Kerry Deaf Resource Centre 31.01.11
CIDP PROJECT TO IDENTIFY DEAF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
The Catholic Institute for Deaf People will hold a meeting regarding the
proposed initiation of a Project to identify the needs of Deaf people with
disabilities who are over 20 years, the types of services and supports which
would be of benefit and the possible numbers involved.
CIDP recently set up a pilot Project in this area and will share the
information on how this is progressing. CIDP commissioned a survey conducted
by Janet O’Shaughnessy in this area, which will be shared at the meeting.
DeafHear.ie have been supporting Deaf people with disabilities in the
community for many years and will share their experience and ideas for the
future. The Irish Deaf Society will also be in attendance and share their
current initiatives and ideas with the meeting. Interpreters will be present
at the meeting.
If you would like to represent our service at the meeting, please let us
know. Further information is available by email to [email protected] and by
mobile at 087-6753475.
NATIONAL GALLERY OF IRELAND SIGN LANGUAGE TOUR.
The next tour of the National Gallery will be held on the 3rd of February at
6.30pm. If you are interested in joining this tour with a sign language
guide, meet at the Millennium Wing Information Desk. For more information on
this tour, e-mail [email protected]
DECLARATION ON SIGN LANGUAGES IN THE EU.
In the European Parliament, a conference was held on sign language
legislation. At the end of the day the ‘Brussels Declaration on Sign
Languages in the European Union’ was signed by all present. According to the
Declaration, national sign languages have to be considered as the native
languages of sign language users.
The Declaration calls on the European Union and the Member States to ensure
the same rights and possibilities for sign language users as all European
citizens. This includes the right to public life, education, employment and
the right to free movement. “Declaration on Sign Languages in the European
Union” was signed by all present 160 representatives of the deaf and hard of
hearing organisations. This remarkable event, called “Implementation of Sign
Language Legislation” was co-hosted by MEP Ádám Kósa (EPP Group), President
of the Disability Intergroup and the European Union of the Deaf.
The Brussels Declaration was adopted by MEP Ádám Kósa with representatives
of the National Associations of the Deaf of the EU Member States and it’s
associate members – Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland; the European Union of
the Deaf; the European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters; the World
Federation of the Deaf and the World Association of Sign Language
Interpreters.
“The treaties and principles of the European Union and the regulations laid
down in the Charter of Fundamental Rights make us – deaf and hard of hearing
sign language users – equal citizens of the European Union, with the right
to free movement.” stresses the text. This landmark document declares that
the national sign languages of the Member States are the native languages of
sign language users and it has long been secured by research that sign
languages are fully-fledged languages. They serve all practical and
theoretical purposes of a natural language, including age appropriate
language acquisition of infants and children. The document also underlines
the importance of minimum standards for services and requirements around in
Europe for ensuring the real free movement of the deaf and hard of hearing
with availability of sign language interpreters with special regard to new,
cheaper IT tools.
For more information, go to
http://eud.eu/uploads/brussels_declaration_FINAL.pdf
EUROPEAN COMMISSION REPORT ON EQUALITY BODIES.
“Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has called on the Government to respond to the
Synthesis Report on equality bodies recently published by the European
Commission, which was highly critical of the seven and eight year delays for
some cases at the Equality Tribunal, attributed to inadequate resources.
And was also critical of the decentralisation of the Equality Authority,
which the report held impedes accessibility.
While recognising that funding reductions are likely in the context of the
economic downturn, the report concluded that the 43% cut in the Equality
Authority’s funding in 2008 was one of just seven examples where the cuts
imposed were disproportionate, amount to regression and diminish the
effectiveness of the body.
The report recommends that the Government “establish a clear and transparent
process for calculating and attributing an adequate resource base to
equality bodies and ensure that it cannot be reduced without clear rationale
and broad and public debate”.
It is vital that Ireland fully funds an Equality Body to ensure the rights
of people as enshrined by law are protected. Contact your local TD/
Government Minister and ensure this issue is on the agenda with upcoming
national elections.
OUR CONTACT DETAILS:
Kerry Deaf Resource Centre
4 Gas Tce, Tralee
Mobile (text): 087 633 4687
E-mail: [email protected]
www.kerrydeaf.com
www.facebook.com/kerrydeaf
Fax: 066 712 0386
Tel: 066 712 0399