Author Archives: Jemdeafhistory

I was born deaf and grew up in Hamilton, Waikato. I am an independent person that nothing will stop me from doing anything. My roles are a Deaf historian/researcher, community support worker, advocator for people with disabilities including Deaf and gardener. My home is in Eureka, outside of Hamilton City and have a hearing partner with three large dogs. What a blissful life here!

Thursday, October 18, known as Taite 18 o Oketopa

Thursday, October 18, known as Taite 18 o Oketopa in Māori, we come together to celebrate the strength that comes from unity —a bond that connects us all.

“Ēhara tāku toa i te toa takatahi, engari he toa takitini.” 

Translation: My strength is not from one person, but from many. Meaning: We are stronger when we work together; strength comes from unity. 

Stephanie Awheto

Ngaati Ruanui Taranaki

Iwi – Ngaa Ruahine

Haapu – Tamaahuroa titahi

Ko ngā hui pēnei i ēnei ngā wā kia tangi ki ngā mate. Gatherings like these are the times for remembering the dead. Stephanie – te kaiwhakamaori reo toru tuatahi mo te Tāngata turi i Aotearoa. (In English, Stephanie was the pioneering first trilingual interpreter for the Tāngata turi in New Zealand, a role of immense significance and impact.)

I was reflecting on the past when I first met her in Hamilton in the late 1980s and 1990s. A brief History of the Deaf Community in Hamilton: Back in the 1980s and 1990s, there was no Deaf service or organisation for the Deaf community and no interpreter for the D/deaf people/Tāngata (Māori Deaf people) when I was a BNZ Data Entry Officer. At Melville Intermediate School, the late Patrick W. Thompson was my classmate in the Deaf Units in the late 1970s. My sister studied in a Māori course and other classes at the Waikato Teacher College. Then, my mother learnt to study in a Māori course at Waikato University.

Patrick’s curiosity about his Māori background and Te Reo Māori at school led him to seek Stephanie’s help. Her unwavering dedication to helping him reconnect with his roots is a shining example of her commitment to the Deaf and Māori communities. This connection blossomed into a warm relationship, with Stephanie welcoming Patrick into her whānau over many years until his passing in 2014.

Stephanie completed her Interpreter course at AUT in 1996, and she and her young whānau moved to Hamilton in the early 1990s. The Deaf Association of NZ: Hamilton Branch (later changed to Deaf Aotearoa) opened in Hamilton in 1991.

No official languages existed for the D/deaf people and Tāngata Turi (Māori Deaf people) in Aotearoa until 2006. In 1987, Te reo Māori was made an official language, followed by NZSL (New Zealand Sign Language in 2006. The main problem was where the Te reo language is, as in sign language for the Tāngata Turi (Māori Deaf people). As you see, there was never an original sign language by the Tāngata Turi (Māori Deaf people) for over a hundred years. Proto-Polynesian, a language spoken about 2,000 years ago, is the ancestor of all Polynesian languages. Māori people arrived in Aotearoa a thousand years ago, and their language was Te Reo. Then, the English settlers/immigrants came to Aotearoa with their English-speaking language, but there were several minor languages spoken, such as Dutch, Norwegian, Danish, and even Polish. In 1867, the Government and Education banned all Māori children from speaking te reo in schools.

How does sign language come here? Who was/were the people who used sign language here? It is the D/deaf people themselves who brought sign language back as ‘loan sign language’ to Aotearoa/New Zealand from the boarding schools in Australia, the United Kingdom and the USA. They created sign language like Pidgin-Creole sign language when encountering other D/deaf people in different districts, businesses/trade around Aotearoa. NZSL is more or less closely related to AUSLAN (Australian Sign Language) than BSL (British Sign Language). We need to have actual records of Pidgin-Creole sign language here while linguists continue researching and understanding the past. Sign language was banned through schooling at Van Asch, Titirangi School for the Deaf, Kelston School for the Deaf and in different regions of the North Island Deaf Unit Schools in the past due to the Second International Congress on Education of the Deaf, an international conference of deaf educators held in Milan, Italy, in 1880. Today, it is known as the Milan Conference or Milan Congress to many D/deaf people worldwide.

Stephanie interpreted my paper course at Waikato Polytechnic, where I earned a certificate in Human Service: People with Disabilities.

Fast-forward: Stephanie was talking to Patrick by learning sign language. She was confused by one or more sign languages translated in English to Te reo—hang (in Sign Language as a hand grasped in front of the neck) vs. hangi (cooking foods on top of the heated rocks in the buried pit) in Te Reo without sign language. Patrick described what he was trying to explain from his sign language to Te Reo. Many of the D/deaf people who sign for ‘hang(i) were exploited or offended by any Tāngata Māori around Aotearoa.  

