She has been a familiar face on BBC Northern Ireland News screens for 21 years, but Mary Kyle has managed to keep under the publicity radar throughout her career.

Indeed, the majority of viewers would be hard-pressed to name her. Yet, the Omagh-born presenter provides an invaluable service to the 3,500 sign language users who tune in for the daytime news at 1.40pm, a popular slot before Doctors.

Further read at: www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/features/shes-a-familiar-face-from-bbc-ni-where-she-signs-the-news-for-deaf-people-but-few-know-her-own-inspiring-story-36198015.html

Belfast Deaf United is looking to strengthen the squad. We currently play in the Belfast District Football League Premier Division and if you think you have the qualities and attributes to complete for a place in the first eleven, get in touch. You can send a private message on this Facebook page.

We train at Belvoir every Wednesday evening 7pm-9pm. You are welcome to train and see how it goes.

You do not need to have a hearing loss to join the club. We welcome individuals from different backgrounds.

Action on Hearing Loss are running Tinnitus Awareness Events throughout Northern Ireland.

If you have tinnitus or know someone who does, please come along and find out more about understanding tinnitus, how it affects you and learn techniques to help minimise the distressing effect of tinnitus. Reflexology and relaxation techniques will be available on the night.

Tinnitus Awareness Events dates and venues

• Tuesday 5/9/17 from 6pm to 7.30 Lurgan Library, 1 Carnegie Street, Lurgan
• Monday 11/9/17 from 6pm to 7.30 Ballymena Library, 5 Pats Brae Ballymena
• Wednesday 20/9/17 from 7.30pm to 9.30pm Downshire Hospital,
• Wednesday 11/10/17 from 2pm to 4pm WHSCT Old Bridge House, Derry/LDerry

Read more »

British Deaf Association: PRESS RELEASE: UK Government needs to grant deaf people “the right to educated high-quality sign language interpretation”: leading UN committee paves the way for a British Sign Language Act

In a landmark moment for deaf people in the UK, the UK government has been told by a leading UN committee that it must “ensure that legislation provides for the right to educated high-quality sign language interpretation…in all spheres of life”, highlighting a key loophole in current UK law.

The announcement came as part of the Concluding Observations of the UN Committee of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) whose chairperson, Theresia Degener, was unfaltering in her clear criticism of the UK Government’s ‘grave and systematic violations’ of deaf and disabled people’s human rights.

Read the full Press Release on our site at:

UN committee paves the way for a BSL Act

People with hearing loss can feel isolated at work, which prevents them from fulfilling their potential – and can even force them to leave employment altogether.

Further read and a digital copy of the guide is at: www.hearinglink.org/news/hearing-loss-news/hearing-loss-employment-guide/

Action on Hearing Loss – Northern Ireland: Check out our home safety videos for older people with hearing loss.

Our In Touch befriending team made these videos with Age NI and they are subtilted and signed in both ISL and BSL https://youtu.be/lGedoPwgIq4 (ISL version) https://youtu.be/DjBHCSOWo3A (BSL version)

Belfast Deaf United are looking for new players to join the current squad. The club participates in the Belfast District Football League and will be taking part in the British Deaf Cup this season.

Get involved and see how it goes!

In June 2016 a consultation on the recommendations from the regional review of communication support services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing across Northern Ireland was launched by the Health and Social Care Board. The purpose of the consultation was to ensure that people who rely on Communication Support Services had opportunities to influence the development of the service regionally. A series of meetings, facilitated by the British Deaf Association NI, were held to enable people who are deaf or hard of hearing to express their views on a regional service model which would provide a balance of face to face interpreting and, where appropriate, non face to face interpreting. Click on this link to view all documentation related to the public consultation process.

See the reports with both BSL & ISL sign language versions – http://www.hscboard.hscni.net/our-work/social-care-and-children/psds/communication-support-deaf/

Play Worker (Full-time)

We are seeking a Play Worker to be part of a team, supporting families with deaf children aged 0-8.

This is a project funded by the Big Lottery Fund ‘Supporting Families of Deaf Children through Active Play’

Job Description & Person Specification, Introduction letter, Application form and Equal Opportunties form can be downloaded, see link below:

http://www.communityni.org/job/play-worker-7#.WU1BC-RK2Uk

Action Deaf Youth: Hi, everyone, these are the details for The Wee Vibes Summer scheme. Age 8 plus. Price is £30 for the week. Places are CAPPED at ten per week. Please contact Aoife Ady

For age 8 plus