Two nights ago, before I went to bed after chatting, one of the Deaf chap through Video Messenger. I was thinking of doing regularly personal blog perhaps not every day throughout the four weeks lockdown due to Corvid 19 – Coronavirus Pandemic in New Zealand. Why?
I am a deaf specialised worker for two organisations to many people with disabilities/Deaf and Hard of Hearing around Waikato. I have other roles as well, which are advisory person/advocator and literacy tutor. The New Zealand Government – Prime Minister, announced that all workers under essential services such as social service, supermarkets, doctors/nurses, etc. work through the lockdown. My role fits in the categories- social services and disability organisation.
Why not? I will start doing it and reflect on my daily/weekly works when there is text message for their request on food shopping, or need of bills even health issues. The technology we are in today, have everyone’s lives easier to communicate with other people through Skype, Messengers, or social media. Without these kinds of social media, many Deaf and Hard of Hearing people will be lost in communication with their families or friends even their own support workers.
Today a trip down to the city of Hamilton, along the State Highway 26 had been very weird because there were no cars or vans except for delivery trucks such as milk tankers and couriers. I arrived in the city and it looked empty like a ghost city except a few people walking along the footpath or riding on their cycles.
I visited an elderly Deaf chap to see if he understands what happened with the situation of lockdown and his requests for bits of help. He barely understands a few details from the television via NZSL (New Zealand Sign Language) interpreter. He is over 84 years old and his sign language is different from our current NZSL. I explained every detail which easier for him to understand. One thing he annoying was the buses which he is not allowed to catch the bus to the supermarket or to do banking.
I headed over to the other side of the Waikato River for two more requests. I was waiting in car parks and noticed a few people wearing masks which is not necessary, BUT it is okay for their safety. The medical Centre where I was waiting, was well equipped for outside patients and visitors of their patients.
Hardly see a few police cars out toward our home in the rural.
Head up – just received another job to do tomorrow… This time it is a food shopping request from one elderly Deaf with speech-impaired and CP.
Life in Eureka 