He waka eke noa

A canoe which we are all in, with no exception

Stephanie’s decision to become a trilingual interpreter for the Tāngata turi Māori was a significant step towards bridging cultures. Since Te Reo became an official language in 1987, there has been no trilingual interpreter for Tāngata turi Māori. The gap was particularly felt during critical cultural events such as the marae ātea, hui, and the significant landmark of the Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Stephanie’s role as a bridge between cultures not only facilitated communication but also fostered a deeper understanding and respect for the Māori Deaf community.

Ko taku reo taku ohooho, ko taku reo taku mapihi mauria

My language is my awakening, my language is the window to my soul.

Stephanie travelled around Aotearoa as a trilingual interpreter in hui, the marae ātea, Māori Deaf development activities at the marae ātea, and at the university where I took my BA in Arts and Stephanie mentored trilingual Māori interpreters/Te Reo Rotarota Māori interpreters. Stephanie was there to interpreted when I received my BA degree at the University of Waikato – the

Te Kohinga Mārama Marae

Te Kohinga Mārama Marae.

Whaiwhia te kete mātauranga

Fill the basket of knowledge.

Patrick told Stephanie that many Tāngata turi Māori lost their Māori identities, culture, Iwi and Hapu backgrounds, Te Reo, and, of course, Te Tiriti o Waitangi (known in English as the Treaty of Waitangi). This loss was a result of historical factors such as the suppression of Te Reo in schools and the influence of the Milan Conference. Patrick and Stephanie travelled around Aotearoa to meet many Tāngata turi Māori before setting up the first Tāngata turi Māori Hui in Orakei in 1993. I was overseas when Patrick and the organisers created the first National Māori Hui, introduced in 1993. Stephanie, her supported whānau and her colleagues supported those (Tāngata turi Māori) wanting to reconnect with their Māoritanga and reclaim matauranga Māori. It was critical and a challenge for everyone to work together as a team.

https://www.nfdhh.org.nz/post/te-reo-maori-and-new-zealand-sign-language

Rūaumoko Marae

The opening of the first Rūaumoko Marae on December 4 at Ko Taku Reo Deaf Education NZ (formerly Kelston Education for the Deaf), Auckland, thirty-two years ago, was a significant milestone. It brought many benefits to all Tāngata turi Māori students and communities, marking a proud moment in our history.

He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata! He tangata! He tangata!

What is the most important thing in the world? It is people! It is people! It is people!

This whakatauki talks about the importance of human connection and relationships. These are what create community and enable people to flourish. It values the human being in all of us and reminds us of what is most important—not money, not success, not a job or a thing—it is people.

Kua hinga te totara i te wao nui a Tane

The totara has fallen in the forest of Tane.

Ahakoa nga uaua, kia toa, kia kaha

Kia manawanui.

When you find things in life are difficult, be strong, stand tall and be of a great heart.

“Nā koutou i tangi nā tātou katoa.”. When you cry, your tears are shed by us all.

E aroha ana ki a koe me te whanua i te ngaronga o Stephanie.

Permission granted from Marshall to post this article along with his comments.

I know she had a strong working relationship with all involved at NZDAssociation and multiple times with the Māori Deaf as a Whole. Your wisdom is welcome tku Tautoko te reo Māori is what she would be signing atm. Tku. Yes, what a nice recall on her pathway to Trilingual Sign Language Interpretations

Yes, she did do all that to get it done.

I’m grateful you’ve taking me back beyond the earliest times, tku

Ae sad but we must continue to continue on. I know we have have a big whole left behind since Steph’s send off.

Weaving Patterns were given to me as gifts for my teaching for eighteen years to the public community. Gifts from the ACE.

He mihi nui ki a koe e Stephanie mo te tohutohu me te whakaako i a au mo te ao Maori, tikanga, me Te Reo i a au e ako tonu ana, e tuhi ana, e whakaako ana i nga wa e hiahia ana ahau ki te tangata Maori mai i taku waahi mahi me te Poari Kaitiaki ki a au.

In English – Thank you, Stephanie, for mentoring and teaching me about the Māori world, culture, and Te Reo as I continue to learn, write, and teach when I need a Māori person from my workplace and the Trust board with me.

Wenerei 17 o Oketopa (Wednesday 17th October)

Mā te kimi ka kite, Mā te kite ka mōhio, Mā te mōhio ka mārama

Seek and discover. Discover and know. Know and become enlightened.

