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Post by aussierick on Nov 26, 2012 22:53:26 GMT 7
I am applying for DSP due to deafness, I am almost deaf and have no skills in lipreading etc, have had no support in how to handle my hearing problems in the last 3 years. In the last 16 months I have only worked 6 months and have been on newstart since then.
I am having a JCA on wednesay, I would like to know what questions etc do I expect? can anyone offer any advice?
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Post by baranghope on Nov 27, 2012 3:52:17 GMT 7
If you dig around either online or on this Forum you may find Impairment Tables. Even if you don't basically your "severe" ailment or disability is categorized under one of 5 categories. JCA questions usually focus on trick questions, like "how long can you walk around your local shopping centre before you have to sit down and rest?" Answer: cannot walk period. Or forget it. Same with sitting: "how long can you sit [at the Man's call centre desk doing midnight data entry for peanuts] before you have to stand or move?" They are only looking to figure out how many hours a week you can sit or walk in a capitalist environment outside your home . . . that is their equation for your assessment of working hours. They are so backward and ignorant they do not factor in say home I.T. work.
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Post by aussierick on Nov 27, 2012 6:43:07 GMT 7
Then how can I get the assessor to focus on the the problem and the reason I am applying for DSP.
Just to give you more insight in my problem. I am deaf in my right ear since birth. Due to a cold during the last months of 2008 and early months of 2009 I had a severe cold that I couldn't get rid of for months. Consequently I had a virus that destroyed my inner ear in my left ear.
Now needless to say my hearing on my left side was never 100% but was always around 80% until that cold. Since then my hearing has gotten worse and is now below 20% and my speech discrimination is less them 35%.
I can't hear conversations that well period. Either in an office or in noisy situations, I an't use the phone, Can't even here the TV or radio. I have had no access to an ENT in the last 3 years as they don't bulk bill and the one who does I don't like as he didn't go into investigating who, what, where and how.
I have tried to find an organisation that teaches lipreading and counselling services to help me handle life's challenges, so far nothing.
I have been on newstart for most of this year. I have tried to find work in all areas no matter what my experience is, and nothing. I did have a job for 2 months and was let go after there was just too many issues with my hearing, not that they would admit to it.
I have even applied for jobs that is low paying and normally would not consider. I would email or contact the agency and of course being honest I would inform them of my impairment and was immediately told the job was no longer available or the job ad was removed with no explanation.
I know I need re-skilling and access to an ENT and possibly access to a government funded Cochlear implant program, that takes time and money that I don't have.
So how can I convey this to the assessor?
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Post by baranghope on Nov 27, 2012 7:05:07 GMT 7
Just print out what you have said here and hand it to your assessor. Perfect. Tell them in addition you don't want the useless run around. Tell them hearing is almost as important as sight, and if you cannot see they leave you alone and grant you the DSP automatically. I think you should give them this statement, and add that you want the DSP, or else. It is pointless you being given the job seekers agency farce.
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Post by Denis-NFA on Nov 27, 2012 7:24:39 GMT 7
aussierick
I applied for DSP in 2010 under the then existing Impairment tables which were quite logical and based on your loss of hearing as graphed via hearing tests.
Nowadays you will be assessed against Table 11 in the new beaut Impairment tables and basically need to meet this criteria to be allocated 20 points and be elligible for DSP (the bolding is by me)....
There is a severe functional impact on activities involving hearing (communication) function or other functions of the ear even when using a hearing aid, cochlear implant or other assistive listening device or technology or sign language interpreting.
(1) The person:
(a) has severe difficulty hearing any conversation even at raised volume in a room with no background noise (that is, is unable to hear someone speaking to them in a loud voice, or is not able to hear someone shouting a warning (e.g. „Look out!‟)); and (b) is unable to hear sounds needed for personal or workplace safety (e.g. a smoke alarm, fire evacuation siren, or car or truck horn); and (c) is reliant on captions to follow a television program or movie; and (d) needs to use a captioned telephone; and (e) is completely reliant in all situations on a recognised sign language (e.g. Auslan), lip reading, other non verbal communication method (e.g. note taking) to converse with others;
or
(2) The person has continual difficulty with balance (e.g. the person has continual dizziness or has to sit down or hold on to a solid object)
or
continual ringing in the ears that interferes with hearing, due to a medically diagnosed disorder of the inner ear (e.g. Meniere's disease or tinnitus).
