27 June 2018 

NDIS improves support for hearing

impaired
Australians with hearing impairment will receive improved
support and faster access to the National Disability Insurance
Scheme.

Imagine not being able to see and hear

This is Deafblind Awareness Week. It is a time when deafblind
people, their families and supporters organise celebrations,
hold events and raise community awareness on the challenges
of being deafblind.

Meet the owner of the Tweetie L'amour

Pet Emporium
For Launceston’s Nate Cripps who was born deaf, professional
opportunities were few and far between. After spending his
entire working life as a house keeper he decided it was time
for a change.

National survey the educational

experiences of students with disability
The results highlight that the present education system is
failing to adequately meet the needs of students with
disability.

Koko, the gorilla who was able to

communicate in more than 1,000 signs,
has died at 46
Koko touched the lives of millions as an ambassador for all
gorillas and an icon for interspecies communication.

We  acknowledge  the  traditional  custodians  of  the  land,  community,  sea,  and  waters  where  we  live  and  work.   We  pay  our  respect  to 
elders past, present and future and value the contributions Indigenous Australians make in our society.  We acknowledge the challenge for 
Indigenous leaders and families to overcome the unacceptably high levels of ear health issues among first Australians. 
Improved support for hearing impaired
From a media release by the Australian Government

Australians with hearing impairment will receive improved support and faster access to the
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The National Disability Insurance Agency announced last week five initiatives to improve the NDIS
experience for people with hearing impairment after significant consultation with hearing providers
and experts.

The new initiatives are:

 Eligibility for access to the NDIS for individuals with hearing impairment has been clarified.
This recognises the benefits of early intervention for participants under 25.
 A revised pathway to speed up access for children aged 0 to 6 with a hearing loss. This will
allow children to move quickly from diagnosis to early intervention and avoid developmental
delay. The revised pathway has been developed in consultation with providers and other
key stakeholders.
 The NDIA has been working with providers to clear a list of children with hearing
impairment currently awaiting access and planning decisions. Newborn children and people
with a severe or profound hearing loss or auditory neuropathy have been escalated for
urgent response.
 Australian Hearing’s current in kind support to the NDIS will be extended until 30 June
2020. Australian Hearing plays a key role as an entry point for children with hearing
impairment. It is also a critical provider of specialist information to parents to help them
make informed choices about their children’s needs, particularly in relation to the use of a
single or multiple experts.
 Prices for the provision of hearing services will be revised.

The NDIS is working proactively with providers to understand how best to support their transition
from block funding to an individualised funding model under the NDIS, where participants or their
parents can exercise choice and control.

Efforts will be made to provide participants with greater levels of independent guidance and
education to support plan implementation to ensure that the full benefits of expert advice are
realised.

Ends
Comments on the media release
Eligibility for access to the NDIS
The National Disability Insurance Agency, the organisation that manages the NDIS, said it had
clarified its guidelines for access to the NDIS. The information below is taken verbatim from an
email received from the NDIA this morning. In the next edition of One in Six we will provide a
plain English version.

Early intervention for hearing impairment for people aged birth to 25 - the NDIA will be satisfied
that a person meets the early intervention requirements without further assessment when the
person:
 is aged between birth and 25 years of age; and
 has confirmed results from a specialist audiological assessment (including
electrophysiological testing when required) consistent with auditory neuropathy or hearing
loss equal or greater 25 decibels in either ear at 2 or more adjacent frequencies, which is
likely to be permanent or long term; and
 the hearing loss of the person necessitates the use of personal amplification.

People who are 26 years and older with a permanent hearing impairment of greater than 90
decibels in the better ear (pure tone average of 500Hz, 1000Hz, 2000Hz and 4000Hz) are eligible
to join the NDIS without the need to prove that their disability has substantially reduced their
functional capacity.

People who are 26 years and older with a permanent hearing impairment of 65 decibels or greater
in the better ear will probably be eligible to join the NDIS, but they must provide evidence that the
disability results in substantially reduced functional capacity to undertake communication, social
interaction, learning and self-management activities.

Hearing impairments of less than 65 decibels in the better ear in conjunction with other
permanent impairments (for example vision or cognitive impairments), or where there is evidence
of significantly poorer than expected speech detection and discrimination outcomes, may also be
considered to result in substantially reduced functional capacity to undertake relevant activities
and therefore may be eligible to join the NDIS.

People who are 26 years and older with hearing impairment of less than 65 decibels in the better
ear and who also have another disability may also be eligible. This is partially correct. The other
disability must meet either the S24 (Disability) or S25 (Early Intervention) requirements in order
for that person to meet the access requirements.