Māori myths (pūrākau) 

In Aotearoa, Te Iwi Māori (people) speak of their traditional stories explaining the origins of the world and cultural practices. Often they speak of their ancestors in their marae.

https://eng.mataurangamaori.tki.org.nz/Support-materials/Te-Reo-Maori/Maori-Myths-Legends-and-Contemporary-Stories/Kupe-s-travels-around-Aotearoa

Our past Education has been enriched by the profound teachings of Māori myths (pūrākau). These stories, such as Maui and the Sun, Ranginui, the Sky Father, and Papatūānuku, the Earth Mother, are not just tales, but the very fabric of our cultural identity. They are the primal parents of the world, the Fish of Maui -Te ika a Māui: The creation of the North Island, Hinemoa and Tūtānekai, Paikea the Whale Rider, and many other Myths.

What about the stories of the te hunga hauā Māori (disabled Māori people)? Yes, there were several stories, for example, the blind god Tāwhirimātea; however, they were not widely taught in Primary Education until higher Education and universities. Who is Tāwhirimātea? In Māori legend, Tāwhirimātea is the god of weather, controlling winds, storms, thunder, and lightning.

“The way Māori view being disabled is tapu (sacred), and Matariki is a good example. Matariki is named after Tāwhirimātea, a blind god.”  

https://www.acc.co.nz/newsroom/stories/finding-the-meaning-of-matariki

Let’s go back to the Te hunga turi Māori (Māori Deaf people). I sourced any video in NZSL Māori concepts of the Myths for everyone to learn in Education, at the libraries, online resources and in the communities. The resources I have found are waiata (songs) and fun, entertaining waiata that incorporate Te Reo Māori sign language concepts.

https://www.nzsl.govt.nz/nzsl-community-grants/previous-nzsl-community-grant-rounds/2023-recipients/a-maori-legend-story-told-in-vr360

Regrettably, my search for YouTube videos about NZSL Te Reo sign language concepts in the myths has been in vain. This morning, I spoke to one of the iwi turi, and it became clear that there is currently no plan to create Māori myths in Te Reo sign language concepts. This underscores the urgent need to bring these stories to the communities, Education, and whanau (families) communities, and the only platform available for this is a Facebook Page.

Taangata/Iwi Turi needs to understand the myths of their generation as treasures, as depicted in murals on the marae walls and carvings, and traditions to pass on to the next generation over many years. Today, we have amazing technology, especially AI, that offers a beacon of hope. It allows tamariki turi Māori (Māori Deaf children) to utilise their skills and ensures that our myths are not only preserved but also made accessible to all.

Turei 16 o Oketopa (Tuesday 16th)

“manaaki whenua, manaaki tāngata, haere whakamua”. Which translates to “if we take care of the land and take care of the people, we will take care of the future.”

Many of you may know or be unaware that there are many ancient languages, like Manx Gaelic, that are nearly dying around the world. The last native speaker, 97-year-old fisherman Ned Maddrell of the Isle of Man, passed away in 1974. This language is a poignant example of the global issue of language endangerment.

What about Manchu – is the Chinese language native to Northeast China? From 1636 to 1911, the Chinese Qing Dynasty announced Manchu as an official language. Manchu is becoming endangered because its native speakers have been replacing it with Mandarin, primarily due to social and economic pressures. This is a common trend in many language endangerment cases.

Examples of Dying Languages

  • Ainu (Japan): Critically endangered, spoken by a few elderly individuals, and subject to long-standing assimilation policies. 
  • Nǀuu (South Africa): A critically endangered language with only about eight speakers remaining, although revitalisation efforts are underway. These efforts, which include language classes and cultural events, are a testament to the resilience of the Nǀuu community and the importance of preserving their language. Lengilu (Indonesia): Spoken by only four people in the northeastern region of Kalimantan. 
  • Tehuelche (Argentina): The language of nomadic hunters, now spoken by the last four speakers in Patagonia. 
  • Ainu (Japan): Critically endangered, with only a few fluent speakers remaining. 
  • Ter Sami (Russia): Spoken by only two older adults in the Kola Peninsula, a language that was once prohibited in schools. 
  • Kayardild (Australia): Flown by only four elderly Aboriginal people on Bentinck and Mornington Islands. 
  • Yarawi (Papua New Guinea): A language from the Morobe Province used by only one person, with most natives preferring the Binandere language. 

According to Ethnologue, 3,193 languages are endangered today. However, with concerted community efforts, we can work towards preserving these invaluable linguistic treasures.

“He iti te mokoroa, nāna i kati te kahikatea” (The caterpillar small, though it felled the kahikatea tree), which encourages persistence and significant achievements from small beginnings.

