NEWSLETTER
deafaccess Gippsland
Edition: 127
April 2015
Hello everyone,
I hope you had a good Easter long weekend and eating these delicious chocolate eggs.
Wellington Shire Council is providing 3 information sessions about internet, website and social media. The first
one was on 23rd March, I attended and it was a very worthwhile session. The second session will be on 13th
April and 3rd session will be on 20th April. I will be attending 13th April session—it will be good if you could be
attending as Auslan Interpreters are provided.
You may remember that we had an interesting information session about Emergency safety through bushfires
and/or flooding or extreme weather condition last December at CFA Morwell—we will have another workshop
on Saturday 09 May 2015 at same place—CFA Morwell. Gabrielle will show you resource kits and there will have
guest speakers from deaf people who experienced their loss at fires/flooding. Lunch will be provided and I
would encourage you to come to that workshop.
We now have deafaccess Gippsland Facebook and Instagram—you are welcome to join there online and receive
information/photos. Incase you may wonder about this newsletter, it will continue normally. We now have
different options of social media for you.
You may notice there was a big fuss about Netflix within deaf/hard of hearing community with TV programs via
internet. Netflix has officially launched in Australia and there have lot of captioning for different program. Media
Access Australia provided information about this and it can be found at page 3.
You may remember from previous newsletter edition that Melbourne Polytechnics (former NMIT) that they
would provide accredited course—Certificate II in Auslan for Gippsland region. This has been postponed due to
low number of enrolments. They are still offering this course but will happen later in 2015. More information
will come soon. However, there will have community Auslan course in Traralgon soon. If you are interested to
start learning Auslan—more information is on page 4.
Do you love cooking??? There have Auslan Class on 19 April and it will focus Italian cooking—more information
is on page 5.
Before you start reading this newsletter, I would like to let you know that my manager, Meryle Trentini is
retiring on 31 July 2015. Meryle is always interested with deafaccess workers’ regions (both in Gippsland and
Hume) and I am eternally grateful for Meryle’s supportive with our work here. Thank you, Meryle.
Warm regards,
Stephen Nicholson
deafaccess Gippsland Coordinator
deafaccess Gippsland now have Facebook page and
Instagram page.
You can find us there and you are more than welcome to join
us at Facebook for latest information and/or Instagram for
latest photos.
Monthly newsletters will continue normally.
Any questions, let deafaccess Gippsland Coordinator know—
email address is [email protected]
NETFLIX LAUNCHES IN AUSTRALIA WITH CAPTIONS with recommendations about how it can be improved.
An earlier report released in 2013, Captioning on Video
on Demand: It's Time for Australia to Catch Up, can be
Edited by Media Access Australia on 24/03/2015.
downloaded from our Video in demand page.
The US-based video-on-demand (VOD) service Netflix
launched in Australia today. The good news for Deaf Website link is http://www.mediaaccess.org.au/
and hearing impaired viewers is that virtually all the latest_news/tv-video/netflix-launches-in-australia-withcaptions
content is captioned.
The high level of captioning on Netflix follows two
developments in the US. In 2010, legislation was
passed which stipulated that TV programs broadcast
with captions must also be captioned when
distributed over the internet. Shortly after this, in
2011, Netflix was sued by the National Association of
the Deaf for failing to provide captions on most of
the titles on its ‘Watch Instantly’ service. An
agreement was eventually reached, with Netflix
committing to caption 100% of the content on its
American site by the end of 2014.
While the local version of Netflix currently offers
fewer titles (link is external) than the American
version, the company has continued its
commitment to captioning, as it has in other
countries where Netflix has been launched. Media
Access Australia understands that some of the
content on the local site may lack captions, but a
survey of 50 TV series and 50 movies we carried out
today found that all of them had closed captions
(which can be turned on once the video has started
to play). Netflix is offering a basic subscription for
$8.99 per month, which allows access to standard
definition versions of all its TV and movie content.
“In terms of captioning, Netflix is in stark contrast to
other subscription VOD services launched here
recently, such as Presto and Stan, which offer no
captions at all,” said Chris Mikul, Media Access
Australia’s project manager for television. “And of
the five free-to-air catch-up TV services, only three of
them – ABC iview, SBS On Demand and Plus7 – offer
captions.
We clearly need something similar to the American
legislation, which ensures that a captioned program
retains its captions, no matter what service you’re
watching it on.”
