Author: Webmaster

After 140 years of services in sign language, the UK’s first purpose-built church for deaf people is up for sale.

The St Saviour’s foundation cornerstone was laid in 1870 on London’s Oxford Street by the Prince of Wales and his wife Princess Alexandra, who had progressive hearing loss. The first service took place in 1873. Fifty years later the building was demolished to make way for development and the church relocated to Acton.

Further read at: www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-ouch-27130455

A woman whose elderly sick brother had to walk home from Wexford General Hospital in the middle of the night said she is ‘disgusted’ at how he was treated.

Nancy Pitman of Brendan Corish Gardens said her brother Patrick (67), who is deaf, was brought to hospital by ambulance a week ago.

The Wexfordman who lives in Maudlintown had been vomiting for weeks and his GP arranged for him to go into hospital.

Further read at: www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/deaf-elderly-man-had-to-walk-home-from-hospital-30165612.html

A BABY who was born deaf is set to hear sound for the very first time.

Little Amelie Ring’s mother Vicky said it is going to be an emotional and amazing experience to see her daughter react to noise in a little over a fortnight’s time.

The tot has undergone gruelling surgery to get to this stage and at the end of last year came close to death while being prepared to go on the operating table.

Further read at: www.newsnorthwales.co.uk/news/132472/deaf-ffynnongroyw-baby-set-to-hear-for-first-time.aspx

A Longford woman who is Advocacy Manager of the Irish Deaf Society (IDS) made a presentation to the County Council last week.

Elaine Grehan from Edgeworthstown who is one of 10 siblings, eight of whom are deaf, made the presentation on behalf of the organisation, which is calling on all local authorities to support its calls for more legal entitlements for deaf people, to become enshrined in the Irish Constitution.

Further read at: www.longfordleader.ie/news/local-news/longford-woman-to-the-fore-in-securing-rights-for-deaf-people-1-5976145

A stubborn Irish side came from behind to earn themselves a well earned point against a much fancied French side to draw 1-1 at the home ground of the local side, St. Igny FC.

Despite the lack of preparations due to recent unfortunate developments within Deaf Sports Ireland, captain Roy McKee and his boys gave a resilient and defiant performance as they took on the French with instructions from manager Geoff Foy to impose themselves early in the game with an adventurous game plan. However disaster struck as the boys in green found themselves reeling within three minutes of kick off after the French capitalized on an error conceded by the Irish midfield to mercilessly sweep through the exposed Irish defence, rifling the ball past goalkeeper Roy Keating.

Further read at: http://deafsportsireland.com/2014/04/written-report-france-1-1-ireland-signed-report-to-follow/

Youtube link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOFRhVrnmdM

• Caranua set up by the Government
• An independent body
• To support people who
  • were abused in insitution as children in Ireland
  • received award from Redress Board or Court
• People who meet above are eligible
• Known as survivors of abuse – Not Victims
• They survived against abuse
• A chance to have better life

Read more »

The first group of students in Ireland to complete their course through Irish Sign Language have been awarded a Certificate in Equality Studies from University College Dublin.

The 24 students from Dublin, Meath, Monaghan, Limerick, Kildare and Kerry attended classes on Saturdays during term time over the course of 2 years.

Further read at: www.ucd.ie/news/2014/04APR14/030414-Students-complete-first-ever-course-delivered-through-Irish-Sign-Language.html

Deaf people have been going on record about difficult experiences they’ve had in hospitals due to lack of sign language interpreters. See Hear looks at three cases where this trauma could have been avoided had sign language interpreters, or other communication support, been provided.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-ouch-26953771

The Ireland Men’s Team will be facing France in Paris this weekend in their first match of the year in the 8th European Deaf Football Championships.

Further read at: deafsportsireland.com/2014/04/ireland-take-on-france/

The decision to speak or to sign is loaded with significance for deaf people, says BBC producer William Mager. He describes how he came to make his own choice.

I appeared on BBC Breakfast News last Saturday to discuss a video of a woman whose cochlear implant was switched on for the first time – it was a very emotional clip and quickly went round the world.

Further read at: www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-ouch-26866338