Today, we are learning to speak Te Reo through daily life, while many Tāngata Turi Māori are slowly learning to read and understand Te Reo before applying it to Te Reo Sign language concepts.

Here are two different Te Reo sign language concepts from two other organisations. Take a good look at the sign language differences between these two Karakia (Prayers) – Timatanga. Timatanga means ‘new beginning,’ a phrase that embodies life, introduction, commencement, and start.

In Ko Taku Reo Education for the Deaf Timatanga –

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Te Reo sign language concept.

First line – sign for peace and widespread

Second line – sign for sea, glisten and a different sign for glisten (as greenstone in the bottom hand as a stone, while the top hand is glisten)

Third line – sign for the day and the pathway

Fourth line – sign for respect for each other

fifth line – sign for all together

Second Timatanga from Deaf Aotearoa

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first line – sign for peace, wide and spread

second line – sign for whakapapa, precious/treasure/sacred/value/worth and sea

third line – sign for pathway, all and day

fourth line – sign for show, love (Aroha) and respect

Fifth line – sign for all, each other, and show instead of one hand toward outward, then the second hand toward outward, and finally both hands outward, as in pural.

“tātou” means “we” or “us” and katoa means all, we, completely

“With your contribution and mine, the people will thrive. “

Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.

A proverb of shared abundance. It reminds us that a community thrives when each of us brings what we can.

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week)

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week) is a profound celebration that unveils the beauty and depth of the Māori language, inviting us to explore its richness and diversity.

As we approach the 50th anniversary of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, a week that holds immense historical significance, 

Tēnā koutou/Tēnā koe e hoa

There are 15 distinct sounds within the Māori alphabet. They are:

  • five vowels: a, e, i, o, u
  • eight consonants: h, k, m, n, p, r, t, w
  • two digraphs (two letters that combine to form one sound): wh, ng.

Double long vowels (Macrons (tohutō or pōtae) and double vowels show where a vowel is lengthened, for example, in words like ‘rōpū’ and ‘roopuu’ (group).

Combinations of vowels (diphthongs) are common; examples of diphthongs are au, ao, ea, ia, ou, oa.

a, (short vowel) papa (earth)

ā, (long vowel) pāpā (father)

e, (short vowel) kete (kit)

ē, (long vowel) pēke (bag )

i, (short vowel) mihi (greeting)

ī, (long vowel) tītī (mutton bird)

o, (short vowel) oma (run)

ō, (long vowel) tō (your)

u, (short vowel) huruhuru (hair)

ū, (long vowel) tūrū (chair)

https://www.maorilanguage.net/how-to-pronounce-maori/

“Mā mua ka kite a muri, mā muri ka ora a mua,” which translates to “Those who lead give sight to those who follow; those who follow give life to those who lead”. 

Iti noa ana he pito mata.

From the withered tree, a flower blooms.

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Understanding and learning Te Reo sign language for the Tangata turi Māori is not just a crucial step towards cultural understanding and inclusivity, but also a mark of respect and consideration.

The official language, Te Reo, was introduced into Parliament after a long campaign, protests, and protest marches. This protest marked a significant milestone in the language’s history, demanding the right to be taught in all schools and government agencies. Te Petihana – The Petition was handed in 1972 by two of these groups, which were student organisations: Auckland-based Ngā Tamatoa (The Young Warriors) and Victoria University’s Te Reo Māori Society. https://www.parliament.nz/mi/visit-and-learn/history-and-buildings/te-rima-tekau-tau-o-te-petihana-reo-maori-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-maori-language-petition/te-petihana-reo-maori-the-maori-language-petition/

Over thousands of years ago, Māori people originated from East Polynesia and began arriving in Aotearoa in several waves of waka voyages between approximately 1250 and 1300 CE. European people arrived later as explorers, traders, sealers, and church missionaries to Aotearoa. Over two hundred years ago, there was a brink of speaking Te Reo throughout Aotearoa, with ups and downs. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education banned the use of Te Reo in schools across Aotearoa, leaving children speaking Te Reo at home and in their communities. Note that there was no officially recognised language in English since the Parliament opened here; everyone speaks English, along with other languages such as Dutch, Irish, and many other languages.

Te Reo Māori started to decline at a time when many Māori linguists, Māori MPs, and Kaumātua (Māori elders) noticed grave concerns and began to campaign for its revival in the 1980s.  Māori was made an official language of New Zealand under the Māori Language Act 1987. For more information on this history, please visit the following link.