People who are 26 years and older and who have problems with speaking and listening may also
be eligible to join the NDIS.
The NDIA has been working with providers to clear a list of children with hearing
impairment currently awaiting access and planning decisions
Comment: There are still reports of families having to wait considerable time to have their NDIS
plans approved. This leaves families in a position of having to pay for early intervention services
themselves and with no hope of getting it back, or the service has to support the families without
payment and no chance of getting reimbursed by the NDIS, or there is a delay in the child
accessing services until the funding package is approved, which would be a tragedy. None of
these alternatives are acceptable. While the NDIA has not explained how or when it will “clear the
list of children” waiting for their plans to be approved, this is very welcome news.

Australian Hearing’s current in kind support to the NDIS extended until 30 June 2020
Comment: The NDIA currently uses the Australian Government Hearing Services Program and
Australian Hearing to deliver services to hearing impaired clients of the NDIS. It is an excellent
service delivery model. Our concern has been that when the NDIA creates its own arrangements
for hearing services that it will not measure up to the current system. While we are disappointed
that the NDIA won’t honour its commitment to completing this body of work by this time next
year, the delay will allow us an extra 12 months to help the NDIA to get it right.

Our members representing families want services for hearing impaired children to remain with
Australian Hearing as the sole provider. They say they do not want hearing services for children
to be contestable. They say that contestability will introduce unacceptable risk to the outcomes
for hearing impaired children. They want Australian Hearing to provide the impartial advice on the
choice of early intervention services. Our members whose first language is Auslan want Australian
Hearing to lift its game to make sure that parents are given quality and timely information about
the Deaf community, its supports and the language of Auslan.

The NDIS will work with providers to understand how best to support their transition
from block funding to an individualised funding model under the NDIS’ and ‘A revised
pathway to speed up access for children aged 0 to 6 with a hearing loss’ and ‘Prices
for the provision of hearing services will be revised’
Comment: “First Voice applauds the recent media release from the Minister’s office as a very
positive sign. We are grateful to see that the work of the sector with the NDIA has been
acknowledged and is being actioned,” said First Voice president Chris McCarthy.

First Voice advocates for early intervention services that give deaf children listening and spoken
language skills.

“This is a great step forward and we continue to be optimistic about developing the funding
model, keen to ensure that an outcomes based funding approach is applied for Early Intervention
services,” said Chris McCarthy. “We look forward to continuing to work with the agency to create
a more systemic approach that ensures the hard work done by the sector over the last 70 or more
years to achieve world-class outcomes for children with hearing loss is not compromised.”
Imagine not being able to see and hear
How would you communicate, how would you go shopping, how would you make friends? This,
the last week of June is Deafblind Awareness Week. It is a time when deafblind people, their
families and supporters organise celebrations, hold events and raise community awareness on the
challenges of being deafblind.

The Week is devoted to the life of individuals who are deafblind and to celebrate the birthday of a
well-known deafblind lady named Helen Keller who was born on 27 June. Helen Keller was an
American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deaf-blind person to earn a
bachelor of arts degree.

Combined sight and hearing loss, commonly known as ‘deafblindness’ affects an estimated
350,000 people in Australia so it is possible that you know someone who is impacted by it. During
Deafblind Awareness Week we are encouraged to think about friends and relatives who might be
affected by sight and hearing loss and to talk to them about it; try to understand what they are
going through and learn what we can do to help.

Deafblind Australia educates members of the public and government organisations about
deafblindness. https://www.deafblind.org.au/

https://www.facebook.com/AustralianoftheYear/
Launceston man providing ‘dream’ opportunities for people
with a disability
By Jessica Willard, writing for The Examiner

Tweetie L'amour Pet Emporium owner Nate Cripps, who was born deaf, is now offering employment
opportunities for people living with disability. Picture: Phillip Biggs.

Many people dream of opening their own business. But for Launceston’s Nate Cripps who was
born deaf, professional opportunities were often few and far between.

After spending his entire working life as a house keeper, Mr Cripps decided it was time for a
change. With the support of his partner Warren Flannigan, in February Mr Cripps opened Tweetie
L’amour Pet Emporium at Invermay.

Mr Cripps is now proudly Tasmania’s first profoundly deaf person to open and run his own
business – something he is incredibly proud of.

“For me, I had been cleaning for 14 years and I was just sick of it,” he said. “I hated it and I
always knew I was destined to do more. There is nothing wrong with the profession, it just isn’t
for me. There are not many employment opportunities for people who are deaf – I want to
change that. Because for a really longtime I thought that cleaning was the only option for me,
because I just didn’t get any other opportunities. I spent a long time trying to work out what I
wanted to do with my life and after an in-depth conversation with Warren, we decided it was time
for a change. Really I knew at the end of the day, what I really wanted was to start my own
business.”
With a love of animals, the idea of opening his own pet store was something Mr Cripps had always
dreamed of. To “test the waters” he decided to open a stall at the weekly Launceston Esk
Markets. After receiving nothing but positive feedback from customers, he said he felt
empowered to take the next steps towards opening his own store.

