Anne McDonald's Institution Page

THE RIGHT TO COMMUNICATE

Anne McDonald

For people without speech, talking is often dependent on the generosity of others, either in providing interpretation or facilitation or in giving up time to listen. While this is inevitable, there needs to be an irreducible right to make one's opinions known on issues concerning your future well-being. At the moment social conversation and medical consent are equal in the sight of the law, both depending on the accidental availability of communication partners with the necessary skills and commitment.

There is no right to be heard. There is no right to an interpreter. There is no obligation to listen.

While social interactions are always dependent on the politeness and tolerance of individuals, it should be possible to legislate for a right to communicate in formal situations such as courts, hospitals and schools. Without such legally enforceable rights, people without speech will be at the mercy of decision-makers who can arbitrarily decide to disallow communication.

Communication falls into the same category as food, drink and shelter - it is essential for life, and without it life becomes worthless.

If you want to know about my years in hell, try St. Nicholas Hospital.

If you want to know what it did to me, read Frankenstein.

If you want to know what conclusions I drew from it, read If We Keep Babies Alive, We Have To Give Them A Life Worth Living

If you want to know how I got out, read Joan Dwyer's account of my action in the Supreme Court of Victoria.

If you want to read about What I Did In My Holidays try the Travel Diary we kept across Europe. 

My most recent overseas trips (2004 and 2005) have been to New Zealand, officially to present at conferences, but really so I can go reverse bungy-jumping. 

If you wish, you can e-mail me.

If you want to know more about my story, read the book I wrote with Rosemary Crossley - Annie's Coming Out, published by Penguin - or chase up the movie Annie's Coming Out (Test of Love in the U.S.) 

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