History of the Māori language | NZ History

Let’s explore our official NZSL (New Zealand Sign Language), and note that there was no Te Reo sign language by the Taangata turi Māori from the 1980s. I was in London, UK during the OE in 2004, 2005 and 2006, and was requested by one of the MPs who is related to our family to visit the House of the Lord by seeking the document in Education and officially in the language there. The reason was that the official language, such as NZSL, was in English, omitting Te Reo sign language at the time for the Deaf community. NZSL became official on April 11, 2006, under the NZ Sign Language Act, and I recall that day because it coincided with my late cousin’s birthday during the third reading of the bill in Parliament.

Today, many Taangata turi Māori are learning to understand and use Te Reo to fit into Māori Sign Language concepts by using English words, such as elder vs Kaumātua, in a different sign or similar. It is a long journey for them to learn to understand how to sign the correct meaning to fit into Te Reo, meaning, how to break down the clusters of meaning from Te Reo. For example, my childhood memory is of Ruakura, outside Kirikiriroa (“long stretch of gravel”) in Hamilton, and the Ruakura Agriculture Research Centre. Waikato Agricultural College and Model Farm was established in 1888 in Ruakura, where our family had been farming for many years. The sign language for Ruakura is tapping double ‘r’ as a crooked finger on the palm. This sign language is okay, and I prefer to sign ‘pit’ and ‘red’ colour, connecting to the meaning of Ruakura.

‘RUAKURA IS NAMED AFTER A PIT IN THE AREA THAT WAS USED TO BURN IRON OXIDE’. Traditionally, large pieces of iron oxide found in swamps were heated by burning in a fire to produce a powdery red pigment. Māori people mixed water with the sacred red Kokowai (ochre), which was used for painting tapu ceremonial objects, koiwi and carvings. Burning the red oxide stained the pit red, thereby giving rise to the name Rua (hole or pit) kura (red)’. Source: An Assessment of the Potential Impact that any expansion and development of the Ruakura Estate might have on Cultural Values and Mana Whenua by NaMTOK Consultancy Ltd (November 2011) https://ngatihauaiwitrust.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Final-Presentation-to-Hui-a-Iwi-28-October-2018.pdf

Yes, there is another meaning, which is feather plumes or treasures. Taangata turi Māori and the Deaf people in the community need to learn to understand the meaning of Te Reo, the history and how to sign correctly. It is not about the right or wrong way to sign for anyone in the community.

On Facebook, there is one page that I enjoy watching the most, from a person who helps anyone pronounce words correctly. Paaka Davis – Māori Content Creator, and one of his videos was about how to pronounce Aotearoa. Here is the link

https://www.facebook.com/paakadavis/

http://www.youtube.com/@paakadavis

Life, a delicate balance between daily struggles and uplifting moments, is a shared journey we all embark on.

As Thich Nhat Hanh beautifully puts it, ‘Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy and serenity.’ This potential for tranquillity and happiness lies within our daily actions.

In our daily lives, we’re all on a journey, whether we’re on the move or staying put. We sleep through the night or barely do, and we must pause to consider what life is truly about. It’s crucial to remember that no one can make a judgment against us if we work together as a team and as a leadership. Our collective actions can make a significant difference in addressing social issues.

It’s easy for most people, including those who are D/deaf or disabled, to be quick to judge. However, it’s best to stop and think before prejudging others. Consider the Leaders in countries where numerous wars are ongoing, causing people to suffer. When food aid and medical supplies are delayed, are these leaders demonstrating effective leadership and a talent for peacemaking? Perhaps not. It’s essential to approach these situations with empathy and understanding, rather than quick judgment.

Finances and businesses are struggling with inflation, which has led to cutbacks in financial resources for sending or receiving goods and services. Staff are demanding higher incomes to cover their mortgages, bills, education, and health costs, all of which have increased due to inflation and other financial issues. Thousands of homeless people are struggling to find a home to live in. In contrast, other people turn their backs on homeless people in a selfish act, refuse to acknowledge the homeless people if they believe they may be a criminal, drug addict/or alcoholic, and many other health issues.

It’s crucial to stop and start looking out there in the fields, in the street, in the farmlands, on the beaches. What is out there showing you? The signs are there, telling us to understand and realise that we may have overlooked something, done something wrong, or have other issues. Mother Nature has brought us disaster through global warming and environmental changes. We need to learn from this and adapt the environment to make it better and safer for us. It’s a reminder that no one is perfect, but we can always learn and grow from our mistakes.

I am a deaf philosopher like Auguste Rodin, and the love of exploring life out there by teaching me to understand how they (the people, disabled people, D/deaf people) behave differently, technology makes our lives worse or better, daily in the home and in the communities. I can help with problem-solving by teaching them how to live a meaningful life, showing them different ways to approach things, and being respectful and attentive through conversation.

