Deaf Awareness Training

Deaf Awareness Training aims to highlight the experience of the Deaf Community and the issues and barriers that they face. This programme has the hope of giving guidance and clarity to those who have little or no experience with the Deaf Community, creating understanding and an ability to communicate in a Deaf-friendly way. It seeks to show the culture and language of the Deaf community. Awareness of the Deaf community is needed in order to break down barriers and unfounded attitudes.  

It is also so important for public bodies to be aware of Deaf people and the obligations of the public service sector when interacting with Deaf people. Under the Irish Sign Language Act 2017, public bodies now have a legal duty to do all that is reasonable to ensure that interpretation into Irish Sign Language is provided for a person who is competent in that language when that person is seeking to avail of or access statutory entitlements or services provided by or under statute by that public body. Our training raises knowledge of this act and touches on how to book an interpreter should you require one.   

The Deaf Awareness Training programme covers the following topics:  

• Irish Sign Language – a brief explanation of the language 
• Irish Sign Language Act 2017 - what duties are set out in the Act 
• Deaf Community – we explain how the Deaf community is a linguistic minority with Deaf and Hearing people involved and cover topics such as positive Deafness and Deaf identity 
• Lip-reading video challenge – this demonstrates how hard it is to lip-read 
• Correct Terminology to use 
• Barriers faced by Deaf people 
• Communication Tips – what is the best practice when communicating with a Deaf person? 
• ISL Challenge – learn how to spell your name and some other basic signs/phrases - these can be adapted to phrases that suit the organisation and what they do. 
• Q&A & Discussion