Izz

Izz, early 30s, is Deaf and non-verbal. He doesn’t lip-read.

He came to Australia as a toddler with his parents, who are from a culturally and linguistically diverse background.

Izz’s first language is signed English. He learned pidgin Auslan and Auslan in primary school but his signed English was stronger because that’s what he used at home.

‘As a Deaf student, every day people were nasty, pushing me and bullying me,’ Izz told the Royal Commission. ‘Some of the teachers weren't qualified in their communication style in signed English.’

In year 1, a new hearing teacher of the Deaf started. Her signed English and Auslan were poor.

‘She was cruel and nasty and used to yell and scream and point her finger and would pick on me and the other Deaf students.’

The next year, the school moved Izz to a class with students with intellectual disability. His year 1 teacher taught the class.

‘She would smack me on the bottom if I couldn’t speak properly or she couldn't sign. I wasn't able to lip-read or communicate with her so she would physically hit me.’

Izz was a very active child and each time he moved, the teacher would smack him.

‘I didn't have an interpreter to explain what was happening … and there was no sign to explain what was going on.’

Over the next few years ‘the physical abuse was worse and worse’.

Izz tried to tell the school but no-one believed him.

When he fell behind in his education, the school sent him to some mainstream classes with an interpreter.

‘I cried a lot and I didn't want to go into the hearing class. It was a terrible experience.’

Class photo days were distressing.

‘I just felt traumatised and crying and scared. I didn't have an interpreter. I didn't know what was going on, and they said I had to go there and smile and put on happy face and be part of that group.’

Izz’s parents pulled him out and homeschooled him.

In high school, Izz was forced to learn Auslan.

‘They said that I'd only pass if I used Auslan.’

Izz changed schools several times.

‘I'd be in mainstream with no interpreter. I was very stressed,’ he said. ‘I felt really lonely … I just didn't have any friends.’

University was much better, and Izz used Auslan.

Following university, Izz got a job at a government agency.

‘I was so excited to be in there, [but] it was a horrible experience. This woman who was my boss … was just abusive. She just did not understand how to work with people with disability. She thought I could just lip-read everything.’

Izz told his boss the law required her to give him access to interpreters.

‘Every time that I raised this with her she would get really angry and say just do your job and just lip-read people. She would really make my workplace a living hell.’

Izz said people would tell him to get a cochlear implant, learn to lip-read, get some speech therapy and learn to speak.

‘The government really needs to open up to people with disability who are Deaf and Auslan users. It was very hard.’

Izz became depressed, lost weight and couldn’t sleep.

‘But I wanted to work. I wanted to earn a wage and do my job.’

Izz spoke to a counsellor at his workplace. The counsellor suggested it might not be the right job because of his mental health issues.

Izz’s GP disagreed, believing the agency’s refusal to provide the necessary accommodations was the problem.

He encouraged Izz to make a formal complaint.

‘My culture means that I should be quiet and I don't complain. That's how I was raised. And as soon as I've ever raised anything I've found that the bullying gets worse and that people don't understand.’

Izz left the job.