Sign language for televised SA emergency and major public announcements
01/07/2015
July 1, 2015
Lauren Novak – The Advertiser
LIVE televised warnings and major public information announcements will be broadcast using a sign language interpreter following changes to the state’s emergency plan.
The change follows requests from hearing-impaired South Australians and means they will now have the same access to emergency information as other members of the community.
Australian Sign Language interpreters were used in announcements about the Sampson Flat bushfires in January this year.
Dignity for Disability MLC Kelly Vincent said she had asked Disabilities and Emergency Services Minister Tony Piccolo to include interpreters in the State Emergency Management Plan to ensure a more consistent approach.
“The deaf and hard-of-hearing community informed me there was a need to provide greater certainty so that in the most severe circumstances their access to information will not be compromised,” she said.
Ms Vincent said several thousand South Australians would benefit from the new protocol.
Mr Piccolo did not say how much it would cost to pay the interpreters.
There are 24 accredited AUSLAN interpreters in SA, far fewer than in other states.
See the original article here: http://m.perthnow.com.au/news/national/sign-language-for-televised-sa-emergency-and-major-public-announcements/story-fnii5yv8-1227423682109
