From: Cath Gunn [catgunn@iweb.net.au]
Sent: Friday, 24 September 2004 8:58 PM
To: David Mason
Subject: Possible HEREOC Inquiry into Employment Issues

Dear Mr Mason
I have had a message from Sue Egan about a proposed HREOC inquiry into Employment Issues for people with disabilities.
If it goes ahead would HEREOC please consider adding communication issues to the terms of reference?
Literacy considerations often come into education and training but the issue is really much wider than that. There are issues with access to the media (and thus advertisements about employment, information relevant to employment and training and current affairs relevant to employment etc) There are also issues with access telephone and internet services.
While the difficulties of people with hearing impairments are recognised (if not addressed) people with other severe communication impairments receive very little recognition of their needs.
There are also other communication issues which need to be addressed. The problems go largely unrecognised because people who have communication impairments are, by the very nature of the problem, unable to articulate their difficulties.
There is some research being done in the area.
Please let me know if you would like some more information.
Yours sincerely
Cath Gunn

Deputy Director
Communication Project Group
PO Box 401 MSC
Torrens Park SA 5062