She ran in the headlines for several weeks.<\/p>\n
Firstly it was the good news.<\/p>\n
New Zealand has its first profoundly deaf MP in Parliament. Welcome Mojo Mathers.<\/p>\n
But wait there was a catch.<\/p>\n
The headlines had a field day. New Zealand\u2019s first profoundly deaf MP has been told parliament will not pay for the technology she needs to fully participate in parliamentary debate.<\/p>\n
Why?<\/p>\n
It costs too much at $30,000 for her to have the adequate electronic note-taking equipment to part-take in parliament.<\/p>\n
She was told this was to be met from her own parliamentary budget.<\/p>\n
Ouch – I thought that was a bit harsh. I can\u2019t begin to imagine the hurdles she has probably tackled to achieve what she has to date \u2013 only to be told \u2013 it\u2019s not good enough \u2013 you\u2019ll need to pay to do your job.<\/p>\n
As the debate ravaged the papers, I felt sympathy for her. Imagine having to fight just to be able to do your job well.<\/p>\n
It was a shame, considering that New Zealand prides itself on being an all-inclusive society \u2013 yet sometimes we fall short.<\/p>\n
But at the same time I couldn\u2019t help but wonder at the immense cost of an electronic note-taker.<\/p>\n
Being involved in writing for a transcription company got me thinking \u2013 could transcription software meet this need? At a cheaper cost?<\/p>\n
Not just for Mojo Mathers, but for the other 200,000 people that Deaf Association of New Zealand says have some form of hearing impairment in New Zealand. Between 2500 and 7000 people of whom identify as deaf.<\/p>\n
Though many use hearing aids, or use sign language or even lip read \u2013 transcription could make life easier.<\/p>\n
Even an interpreter is not always sufficient, as it is hard to take notes whilst watching an interpreter.<\/p>\n
A New York based school \u2013 The New School<\/em> says transcription services are one way in helping students to receive adequate information in class.<\/p>\n \u201c<\/em>Transcription services are also available to deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Some schools that have more extensive programmes for deaf students offer real time speech to text transcription services by utilising voice recognition software.<\/em>\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n At present TranscribeMe is taking steps towards becoming instantaneous voice-speech software, but in the meantime its quite quick turnover can still provide a good option for those in need of a note-taker.<\/p>\n So watch this space!<\/p>\n As technology improves, the hearing impaired or deaf will be able to get one step further towards achieving dreams in the hearing world, whether it\u2019s as an MP or as Prime Minister.<\/p>\n The hearing world will be theirs for the taking.<\/p>\n By Corazon Miller, Journalist<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" She ran in the headlines for several weeks.<\/p>\n Firstly it was the good news.<\/p>\n New Zealand has its first profoundly deaf MP in Parliament. Welcome Mojo Mathers.
\nBut wait there was a catch. The headlines had a field day. New Zealand\u2019s first profoundly deaf MP has been told parliament will not pay for the technology she needs to fully participate in parliamentary debate.
\nWhy?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":16622,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,8],"tags":[67,19,21],"class_list":{"0":"post-4509","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-blog","8":"category-transcription-services","9":"tag-note-taker","10":"tag-transcriber","11":"tag-transcription-service"},"yoast_head":"\n