Irish Deaf Society

The Irish Deaf Society (IDS) is the national representative organisation of the Deaf, serving the interest of the Deaf community. It upholds the status of Irish Sign Language (ISL), which is the first and preferred language of Deaf people in Ireland. It provides a number of specific health, personal and social information services to deaf adults, children and their families.

Mission Statement

The IDS seeks to enhance the standard of living for all deaf people, who have traditionally faced the threats of poverty, limited employment opportunities and other difficulties, due to lack of public understanding or appreciation for the essential needs of Deaf people. The IDS is recognised by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and The European Union of the Deaf (EUD). The latter are recognised by the United Nations and the European Union. The IDS Board of Directors is governed by Deaf people, elected by members of the Deaf community with the main objectives as follows:

• To empower and enable Deaf people to participate in positive action to further their independence and full participation in the community.

• The advancement of public education concerning the rights of Deaf people

• The advancement of public education concerning civil and human rights in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the World Federation of the Deaf

• To promote the status of Irish Sign Language (ISL). This is the language of the Deaf community and their primary means of communication.

History of the IDS

The IDS is a strong social networking organisation, which was set up by a group of Deaf people in 1981 during the United Nations International Year of the Disabled. The founders formed Deaf Action Group to encounter discrimination and oppression of the IDS that prevailed for the Deaf Community for decades previously. Those were the days when Irish Sign Language was discouraged at Deaf schools, non-deaf groups controlled the policies on Deaf issues and the Deaf endured a series of sub-standard services, all of which were subordinate to their basic human rights.

The DAG established a number of incentives to highlight the needs of the Deaf as follows:

• Institute of Interpreters• Provision of TV Subtitles• Tax Free Allowance• Adoption Rights• Elimination of Deaf premiums on insurances

Few could even predict its survival beyond the initial year of 1981. The demands of the Deaf Community ensured its continuation throughout the following year when the name changed to Irish Council of the Deaf in 1982 before it settled with its current name at its inaugural Annual General Meeting in 1983. The IDS eventually became the first Irish Deaf organisation to become a member of the World Federation of the Deaf in 1985, easily fitting into their entry criteria, where membership organisations must be led by the Deaf. In the same year, the IDS was one of the founding members of the European Community Regional Secretariat of the Deaf, now the European Union of the Deaf.

In 1986 the IDS organised Ireland’s first ever seminar that was dedicated to the cultural and linguistic rights of the Deaf by revealing the needs of Deaf children to be educated in Irish Sign Language as opposed to its policy of oralism. It was quite controversial and quite the eye-opener for many people. Here, for the first time, the Deaf became confident in expressing their views on Deaf needs and rights. The IDS organised its first of five national congresses in 1988 to celebrate the empowerment and equality of the Deaf.

The IDS became the agency of social change for the Irish Deaf Community and was largely influential on changes made for sign language interpreters. Interpreting services were eventually modernised by reducing ad-hoc interpreters, who comprised of clergies, parents and social workers. Interpreter professionalism was introduced through training in partnership with Bristol University and Trinity College Dublin. It eventually led to the establishment of the Centre for Deaf Studies in 2000 and agency in 1998.

The IDS brought in a number of new Deaf-led organisations such as the Irish Deaf Youth Association, Irish Deaf Women’s Group, Arts and Cultural Society of the Deaf and Greenbow Deaf Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Society of Ireland. With these, the growth of locally-based Deaf organisations lead the IDS to establish the National Council in 1995, which remains to date with 26 strong members. In the same year, the IDS began a major management transformation that brought the new vision of campaigning. This saw a series of achievements such as the Education Act 1998 (ISL for Deaf children), the Broadcasting Act 2001 (Television access for Deaf), the Model School for the Deaf Project, Signlink (interpreting agency), the Centre for Deaf Studies and Linkup (Adult literacy). All of which were achieved within the space of five years.

The IDS moved forward with a bolder vision in 2003 by appointing its first full-time paid Programme Development Manager, which saw the IDS modernising its structure and enhancing its services. This saw the set-up of ISL Academy, Advocacy, Adult Literacy, Multi-Media, Information Base and Technology. The IDS’ previous reliance on ad-hoc volunteerism and FAS Community Employment Schemes abated and was replaced with a strong fund-raising drive and some Government support. As the IDS celebrated its 25th anniversary, the Deaf Community enjoyed its own social changes with greater empowerment and independence. Despite all these developments, much more is still needed, which is why the IDS has decided to devise its Strategic Plan for 2008–2018, in order to achieve the objectives of vision for a sustainable Deaf Community beyond the period of the strategic plan.

Vision

Deaf people constitute a linguistic and cultural minority, and contribute to the diversity and richness of humankind.

Deaf people have the same potential for language and the same right to access in society as is available to hearing people.

Deaf people have a right to be Deaf and to be accepted as they are, linguistically, culturally and developmentally. They also have a right to membership of both the Deaf Community and other communities which reflect their ethnic, religious or cultural background.

Core Values

Irish Sign Language (ISL)

Deaf people have the right to use the culturally enriched ISL as their primary language making linguistic oppression a thing of the past.

Human Rights

Deaf people have the right to live as equal citizens on par with hearing people. This discrimination, which is a violation of their rights, must be outlawed.

Education

Deaf children have the right to be educated in ISL in a bi-lingual environment and Deaf people have the right to full access to all third level institutions.

ocial Inclusion

The provision of qualified ISL interpreters must be utilised, enabling Deaf people to independently access and participate within the public domain in society.

Equal Opportunities

Deaf people have the right to equal employment opportunities on a management and professional level.

Quality Living Conditions

Deaf people have the right to equitable living standards as the rest of society, where nothing hinders their participation.

Families

Families of Deaf children have the right to receive comprehensive information from both cultural and medical perspectives with access to the Deaf Community, its culture and language.

Empowerment

Deaf people have the right to represent the Deaf Community on a local and national level.

ocial and Political Partnership

The government and state agencies must involve Deaf people and Deaf-led organisations in the community, education, health and in legal and social fields.

Access

Deaf people have a right to access various vital services in education, employment and health sectors.