Media Access Australia will shortly be releasing a
major report on the accessibility of VOD services in
Australia,
Students with disabilities lobby Government
ahead of May Budget
Edited – ABC website on 24/03/2015
More than 100,000 students with disabilities across
Australia are being denied access to education because
of a lack of government funding.
On top of that, many other students are receiving inadequate support.
At the last election, the Abbott Government promised
to redress the problem - but students and their families
are still waiting.
Today they're holding a national day of action at Parliament House to lobby the Government ahead of the
May Budget.
Website link is http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/
programs/breakfast/students-with-disabilities-lobbygovernment/6342768
New White House receptionist is a West Wing
pioneer: 'Deaf people can do anything'
By Eun Kyung Kim at Today (USA), 27 March 2015.
Anyone wanting to speak to the president must stop by her
desk first. Leah Katz-Hernandez, 27, is the new White House
receptionist. She is also deaf.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity and also to show that deaf
people can do anything,” she said through an interpreter,
who is provided for her at work.
With a desk just steps away from the Oval Office, KatzHernandez is usually the first to greet anyone — from world
leaders to White House staff members — who has an
appointment with the president or his top-level aides. She
also oversees the White House guest book and the
Roosevelt Room, the West Wing meeting room, and is
responsible for collecting cell phones before meetings with
the president.
Katz-Hernandez is defined by her accomplishments, not her
disability, said Josh Earnest, the White House press
secretary. "She represents us very well," he told NBC's Peter
Alexander.
V/LINE—Gippsland line upgrade works
V/LINE is improving their rail network with a $10.5 million upgrade of the Gippsland line. The works include
replacing rail bridges, sleepers and level crossings. The
work is now processing until Sunday 17 May 2015.
It would be good if you could check V/LINE website or
call 1800-800-007 (via NRS if you need to) to find out
before your travelling.
The following level crossings on the Gippsland line are
being upgraded and will be closed from 6.30am to
7.00pm during the dates listed below:
Local traffic diversions will be in place for the period of
these works.
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The Connecticut native was born deaf to two deaf parents
— a Jewish, social worker mother and a Mexican-American
father who put himself through college and earned a PhD.
Friday 10 April—Marriage Lane, Hillside.
Saturday 11 April—Minniedale Road, Traralgon
East
Tuesday 21 April—Farrells Lane, Stratford.
Wednesday 22 April—Reeves Road, Munro.
Friday 24 April—Power Station Road, Hillside.
A former White House intern, Katz-Hernandez worked for
President Obama's re-election campaign before being hired
onto the staff of First Lady Michelle Obama, who used sign
language the first time they met to introduce herself.
"It is a great responsibility to be here as a deaf person and I
feel very proud of the opportunities that have been given to
me," she said.
Website link is http://www.today.com/news/new-whitehouse-receptionist-west-wing-pioneer-deaf-people-can2D80574114
Community Course—Auslan
To learn AUSLAN (Australian Sign Language).
Auslan Class at Traralgon Neighbourhood Learning
House. 11-13 Breed Street, Traralgon.
Teaching by qualified tutor, Peter Adams.
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Start on Wednesday 22 April.
Classes start at 6pm till 7.30pm.
1 1/2 hours X 10 Sessions.
$170 per person. Concession $150 with proof
card.
Contact Co-ordinator Jenny Poon, Email:
[email protected]. Phone : (03) 5174 6199.
CFA MORWELL
You may remember we had great Emergency workshop by Gabrielle at CFA Morwell on 13 December 2014.
Gabrielle is coming back on 09 May 2015 to show you resources and would like your feedback
before it’s being officially launched. See information below and let me know if you are coming—so we will organise lunch for you.
Any questions, let me know, please don't worry about RSVP on 10 April—you are still welcome.
Thanks
Stephen
DEADLINES FOR INCLUSION IN NEWSLETTER 2015
If you would like to include notices about events please send them to
deafaccess before:
24th April for inclusion in May newsletter.
25th May for inclusion in June newsletter.
The deafaccess Gippsland newsletter is available online at
www.vicdeaf.com.au
If you don’t have computer and want to see the internet links or
files in this newsletter:
Please contact deafaccess – Gippsland for a copy.
Email – [email protected]
SMS – 0408 637 880
deafaccess Gippsland
Office: 52 - 54 MacArthur Street, SALE, Victoria 3853
Postal: P.O. Box 9314, SALE, Victoria 3853
Mobile/SMS: 0408 637 880
Email: [email protected]
deafaccess – Building Inclusive Communities