Conferenee for deaf women a first

Press, 22 June 1981, Page 27

Conferenee for deaf women a first

W A conference to keep deaf women informed on the lifestyle of modern women will be held in Christchurch on July 27 and 28. The conference will be the first for deaf .women in New Zealand. The chairman of the New Zealand Deaf Women's Conference. Mrs Margaret Coutts. said that most deaf women were too shy to mix with people and did not learn about many things that happened. Radio news was not heard, most television programmes were difficult to follow, and it was difficult for some deaf people to read newspapers because of a lack of ‘‘input" of language. About 60 women will attend the conference, but only fbur will travel from the North Island. Twenty-two staff members of Van Asch College, formerly the Sumner School for the Deaf, will act as interpreters. They will pass on what is said by the various lecturers using a good lip pattern for lip reading, gestures, and facial expressions. Each topic has been especially prepared for deaf people.

Self-defence, women and law, alcohol and drug abuse, midwifery, women’s refuges, and marital problems are among the workshops for the conference.

Miss Ann Ballin, chairman

for the International Year of Disabled Persons, will open the conference, to be held in the Christchurch Deaf Club's rooms in Armagh Street. The Mayoress, Mrs Judith Hay. and Mrs Mollie Clark will also attend the opening.

Mrs Coutts. who is deaf herself and the Christchurch delegate on the New Zealand Association for the Deaf, thought of the conference two years ago. The association approved of the idea and a committee was formed.' She hopes that the conference will make deaf women more aware of their rights and that if successful a conference will held every four or five years.

"New things are always happening and women must be kept informed," said Mrs Coutts.

A lack of understanding by some deaf women as to just

what the conference was could have restricted the numbers attending, but Mrs Coutts hopes that more people will attend any future conferences if this ' one is successful.