Exploring Nature’s Colours: Yellow, Blue and Green Harmony

Oh, what a vibrant sight of yellow, a burst of life harmoniously set against the serene green background.

Curly spiral shapes, reminiscent of snails or daddy long legs, curl against a green, spikey background. Oh, oh, what a spiky, sharp tip! It could leave a prick for dogs or humans walking by, a curious detail in this natural scene.

Blue are violet, how sweet the sight, not the sound to my ears! Along the stalk, winding down, spiralling, touching the grass. Another lone violet flower, its delicate head bent down as if it were praying for a miracle, perhaps for a gentle rain to quench its thirst.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

Lao Tzu

Today, amidst the rare frosty morning, I took a leisurely walk around the expansive property. My focus was on the entrapment stream, where I planned to plant precut flaxes from other areas, as well as large shrubs and trees, to combat erosion and mitigate the effects of wet weather. To my absolute delight, I discovered numerous new tree shoots sprouting from the main trees. It’s a joy to witness the cycle of life in action.

Great men are like eagles and build their nest on some lofty solitude.

Arthur Schopenhauer

Photo here – Cherry Tree.

The bird’s nest, a symbol of health, longevity, and prosperity, holds a special place in traditional Chinese culture. Gifting a bird’s nest is a gesture of well wishes for vitality and good fortune, a tradition that has endured for generations.  It’s a gift that not only shows care but also symbolises prosperity.

Allow me to introduce you to the ‘Nandina domestica’ Richmond’, a plant that has captivated me with its vibrant beauty and rich cultural significance. Here’s a photo to share its allure with you.

Inspecting the ground where autumn-winter leaves are on the ground under cherry trees, and other large trees – Liquidambar styraciflua, displaying Sweet Gum Balls: the sharp, spiky seedpods of liquidambar (sweet gum) trees and hanging onto the branches.

As I take in the surroundings, I can’t help but feel the anticipation of spring. It’s as if it’s just around the corner, ready to bring new life and beauty to this familiar landscape.

Winter beckons as June is here.

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”

– Edith Sitwell

Sitting in the shared rooms – lounge and dining rooms and working from home today as the thunderstorm finally beckons this afternoon. Three dogs are asleep in the bedroom, where they can see the world outside through the window, hearing the strange sounds, rabbits passing by, and birds flying by, and be on guard for Jean, who is deaf with disabilities. Jean worked through the right side of her neck down to the right side of the shoulder blades as she has had Cervical Spine Degenerative Radiotherapy for many years. Jean faced the impossible challenge of getting back to a regular routine around home and working from Autumn to Spring.

June marks the beginning of the Winter season, and Spring is not far away, despite global climate change being at its worst and with no action taken to preserve the global climate.

The Cherry trees in the Cherry Trees field, turning orange, golden brown, and red, are an incredible sight of the Autumn to Winter seasons. The vibrant colours of the leaves, the crispness in the air, and the anticipation of Winter make this a truly magical time. Early flowers, such as Erlicheer and Daphne, show signs of Autumn-Winter flowering in the extensive gardens and fields.

Jean prepared the fire for fire heating through the cold night and decided to cook a warm meal, such as an Irish casserole.

“What could the weather bring tomorrow or the day after?” Jean ponders, a sense of intrigue filling the air.

June 4th 2025

My Journey with Glaucoma and Cataract: A Reflection

As I approached the end of May 2025, I found myself confronting the reality of living with two conditions as a deaf person with disabilities. The journey from September 2024 has been a rollercoaster, filled with challenges, uncertainties, and fears. Yet, I made a courageous choice to undergo surgery, believing it to be the most promising path. Now, I stand on the brink of relieving the eye pressure in my right eye through laser treatment on the 23rd of May 2025.

I hold in high regard all individuals with low vision and seniors who grapple with sight impairments and the onset of cataracts or glaucoma in their later years. I share my story as a deaf person with a disability, now in my 60s. The strides in health technology, particularly those without additional disabilities like deafness, neurological issues, or physical mobility challenges, have been a game-changer for seniors with eye conditions, showcasing the potential for further advancements in this field.

The ability to struggle through everyday life is the ability to lip-read someone in the same room, watch television with captioning, use signers and interpreters, look at road signs when travelling on the roads, make PowerPoint presentations, read materials/resources, work on a computer device, and use the display, including the font size and background screen—white to black as dark mode. Around home, gardening isn’t easy due to the appearance of plants and leaves, highlighting the daily challenges faced by those with vision impairments.

Image if your eyesight like this except during the foggy morning!