“There was so much interest in what I was doing,” he said. “Really, it was customers telling me I
should think about opening a store. People were just so supportive and encouraging.”

Mr Cripps said a bit of fate and luck brought a vacant site on Invermay Road into his life.

“The owner was so lovely and agreed to let me rent the space for free, until we got our feet off
the ground,” he said. “It was always going to be a big risk for us financially, but I had my heart
set on it.”

Specialising in bird and pet products, Mr Cripps said Tweetie L’amour was a dream come true for
him. But, he also wanted to use his new employment platform to help others in their professional
development.

Tweetie L'amour Pet Emporium shop assistant Chloe Hansson, with Nate and Warren. Picture: Phillip Biggs

Recently, the business partnered with Oak Tasmania Training and Development to offer
employment opportunities for people living with a disability.

Tweetie L’amour currently has four trainees, who all work varying shifts at the store five days a
week. From customer service, answering phones to stock taking, the trainees are responsible for
a wide range of services.

Oak Tasmania Launceston team leader Eleanor Kramer said the transition to work program was
already making a big impact. “I think what Nate is doing is just brilliant,” she said. “Not only has
he created an opportunity for himself, but he is also offering opportunities to other people with
disabilities. It is a relatively new service, but we are already seeing the results.”
Nate’s partner Warren Flannigan has worked as a carer and support worker for more than 30
years. Mr Flannigan said he had seen first-hand the limited job opportunities for people living
with a disability.

“One of the main reasons for opening the store was to give others the employment opportunities
that Nate never had growing up,” he said.

“We know from personal experience how hard it can be to get employment, or even just
experience. I just don’t think people realise how much value people with a disability can bring to
the workforce. We have received nothing but positive feedback from our customers.”

In the future, Mr Cripps said he would like to open a second store in the state’s South, particularly
focused on employment opportunities for deaf people.

“Providing opportunities to deaf people, that is what I am focused on,” he said.

“I have found my dream so they should be able to as well.”

https://www.examiner.com.au/story/5462228/launceston-man-providing-dream-opportunities-for-people-with-a-disability/?cs=95

Advertisement
THE NSW ELECTORAL COMMISSION IS LOOKING FOR ELECTION MANAGERS
 Casual employment
 93 positions across the state
 Attractive remuneration package.

We are looking for talented driven people to join us for an eight to ten week engagement from
February to April 2019. You will be involved in delivering the biggest event in NSW: the State
Election on 23 March 2019. If successful you may also be on a list for future election events. If
you are eligible to vote and have excellent leadership skills with operational management
experience, apply now and help us deliver democracy.

To find out more about the role and how to apply please visit www.electionmanagernsw.com.au

When submitting your resume you must attach the ‘Eligibility Checklist Cover Letter’ from the
site above with your resume and complete the two targeted questions regarding your suitability
for the role. Failure to do so will result in an unsuccessful application.

Contact details Hudson Global:

 Web: electionmanagernsw.com.au
 Tel: 1300 278 047 Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm
 Email: electionmanagernsw@hudson.com
National not-for-profit body Children and Young People with Disability Australia conducts a
national survey each year on the educational experiences of students with disability in Australia.
It focuses on the direct experience of students with disability. The most recent survey results
again highlight that the present education system is failing to adequately meet the needs of
students with disability.

SNAPSHOT OF SURVEY RESULTS

 56% of respondents reported bullying at school in the last year
 38% of students with disability were excluded from activities at school in the last year
 19% experienced restraint and 21% experienced seclusion at school in the last year
 79% of respondents had not heard of the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD)
for students with disability and only 19% reported that they or their child was included in
the data collection

The survey summary provides an overview of the responses received. The summary can be
viewed at http://www.cyda.org.au/education-survey-results-2017. There were 766 respondents
nationally with representation from all states and territories.

The survey revealed that an alarming fifty-six percent of students with disability had experienced
bullying in the previous 12 months. That is more than twice the rate of bullying estimated to
occur in the general population of school-aged children.

The inequity experienced by students with disability has been highlighted in numerous national,
state and territory inquiries, including the report of the national 2015 Senate Inquiry into Current
Levels of Access and Attainment for Students with Disability in the school system, which stated:

The Committee received overwhelming evidence regarding the many barriers faced by students
with disability and their families. Access to education is a basic human right, but for many
students with disability in Australia, it is a right which they are prevented from accessing.

Unfortunately, the results of the 2017 survey confirm that not much has changed.

