Articles tagged with Sign Language

$1.7M Funding Boost to Empower Disability Community Leadership and Governance

2 weeks ago | 170 views

The Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha has awarded $1.7 million in funding to disability community organisations to enhance governance and leadership capabilities. This investment aims to empower disabled people to lead and participate more actively in decision-making, improve engagement with government agencies, and support historically underrepresented groups. By building long-term community capability, the funding helps shape policy and services while upholding the rights and dignity of disabled people.

Tags: Louise Upston Whaikaha Ministry of Disabled People Disabled People’s Organisations Disability Issues Minister New Zealand Sign Language disability community organisations governance capability community capability disability communities

New 10-Year Strategy to Strengthen and Promote New Zealand Sign Language

7 months ago | 625 views

New Zealand has launched a 10-year NZSL Strategy 2026-2036 to strengthen and promote New Zealand Sign Language, making it a more visible and valued part of everyday life. The strategy focuses on increasing NZSL fluency among Deaf people, especially children in hearing families, and improving understanding and acceptance of NZSL among non-users to reduce access barriers. It emphasizes integration across government, business, media, and communities, celebrating NZSL milestones and encouraging everyone to support its use daily.

Tags: Louise Upston New Zealand Sign Language NZSL Board Te Rōpū Kaitiaki Turi Māori Deaf community NZSL Week NZSL users NZSL translation

Boosting Sign Language in New Zealand: Funding for Families of Deaf Children

11 months ago | 1492 views

The New Zealand government is funding 11 community projects, totaling nearly $250,000, to support and promote the use of New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) among families of Deaf children and teenagers. Minister for Disability Issues Louise Upston highlights the importance of these initiatives, including NZSL classes, community events, a directory website in NZSL, a code of ethics review, and skills development programs for interpreters. The NZSL Board, which advocates for NZSL use, invests approximately $1 million annually to enhance NZSL initiatives and projects.

Tags: Deaf children teenagers community projects sign language New Zealand Louise Upston NZSL Board Deaf community interpreter workforce Deaf clubs