Ivanna and Gerald
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.
Ivanna is Deaf and uses Auslan to communicate. Her dad Gerald is concerned she is unable to access health services when she needs them.
Gerald told the Royal Commission that prior to the NDIS, the Australian Government funded the National Auslan Interpreter Booking Service to provide Auslan interpreters for health appointments. He said a Deaf person ‘had no fears of getting interpreters for appointments, no matter how many appointments they needed’.
Since the NDIS, the cost of interpreters must be included in the person’s NDIS plan. Deaf people have to predict how sick they will be and how many appointments they will need a year in advance and include this as a budget item. This, he says, ‘is impossible’.
Gerald has been assured if Ivanna needs increased health appointments they can request a review of her NDIS plan. But reviews can take many months. This would leave Ivanna waiting for an interpreter or attending a medical appointment without an interpreter. Neither option is viable.
‘My wife and I do not have sufficient Auslan skills to interpret professionally. Reliance on unqualified, informal supports is a definite risk to my daughter’s health and wellbeing.’
An NDIS planner suggested if Ivanna was sick she wouldn’t be able to attend her usual activities and could use those interpreting funds for medical appointments.
Gerald says this is offensive.
‘One can’t help but think that until a Deaf person has a significant incident because of these obstacles – for example cancer isn’t diagnosed early enough so that person dies – nothing will change.’
Gerald complained to his local member of parliament and the Human Rights Commission but was dissatisfied with their responses.
Gerald says the obstacles to appropriate and timely medical assistance ‘amount to systemic neglect for Deaf people’.
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.