Kerry Deaf Resource Centre Update 25.01.16 (ISL Recognition Campaign)
IRISH SIGN LANGUAGE (ISL) RECOGNITION CAMPAIGN
This week’s update will focus on the campaign to get Irish Sign Language
(ISL) officially recognised as a language by the Irish Government.
This campaign has been ongoing for a number of years and has been supported
nationally by the Irish Deaf Society (IDS).
The information below is from the IDS website. Our sincere thanks &
appreciation to the IDS for allowing us to share this information on our own
website too at http://www.kerrydeaf.com/
TO SEE THIS INFORMATION IN IRISH SIGN LANGUAGE (ISL)
https://www.irishdeafsociety.
gnition-campaign
Irish Sign Language is not yet recognised in Ireland. The Irish Deaf Society
has been campaigning for more than thirty years to get it recognised to
ensure equality for Deaf people in Irish Society.
Achieving recognition of ISL and official status would allow access for Deaf
people to their full participation as citizens of their own country.
THE CURRENT SITUATION IN IRELAND IS THAT:
· No Deaf child can fully learn Irish Sign Language as not all teachers
would be fluent or qualified in ISL.
· There is no automatic right for Deaf people to have an ISL interpreter
(excluding criminal court proceedings).
· Service providers such as Government bodies are not obligated to respect.
· Irish Sign Language – they will translate information into English and
Irish but rarely ISL.
· The IDS has to lobby for information translated into Irish Sign Language.
· There is only little accessible ISL on our TV screens (usually in the
early hours of morning).
· Irish Sign Language is considered a ‘support service’ as evident in the
Education Act of 1998 (the only legislation that mentions ISL) and does not
recognise it as a language in its own right.
· The UN convention on the rights of people with Disabilities (UNCRPD)
mentions signed languages in its five articles. Ireland has not yet ratified
it.
IF WE GET IRISH SIGN LANGUAGE RECOGNITION, THIS WILL ENSURE US:
· More legal rights for ISL users.
· Better access to public services.
· Better education for Deaf children.
· Better third level education and training for Deaf adults.
· Better interpreting quality and monitoring – avoid cowboy interpreters.
The IDS has established a cross-community group focusing on ISL recognition
in September 2012. The meetings take quarterly to work together to toward
the ISL recognition.
THE CURRENT GROUP MEMBERS ARE:
· Irish Deaf Society.
· Catholic Institute of Deaf people.
· Deaf Sports Ireland.
· Bridge Interpreting.
· Irish Deaf Youth Association.
· Sign Language Interpreter Services.
· Irish Deaf Women Group.
· Council of Irish Sign Language Interpreters.
· Greenbow LGBT.
· Centre of Deaf Studies.
· Deafhear.ie
The momentum for ISL recognition continues to grow, with many Local
Authorities having passed motions over the few years calling upon the
Government to legally recognise ISL as a matter of urgency.
Working toward ISL recognition, the IDS recognition campaign team continues
to work with politicians and lawmakers.
The IDS recognition campaign team is more than happy to give a presentation
about the ISL recognition campaign. Please contact us by email
[email protected]
OUR CONTACT DETAILS:
Kerry Deaf Resource Centre.
4 Gas Tce, Tralee, Co. Kerry, IRELAND
V92 Y409
KDRC provides services to Deaf and hard of hearing people at county level
and contributes to national & international issues of equality, access and
rights.
Charity Number CHY20854
To donate, go to: https://www.gofundme.com/
Text: (+353) 87 633 4687
Tel: (+353) 66 712 0399
E-mail: [email protected]
Glide: OQC BSYB
Skype: kerrydeaf (by appointment)
FaceTime: [email protected] (by appointment)
FaceTime: (+353) 87 633 4687 (by appointment)
Website: www.kerrydeaf.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kerrydeaf