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A film by Jessica Docherty featuring British Sign Language poet Tania Allan signing her work ‘The Land and the Sea’, which uses the Scottish folklore of the selkie wife as a means of exploring themes such as oppression, deaf culture, deaf community, sign language and communication.
The Mid Ulster Council is piloting a service which will benefit customers who are deaf or are hard of hearing. This service will provide instant access to a Sign Language Interpreter for customers who use British Sign Language (BSL). The service also caters for Irish Sign Language (ISL) users on a request basis.
The link can be accessed via the following webpage https://www.midulstercouncil.org/signvideo
The service currently gives you access to an online BSL interpreter at the following Council offices and leisure venues, Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm:
Cookstown
Dungannon
Magherafelt
We are looking into organising British Sign Language classes.
If you are interested or know someone who may be interested, please contact us.
Cannot understand what people are saying with masks on?
Trying to find a clear face mask?
Fogging problems on your glasses?
Available to order shop.irishdeaf.com/masks-and-face-visors
Update for Deaf Parents
We know this is a challenging time and we want to ensure you that we aim to assist you the best we can and bring you the most up to date information.
View either BSL or ISL videos at: www.eani.org.uk/covid-19-sign-language-videos
How do you explain concepts like “coronavirus” or “social distancing” to an audience who cannot hear you?
For the past few weeks that has been the job of sign language interpreters Amanda Coogan and Kristina Sinclair.
The pair sign in both British Sign Language and Irish Sign Language at Stormont’s daily coronavirus briefings.
Further read at & source: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-52465003
Action Deaf Youth: This year we have a group of 12 parents of deaf children doing BSL Level 3 with us 😀🧠
We believe this is the FIRST time ever that a group of parents of deaf children have had an opportunity to do a Level 3 BSL course together in NI and possibly the first time ever in the UK! 🙌
We also have three other groups of parents doing BSL Level 1 in Dungannon, Ballymena and Belfast and a very special group of grandparents also doing BSL Level 1. 👍
Next year we hope to offer BSL Level 1 and BSL Level 2 courses again specifically for parents/grandparents/close adult family members of deaf children aged 0-8 years.
These free courses will be taught by our in-house BSL tutor, Michelle Hull, whom many of our regular families already know. Our courses are unique in that they are specially designed to equip parents/grandparents with the signing skills needed to communicate effectively immediately with young deaf children in playful ways.
Read more »
Between 2018 and 2019, the Employment team has helped six people who are deaf or have hearing loss access full-time work and five people access part-time work.
Many people who take part in the Specialist Employment Programme have not worked for several years, and can find it difficult to get employment. Through the programme, they can benefit from one-to-one mentoring from Employment Advisors, support with job searching, interview practice, help getting work experience and accredited training.
Further read at: www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/about-us/our-work-across-the-uk/northern-ireland/regional-updates/eleven-people-in-work-thanks-to-employment-programme/
Belfast City Council has today become the first Northern Ireland council to sign up to the British/Irish Sign Language Charter, committing to promote better access to public services for Deaf communities.
We are delighted that Belfast City Council has made the historic decision to sign three pledges of the BSL/ISL Charter – especially during Sign Language Week!
Read more: https://bda.org.uk/belfast-city-council-signs-bsl-isl-charter/
