Sign Language as a Human Right

With sign languages, deaf people are equal

Language and culture are inseparable and signed languages, such as Auslan, are a critical component of Deaf culture and the Deaf identity. Auslan is vital for the cognitive, social, emotional, and linguistic growth of Deaf people in Australia.

Numerous studies have shown that natural signed languages, like Auslan, support the development of brain function and social skills, and contrary to popular belief, evidence shows that the use of a signed language even supports spoken language use and decreases the negative effects of early auditory deprivation for spoken language development. Without early exposure to Auslan, deaf children can be deprived of a strong foundation for language.

This has been emphasised by the United Nations in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability (CRPD). Within the CRPD, the importance of access to signed languages as a human right is highlighted multiple times:

• CRPD Article 2: Makes clear that sign languages are equal in status to spoken languages

• CRPD Article 21.B: Allows deaf people to choose to give and receive official communications in the way they choose, including in sign languages.

• CRPD Article 21.e and 24.3b: Obligates the governments of signatories to encourage the learning of sign language and promote the linguistic identity of the Deaf Community.

• CRPD Article 23.3: Requires the governments of signatories to provide early and comprehensive information, services and support to deaf children and their families, including information about Deaf culture, signed languages, and bilingual education.

Australia is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability and therefore has an obligation to ensure that Deaf people in Australia have access to Auslan as one of their fundamental human rights.

In Western Australia we have the Disability Services Act which contains a clear commitment to ensuring that Deaf people have the same rights, opportunities, and choices as other community members. Combined with the Disability Standards for Education, Deaf children in WA should have the right to access the curriculum via Auslan, through trained and skilled Teachers of the Deaf and/or trained and credentialed Educational Interpreters and Deaf Mentors.

We are also fortunate to have the WA State Language Services Policy, which aims to ensure that all Western Australians, including Deaf people, have equitable access to information and services. This policy requires all government services, and services provided by organisations via government funds to provide interpreting services. This policy ensures the WA Deaf Community have access to information in Auslan.

Access to signed languages gives deaf people access to the world.