County Derry deaf-led charity celebrates ‘historic day’ as Sign Language Bill moves step closer to law

A deaf-led County Derry charity celebrated a ‘historic day’ for the deaf community in Northern Ireland as a Sign Languages Bill moved a step closer to becoming law.

Dungiven based Hands That Talk were delighted that the Sign Language Bill passed the second stage at the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The Bill recognises and promotes both British Sign Language and Irish Sign Language, and places duties on public bodies to take reasonable steps to ensure that the information and services they provide are fully accessible.

Stephen McWhinney, an executive officer at Hands That Talk, said: “We are delighted at the Northern Ireland Assembly's passing of the second stage of the Sign Language Bill. We called the moment when MLA Gordon Lyons signed the introduction a ‘special moment’ that demonstrated ‘a huge amount of respect & understanding for the Deaf communities’.

“We emphasise the significance of the Bill's commitment to both Irish and British Sign Language and their respective communities in all aspects of life, particularly in the North West. We reiterated its commitment to working with the NI Assembly throughout the remaining consideration stages.”

Communities Minister Lyons communicated in sign language during the first part of his speech in the Northern Ireland Assembly chamber during the Bill’s second stage.

Prior to the debate, Minister Lyons met with members of the Deaf community at Parliament Buildings, saying: “I am incredibly grateful to the Deaf community who have travelled to Stormont to watch the progress of a Bill they have helped develop.  It was a privilege to meet them and to understand how the Bill will improve accessibility to information and services for Sign Language users, a long-awaited step forward in achieving the same rights and opportunities as those in the hearing community.

Speaking in the Assembly, Minister Lyons said: “When I became Minister a year ago, one of my first commitments was that members of the Deaf community will have the same rights and opportunities as those in the hearing community through the introduction of a Sign Language Bill.

“Today is a significant step forward for members of the Deaf community towards achieving those rights and opportunities as the Assembly agree the principles of the Sign Language Bill.

“This Bill recognises and promotes British Sign Language and Irish Sign Language, and places duties on public bodies to take reasonable steps to ensure that the information and services they provide are fully accessible to individuals in the Deaf community.

“I am aware that the success of this legislation is dependent upon an infrastructure of support for the Deaf community, particularly through building interpreter capacity to deliver greater access to services, which begins with access to information about those services. My Department is continuing to fund accredited BSL/ISL courses across Northern Ireland from Levels 1 to 6 – a necessary pathway to qualification and registration as interpreters and translators to support future legislation.

“For too long Deaf people have experienced social exclusion rooted in accessibility barriers, communication challenges and negative societal attitudes. I believe this Bill will seek to remove those barriers for them and for future generations of the Deaf community.  I believe that this Bill is something we can all support.”

The Sign Language Bill will now be referred to the Committee for Communities in the next stage of the legislative process.