, a co-worker thought it would be funny to leave Perry stranded up in a mechanical lift.
Another time, a co-worker made a hand-gun gesture at his head.
‘That was such an awful experience. I did not want to go back to work … Once I returned to work, I felt all eyes were on me.’
There was an investigation but the co-worker said he was gesturing that it was time for lunch. Everyone made fun of Perry for complaining.
Perry’s workplace has never celebrated his birthday or given him a birthday card despite doing it for others.
No-one bothers to invite him to social events.
‘I saw food laid out, and there was no email, no tap on the shoulder, no-one letting me know. All I noticed was there was a whole stack of people who were gathered around having something nice, but I had no idea what was going on … But a few weeks later the [boss] said, “We invited you, you were rude for not coming.” And I'm like, “But no-one actually told me that I was invited.”’
Perry started to keep a diary of these incidents.
Recently, a supervisor asked him to put some boxes away. Perry put the boxes where he usually puts them but the supervisor started yelling at him.
‘Yelling and swearing at me, right up in my face, but I have no idea of course what's going on.’
Perry started to make a note in his diary. The supervisor ‘absolutely lost it’, telling him he was stupid.
‘I was scared. I was shaking … I just left. But it was scary. And because this has happened so many times in the past, I'd just had enough. I went off to my doctor and let them know what had happened … This is happening for like 20 years, this same situation, over and over and over again.’
Perry spoke to HR and his union. He received a belated apology but doesn’t think things will change.
Perry has tried to find another job.
‘I just don't know how to work out finding another job … I'm putting through all these applications to find a job and of course I'm not getting it because I'm Deaf. Well, I think it's because I'm Deaf. It's hard to tell, right?’
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.