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Post by aussierick on Nov 27, 2012 7:32:05 GMT 7
ok lets chat online and go through some of the questions they are going to ask and sort out the answers, like the old saying goes practice makes perfect. I would like to know all the questions they are likely to ask given what I said earlier is in the medical report, so I would think the questions would be based off that report.
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Post by aussierick on Nov 27, 2012 7:40:01 GMT 7
nofixedaddress: I pretty much match the description you pointed out. I don't have lipreading or sign skills. I do rely on captioning on TV where it's available.
I have trouble hearing horns etc and unable to understand where those sounds comes from etc.
I have bad balance, and had suffered severe dizzy spells during High school.
I do also have Tinnitus in my left ear which at times can drive me crasy.
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Post by Denis-NFA on Nov 27, 2012 7:49:14 GMT 7
aussierick,
I am located in Cairns in Queensland and am fortunate to have an excellent local office of Deaf Services Queensland.
If you check their internet links page you will find contacts for other sites around Australia.
You may know but I only recently found out from them about the National Relay Service whereby I can make a call via the internet.
There is a link to this service on the above mentioned links page.
All the best....I find it so difficult to deal with C/L because deafness is something they just do not comprehend.
And by the way....when you have an appointment with C/L you are entitled to book and have available the services of a deaf interpreter at your JCA or any meeting.
I haven't done this yet but I now know I can and I will.
I encourage you to do the same.
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Post by aussierick on Nov 27, 2012 7:58:01 GMT 7
I know this is going to be a stupid question but how is a an interpreter going to help me when I don't have the skills anyway, see my point?
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Post by Banjo on Nov 27, 2012 8:04:14 GMT 7
When I went for my assessment for the Unlimited Portability this year my assessor noted my personal hearing problems... about 40% loss in both ears... and pushed back her hair to reveal a pair of very complex looking hearing aids and informed me she was profoundly deaf herself. I think Rick needs to formulate a plan where he uses the hearing loss as a key part of his total disabilities like his balance and speech problems.
I'd like to point out here (once again) that any advice offered on this forum is only from members personal experiences, we're not qualified in the fields of medical assessment or social work, we just get together and try to talk each others problems through.
Rick may like to talk to Welfare Rights, particularly if his claim for the DSP is unsuccessful.
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Post by aussierick on Nov 27, 2012 8:13:39 GMT 7
Banjo: how can I contact welfare rights? Can they be contacted via Skype?
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Post by Banjo on Nov 27, 2012 8:19:03 GMT 7
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Post by Denis-NFA on Nov 27, 2012 8:21:42 GMT 7
aussierick,
When I first attended an ENT in 2005 (a real Collins Street specialist) he told me that I must be a good lip reader and I denied that.
But what he pointed out was that I must unconsciously read lips. And I guess he was correct from the point of view that it does help me to understand someone when I can see the movement of their lips plus whatever sound I pick up they make. A visual clue.
I have tinnitus in both ears and you are correct....it can drive you f**ken crazy.
But one of the most interesting aspects of the new beaut Impairment table is that it is not possible to medically diagnose tinnitus yet if you can prove you have it you are automatically allocated 20 points!
Meniere's disease and its effect on balance is more able to be medically diagnosed.
If you wish me to run through my initial JCA/assessment for DSP interview then let me know.
But given the medical evidence you have I would not be too worried if I was you.
And even if they knock you back immediately appeal and go and get the medical reports that confirm your condition.
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Post by Denis-NFA on Nov 27, 2012 8:24:55 GMT 7
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Post by Denis-NFA on Nov 27, 2012 8:30:20 GMT 7
aussierick.... use the National Relay Service.... Its a free service to anywhere in Australia from within Australia....
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