Media Release by Senator the Hon Jan McLucas

The Convention – What does it mean for you in Auslan

The Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Senator Jan McLucas has welcomed the launch of Auslan videos of the landmark UN Convention outlining how human rights for people with disability should be put into practice.

The Auslan videos of The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities have been launched for free download during National Week of Deaf People (20-26 October).

“The videos are the first Auslan version of the Convention available in Australia, and are a very important resource for the Deaf community, people with disability and organisations of people with disability,” Senator McLucas said.

“It is a collective body of work bringing together expertise of Auslan translators and deaf consultants, and I want to thank everyone involved for their work in getting these videos ready.”

The videos provide a guide to the Convention, explaining it in a person-centred way, giving initial information and then using stories and examples to highlight pertinent points.

Australia was one of the first western nations to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was adopted on 13 December 2006 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The Convention aims to enhance opportunities for people with disability to participate in all aspects of social and political life including access to employment, education, health care, information, justice, public transport and the built environment.

The videos are available for free download http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/the-united-nations-convention-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-uncrpd-in-auslan-australian-sign-language.

The National Week of Deaf People is a week-long national celebration of Deaf individuals and the Deaf Australian community. This year’s theme is “Sign bilingualism is a human right”.

Text files will be made available to the FaHCSIA website shortly. Auslan versions and text files will also be made available for people with low vision wishing to access this easy to understand presentation.