The swine flu hotline should offer fax and email alternatives for the hearing impaired, the National Foundation for the Deaf (NFD) says.
"While the Ministry (of Health) is urging the public to call an 0800 number for information on the flu and what action to take if they have symptoms, it is not yet promoting a means to access information for those who cannot use the telephone," advocacy project manager Chris Peters said.
About 400,000 New Zealanders had some degree of hearing loss and should not have to rely on others to make calls for them, Mr Peters said.
He said the ministry should also consider how to cater for people with multiple sensory disabilities such as the deaf-blind.