My circle is not immune to the challenges of vision impairments. I have a cousin who is partially blind, a great-grandmother who developed a hearing loss, then lost her eyesight, became blind over 80 years old, and a grandaunt who developed hearing loss after her cataract surgery many years ago. One of the Deaf seniors I assisted in the past had a cataract, and it was difficult for him to tell me if he could see better because he lost his glasses several times. These shared experiences have fostered my deep sense of connection and empathy.

The two implant lenses in my eyes have been a game-changer. They have significantly improved my vision, allowing me to navigate my surroundings better, lip-read more effectively, and even notice areas around many rooms that need more cleaning jobs and the ability to watch staff/directors/board team and the interpreters during Zoom meetings. I continue to work under the Social Services and one of the Disability Organisations until I decide to retire, when I feel ready to step down and let another person take over. I continue to advocate for people with disabilities, D/deaf with disabilities, D/deaf people and seniors in the community anywhere. My writing days are not over.

It was a significant day, the day of my double eye surgeries.

My eye surgeries arrived on Wednesday, 2nd April 2025, after a short waiting time from November 2024. My partner took a three-day leave from Wednesday while I took a two-week leave. Yes, it had been a long, anxious wait for the outcome, to follow the Hospital Procedures before the surgeries, and to recover within the time frame. I did not have an interpreter that day. My partner – Rusty, kept reminding nurses and an anesthesia person with a small communication skill with finger spelling and gesture signs – a bonus for me because of my deafness and difficulty lip reading. We arrived before 615am because we lived in a rural home outside the city. Then, everyone, including us, entered the waiting room before the surgery at 645am. It was a long waiting time and dull as well. Many people like nurses, anesthesia, GPs, Specialists and other types of hospital staff can not see my disabilities because my disabilities are invisible to them. The same issues in our home in the rural area, like neighbours failing to understand or to acknowledge my disabilities and my needs different to any of their family members like grandmother or seniors. Awareness of invisible disability everyone has a long way to go, and we learn to understand our world by removing ableism in rural areas.

One nurse came to put markers above my eyebrows as he realised I was having two eyes in surgery—not one eye only, where the other patients were having one eye surgery. These Markers were to ensure the correct eye was operated on.

An anesthesia person, Niam, came to speak to us, and I found trouble lip-reading him. I told him to move toward me so I could lip-read, and out of the blue, he signed his name in fingerspelling and chatted over any issues I may have. He explained many good examples, warnings, tubes inserted through windpipe – urgh, drug side effects and many other problems. Niam put a long needle into the vein while Rusty was curious to see how it worked. The time was 1030am, and I waited for another half hour before going to the theatre.

When I entered the surgery room, nurses, a specialist, and an anesthesia team checked over me. There were a few issues the nurses wanted me to move up to the headrest – oh boy, a couple or three times shuffling upward. Then, one of the nurses placed an anesthesia mask over my mouth, and I was knocked out to sleep through the surgeries.

The nurse tapped my shoulder in the recovery room to wake me up. I began to wake up slowly and took a while to visualise the room and team. The nurse told me they had called Rusty to come in. Through blurred time, I noticed it was after 130 p.m., far out, which was why it was so long. The nurses asked several questions (one nurse is a third year’s training) if I would like something to eat – cheese and onion sandwiches and a cup of water. Rusty spoke to me and patiently asked if I was okay then. Just before an hour was up after the recovery time, the nurse asked me if I would like an ice block with lemonade flavour. I took the offer and ate the ice block until I was finally ready to go home. I changed from the hospital gown to my day clothes. We were waiting for the assistance person to take me in a wheelchair via the Hospital Pharmacy – four bottles of eye drops and one large tablet, Car Park Pay Machine, and then up to the car park building where Rusty parked his ute. I wore two transparent protective eye shields with tapes. These shields protected my eyes from potential harm during the initial recovery period. See Photo.

I was surprised how the surgeries went, and the implant lens in each eye helped me a lot better than before. I started to visualise the environment while going home. Yes, my eyes were tired after a long day, from morning through evening, each day and night. Gross bruised down the windpipe due to the tube inserted, and I took it easy while eating a dinner meal. I took a tablet plus other tablets before going to bed. Bearing in our thoughts, we have three dogs who were relieved to have us home, and they (dogs) knew something in me. The first night went without a hitch until Day Two in the morning. I remember feeling a mix of relief and apprehension during the first night; I was relieved that the surgeries were over but apprehensive about the recovery process.

