- Hearing
Two of our talented NextSense School students were honoured for their creativity and originality in their use of Australian Sign Language (Auslan) in this year’s Auslan Day Video Competition, taking away two top prizes.
The Auslan Day Video Competition is run by not-for-profit organisation Deaf Australia to recognise Australian Sign Language and mark the publication of the first Auslan dictionary on 13 April 1989. It is the third year the competition has run.
Open to contestants five years and over who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing, and use Auslan as their primary mode of communication, contestants were asked to submit a 1-3 minute video addressing the theme of ‘Deaf life mishaps’, sharing stories of amusing misadventures while navigating the world of people who are Deaf, or use Auslan.
Several students in our Sign Bilingual Program, who use both Auslan and English in its written and spoken form, entered the competition.
NextSense School students Keira and Emma-Rose both came away with prizes. Keira tied in first place in the Young Children (5-8 years) category with her story, ‘Deaf man and the bee’, about an unfortunate incident with a very cranky bee. Emma-Rose took away 2nd place with ‘Naughty dog’, about an excitable but naughty dog who’s keen to go for a walk but gets up to mischief when his owner realises her hearing aid is missing.
NextSense School teacher Kate says the competition was a fantastic way to engage students in the creative process.
— Kate, Teacher, NextSense SchoolStudents worked one-on-one with staff who are deaf or hard of hearing on the structure of a narrative and how to make their stories as engaging as possible for their audience.
‘I am so proud of everyone who entered the competition this year. They were every excited to participate and worked extremely hard crafting their stories’, Kate says.
NextSense and the Auslan Dictionary
NextSense has a long and proud association with the Auslan Dictionary. In 1998 we published the first interactive Auslan Dictionary on CD-ROM: Signs of Australia. This was an extension of the lexicologixal research of Dr Trevor Johnston, who authored the first print-based version of the dictionary in 1989. Signs of Australia, which was also printed in book form, assumed an essential role in education, linguistics and in the day-to-day lives of people who are deaf or those who live and work with people who are deaf. We are delighted that our School students continue to participate in Deaf Australia’s Auslan Day Video Competition each year.
Check out the winners.
Visit the Deaf Australia website.-
Technology: a great leap forward in accessibility for people with vision loss
- Vision
NextSense Access Technology Consultant Mike is blind, and trains and supports people who are blind or have low vision to achieve their goals through specialised assistive technology.
-
Tim’s experience of inclusion has inspired him to pay it forward
- Hearing
Tim Palmer has been passionate about football his whole life—and he’s become just as passionate about being able to help others access the sport that he loves.
-
Easter fun for everyone at accessible hunt
- Vision
Easter came early for some of our clients and their families when we hosted Cadbury’s first Sydney accessible Easter Egg hunt.
-
Sydney Opera House brought to life through touch with new tactile model unveiled
- Vision
The Sydney Opera House has been brought to life through touch, with a tactile scale model of the architectural masterpiece unveiled.
