MPP Arnott calls for improved services for the Deaf – Speech
Improved Services for the Deaf
Ontario Hansard – 23-November 2016
Ontario Hansard – 23-November 2016
Mr. Ted Arnott: Mr. Speaker, during the summer, I had a remarkable meeting in our riding office with
Mr. Chris Kenopic of Georgetown. Mr. Kenopic, who is deaf, challenges us in the Ontario Legislature to
listen: to listen to the needs of the deaf, to hear them and to heed them. In health care, there has very little
progress in improving mental health services for the deaf. Why has the government largely ignored this
concern?
In education, there are regulations that interpreters must be available for deaf students, but school boards
do not write or enforce the policies. What’s the point of having regulations if they’re not enforced?
In adult literacy, there needs to be better empirical analysis of the needs of the deaf so we can determine
what’s working and what we need to do to make improvements. How can we make a positive difference if
we don’t have reliable data?
In debate here at Queen’s Park, we need to argue and bicker less, and work co-operatively and
collaboratively more. How can we lead effectively if we appear to put partisan self-interest ahead of the
public interest?
Ministries need to answer TTY, or text telephone systems, not just publish the contact info. What good is
TTY if nobody bothers to answer?
I urge the government to reach out to Mr. Kenopic and review these concerns. Better yet, the relevant
ministers should launch a broad consultation on these and other related issues that Ontario’s deaf residents
might identify.
Let us listen to the deaf, and let us work together across party lines to support improved services for them,
ensuring that they have the same opportunity to reach their full potential as the rest of us do as, together,
we reach out to embrace the promise of the future.