Day Two: I did not remove the transparent protective shield until we went to the hospital first. Finally, I was allowed to wear shields without transparent protection during the day. I left several messages for my managers at two workplaces, close colleagues who trust and know my deaf and other disabilities, and one good and trusted neighbour who is a cousin to my mother’s side of the family. We went back to see the Soecalist at the Waikato Hospital for the follow-up. We spent another three hours from 10 am to around 1 pm. We found out more about the long hours through surgery, and it was about giving me another drug to continue the other eye surgery. The team had to wait about an hour. Usually, for anyone to have an extraction cataract surgery, it takes approximately 30 minutes and one hour of recovery time. The most important item you are required to wear is sunglasses, and I use sunglasses when going outside because the sunlight will be sensitive to implant lenses in the eyes.  

Rusty got a mobile call from his boss, who gave him a week off after three days off to the weekend. That was very nice of his boss. I was still tired and took an easy around the house while the dogs sat beside me. In the afternoon, an unexpected delivery came at the gate and rang Rusty while he was napping. It was the florist delivery from my work – Social Service Trust. The mobile call/text to us from the gate is easier for anyone unfamiliar with or not bothered by our dogs without permission. Our dogs act like assisted dogs to raise the alarm, knowing someone is at the gate, someone is trying to do a home invasion/house break-in, and other methods are available to us. I hear nothing through nights in the large property – zero sounds/noises without dogs, and our dogs are alarmed many times by hearing someone trying to break in, come in without permission, here and in the neighbours. Recently, our dogs raised the alarm and came to me when I worked from home, and there was a serious three-car accident at the intersection that killed a young mother and a child. A young man (An apprentice carpenter) was responsible for the accidents.

Did you know there are five different assistance dogs and the cost of getting one in New Zealand? Let me tell you what type of assistance dogs are available here.

Guide Dogs – $173K for Low Vision, Blind and Blind with Disabilities people

Assistance Dogs – $75k for Neurological children, Teenagers, Youths and adults

Mobility Dogs – $50K for people with disabilities (difficulty mobile functioning around the house and in the garden, supermarket and other activities), D/deaf with Disabilities, seniors with poor mobility functions

Hearing Dogs – $30K for D/deaf people and Hard of Hearing people (most D/deaf with disabilities people depending on their disability)

Therapy Dogs – $5K outside Auckland for anxiety children, Youths, isolated seniors in the rest homes/their own homes, sensory recovery for people with invisible disabilities like Epilepsy and chronic asthma people/youths.

After eating a light meal in the late afternoon, I continued using eye drops four times daily. All went well, and I went to bed with the protection of transparent shields for the next four nights and slept on double pillows for both eye pressures throughout the night.

Day Three to Day Five

My usual routines: I take off a pair of transparent protective shields in the morning, ensure dogs are not jumping towards my face in bed, do not shower, wash my hair, walk around the house and a bit out in the garden with sunglasses. I watched TV, where there is captioning in the television programme, and it was better than before, except for reading minimal sentences (everyone has the same problem with this one). I am getting there to read fonts in the newspapers and emails on the computer, iPad and mobile. It has something to do with screen and display. I continue to use it four times a day eye drop for another three weeks. My right elbow, where the needle pucked into the vein, showed signs of an angry bruise scar.

Day Five to Day Eight

Finally, starting tonight, I will not be wearing a pair of transparent protective shields. Yes, it is a bother to tape the shields onto your face or mine each night, and I recommend you tie your long hair back, even the long fringe hair. I started doing this on day one, and I found it helpful. I continue to use normal routines while both my eyes are starting to improvise visually here and there, over there, and further away as much as I can without overusing my eyes.

On Day Eight, it was my birthday, and I was glad because I did not like having any surgery on my birthday. Another year added to my age of over 60 years.

In the morning, I planned the safety procedure for washing my hair after showering, which was the best thing to do. We have a handheld shower head that we can remove/lift out of the slider. Rusty helped me wash my hair, and I used a dry face cloth placed over both eyes and bent over the bath without a hitch. We went on a half-day trip to Raglan, where my mother, brother, and sister from Hamilton visited us for lunch on our birthday. Seeing the scenery of Raglan, beaches and shops was better than before, and Pirongia-o-Te Aroaro-ō-Kahu (Mount Pirongia) was brilliant.

I consider the Low Vision People and the Blind People I know and respect, for I understand it is tough for those with low vision or blindness to know what out there is like except to describe the background. There are several people I know whose disabilities are Deafblind; not everyone realised this except to learn about Helen Keller or Laura Bridgman. There is a Deafblind lady in Matamata, and she was involved with the Waikato Deaf Society Inc. before 1999; she went to the same Deaf Schools where I have several Deaf seniors through home visits, and lastly, she remembers or partially remembers seeing Helen Keller when Helen and Polly Thomson in 1948 at Sumner School for the Deaf (note the name of this school changed to van Asch then Ko Tahu Reo – Deaf Education New Zealand) in Christchurch.