Law & Justice and Deafness

[Article: Introduction | Discussion ]

Legislation and politics affect Deaf people in many parts of their public lives, especially in areas of access to communication (telecommunications legislation), education and participating as equal citizens in society.

Contents

2.2 International
2.3 Australia

2.3.1 Federal Disability Discrimination Act
2.3.2 State Based Anti-Discrimination Acts

2.4 New Zealand
2.5 USA

2.5.1 Americans with Disabilities Act

[Edit]1 Organisations

that deal with legislative and political matters:

World Federation of the Deaf (WFD)

[Edit]2 Legislation

[Edit]2.1 Definitions

[Edit]2.1.1 Disability

For legislation purposes, words such as "disability" are used. According to the World Health Organisation disability refers to a restriction or lack of ability placed on a person as a result of impairment . Disability affects a person’s life in relation to social, psychological and physical issues . There are four types of disability covered in legislation which is sensory (visual and hearing impairment), intellectual, and physical and psychiatric . The degree of disability depends how severe the condition is that affect a person’s lifestyle, for instance: mild, moderate, severe and profound. As a result of this, it is vital to assess what level of support to accommodate people’s need with a disability in order to achieve the same outcome as those without a disability.

[Edit]2.2 International

U.N. Human Rights Charter (where there is a clause specifying the provision of sign language intepreters for deaf children).

[Edit]2.3 Australia

[Edit]2.3.1 Federal Disability Discrimination Act

The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/dda1992264/) aims to protect people with a disability from discrimination especially in education, employment, access service providers, facilities and public areas. This helps people with a disability to be validated e.g. respect for human worth and dignity, equal protection and good quality of life. Provides people with disabilities to have human rights, civil, citizen, legal and fundamental rights as equals as the rest of the community. This also encourages the community to have a positive attitude to respect people with disabilities that they have physical, social, emotional and intellectual developments needs to be met. Also allow them to make their own decision with some support and support them with the right amount of support they need .