Adults and Seniors Services
Our national Adults and Seniors team, led by Team Leaders Joy Chambers and Ruth Coburn, continues to deliver a person-centred approach, working alongside Deaf and hard-of-hearing service users and the wider Deaf community. The team includes facilitators and Pathway Assessors who are fluent in New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL), ensuring that Deaf people can engage with services in their first language.
Supporting the professional development of our team is an essential part of how we uphold the quality of care and support we offer to the Deaf community. When our staff grow their skills and deepen their knowledge, it strengthens the services we provide and ensures we’re meeting the diverse needs of our community with confidence and care.
This year has brought significant change, with Disability Support Services transitioning from Whaikaha to the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). Despite the uncertainty, Lara Draper (General Manager Adults and Seniors) and Mark Crooke (General Manager iSign and NZSL Switch Translation) have maintained regular engagement with MSD Disability Support Services to discuss the services offered by Deaf Aotearoa and advocate for the needs and access of Deaf people.
The team has continued to collaborate with a wide range of organisations, including disability support providers, aged care facilities, educational institutions, and government agencies. These relationships are vital in educating others and breaking down barriers to ensure Deaf people can access the services they are entitled to.
Earlier this year, Lara Draper participated as a panellist at the ACE Aotearoa Conference, exploring Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Ancestral Intelligence (AI) through a Deaf lens to raise awareness about Deaf people and NZSL among ACE educators. She also delivered a presentation to the Needs Assessment and Service Coordination Agency (NASCA), reaching over 35 NASC organisations. Maintaining strong relationships with these networks remains essential to raising awareness and advocating for Deaf people.
Adults and Seniors operate as an umbrella service encompassing:
- Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC)
- Disability Information and Advisory Service (DIAS)
- Hearing Assistive Technology (HAT)
- Employment Service
- Adult and Community Education (ACE)
We continue to support Deaf seniors through accessible information, tailored advice, Deaf-specific equipment for use in the home, and lifelong learning opportunities through ACE workshops.
In 2024, we sent out a Deaf Seniors Survey and received 100 responses, offering valuable insights into current needs and challenges. To respond to the needs identified within the responses, we applied for and secured a grant from the Whaikaha NZSL Board to help us pilot our Deaf Seniors project.
As part of this initiative, we met with Deaf seniors in Auckland, Wellington, Palmerston North, and Christchurch, and delivered four age-related workshops across different locations. Based on the feedback gathered, we launched a dedicated Deaf Seniors page on the Deaf Aotearoa website, now serving as an information hub tailored to their needs. We know this space is one that needs to grow, and we are actively finding ways to continuing supporting this group within the community.