Schools often lack the required expertise in developing educational programs for students with
disability. It is therefore vital that Australian governments invest appropriately in the education of
students with disability and broader areas of reform so that students with disability are afforded
their educational rights.
Koko, the gorilla who knew sign language and made
friends with cats, dies at 46

Photo: Koko the gorilla with her lifelong teacher and friend, Dr Francine Patterson. (Supplied: Koko.org The
Gorilla Foundation)

Koko, the beloved gorilla who was able to communicate in more than 1,000 signs, has died at 46
in California's Santa Cruz mountains.

The Gorilla Foundation said the 46-year-old western lowland gorilla died in her sleep at the
foundation's preserve on Tuesday.

Koko was born at the San Francisco Zoo, and Dr Francine Patterson began teaching the gorilla
sign language that became part of a Stanford University project in 1974. According to Dr
Patterson, Koko was able to understand more than 1,000 signs. The foundation said Koko's
capacity for language and empathy opened the minds and hearts of millions.

"Koko touched the lives of millions as an ambassador for all gorillas and an icon for interspecies
communication," the Gorilla Foundation said in a statement. "She was beloved and will be deeply
missed."

Koko appeared in many documentaries and twice in National Geographic. The magazine's 1978
cover featured a photo that Koko had taken of herself in a mirror.

For her 44th birthday, the gorilla chose a grey kitten and a black-striped kitten — Ms Grey and Ms
Black — to join her family, signing the words "cat" and "baby".

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-22/koko-the-gorilla-who-knew-sign-language-dies-at-46/9896464
Economics of hearing loss
A significant proportion of hearing loss is preventable and experts are warning that we should turn
down our devices and reduce the amount of time spent listening with earphones to avoid
permanent damage.

On ABC Radio’s The Money, listen to

 Professor David McAlpine, Director of Hearing Research, Australian Hearing Hub, Macquarie
University. ARC Australian Laureate Fellow.
 Lynne Pezzullo, Lead Partner, Health Economics and Social Policy, Deloitte Access
Economics
 Karina Bray, Senior Content Producer in health at Choice.
 Victor de Andrade, Audiologist and Senior Lecturer, University of Witwatersrand, South
Africa.

Captions or a transcript were not provided by the ABC.

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/themoney/

NAIDOC Week 2018 will celebrate the invaluable contributions that Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander women have made – and continue to make – to our communities, our families, our rich
history and to our nation.

Under the theme – Because of her, we can! – NAIDOC Week 2018 will be held nationally from
Sunday 8 July and continue through to Sunday 15 July.

As pillars of our society, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have played – and continue
to play – active and significant roles at the community, local, state and national levels.

As leaders, trailblazers, politicians, activists and social change advocates, Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander women fought and continue to fight, for justice, equal rights, our rights to country,
for law and justice, access to education, employment and to maintain and celebrate our culture,
language, music and art.

http://www.naidoc.org.au/
Choosing the wrong NBN plan could cost you $hundreds
By Charis Chang for news.com.au

New analysis has found choosing the wrong NBN plan could cost you up to $736 a year.

With more than 150 providers of phone and internet services for NBN in Australia, and many
different plans, it can be difficult to choose the best one. For example, a 50Mbps plan could
range from as little as $50 per month to $106. About 20 per cent of NBN plans make people pay
out 100 per cent their contract if they want to cancel halfway through. But no-contract plans
could also be more expensive, as these plans were more likely to charge installation fees - while
some providers do not charge for installation; others made people pay up to $265.

Comparison site Mozo.com.au has looked at 282 plans from 100 providers. It gave awards for
providers offering three speeds: 25 Mbps, 50 Mbps and 100 Mbps. Judges looked at cost,
monthly charges, lowest price modem available, contract options, cancellation fees, download
limits, advertised speeds and technical support.

While data released showed more Australians were choosing to switch to faster plans, for those
wanting to get the best deal, being realistic about what speeds you actually need is an important
consideration.

Here is where you will find the comparison tables -

https://www.news.com.au/finance/money/costs/choosing-the-wrong-nbn-plan-could-cost-you-hundreds/news-
story/8e927ca6c50e535e3324add1adb2e219?utm_source=newsletter_228&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=web
news-437

Know someone who might like to receive One in Six in 2018?

To subscribe, drop us a line at hello@deafnessforum.org.au

If everyone who reads One in Six helps fund our work, our future would be much more secure.
For as little as $5 you can support Deafness Forum. Thank you.
https://www.givenow.com.au/deafnessforum;jsessionid=FCE09D05AD9BAF110DB95EFDFF6E64AF

Items in Deafness Forum communications incorporate or summarise views, standards or recommendations of third parties or
comprise material contributed by third parties or sourced from items published in the public domain. Content may be edited for
style and length. Our intention is to attain balance and be representative of all views within the sector we represent, however this
may not be attainable in particular editions. Third party material is assembled in good faith, but does not necessarily reflect the
considered views of Deafness Forum, or indicate commitment to a particular course of action. We make no representation or
warranty about the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of any third party information.