From:	Godfrey, Kathryn 
Sent:	Monday, 7 December 2009 6:30 PM
To:	disabdis

Hello
 
I have just become aware of the Cinema Industry's application for exemption from the Disabilty 
Discrimination Act in relation to captioning of movies for the next 2 years.
 
A measure of society is in how it treats those less able.  To allow this exemption to go ahead would be 
travesty of justice and a disgrace for all of society.
 
For the hearing impaired who have entered the world of disability it is just plain cruel to exempt them 
from modern life by restricting their access to captioning in any appropriate forum.  A large part of the 
problem of hearing impairment is the isolation it can create - restricting access to the latest movies does 
not help their inclusion into society.  It may seem a small thing to those of us who easilly access the 
voices of our family and friends but it is not a small issue to those whose world is silent.
 
The deaf community also need to be recognised as people with rights.  If every school student learnt 
Auslan from Year 5-8 at school to have a basic language understanding, our society would not have to 
recognise the Deaf Community as disabled but rather view them as a seperate culture with another 
language.  The Deaf cannot access all areas of the hearing world mostly due to a lack of building and 
workforce planning and resources, so to deny them access to something that is easy to provide is totally 
 inappropriate.
 
Please add my name to any petition against this act of inhumanity.
 
Thank you
 
Kathryn Godfrey 
Manager Audiology 
Otoneurology 
 
 
 
Alfred Health incorporates The Alfred, Caulfield Hospital and Sandringham Hospital 
www.alfredhealth.org.au