Lyons heralds historic day for Deaf community
Date published:
Championing the rights of Deaf people is a privilege, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has said, as he marked the passing of Northern Ireland’s first Sign Language Bill.
Minister Lyons said:
“Today I join with the Deaf and deafblind signing community in celebrating the passing of sign language rights into law.
“For all of us, this is a day that truly merits being described as historic. It has been a privilege for me to lead on this ground-breaking work for the Executive, working in lock-step with the community.
“Across generations, Deaf people have built rich linguistic, cultural and social communities through sign language.
“Yet that history has too often been marked by exclusion. Legal recognition of sign languages has lagged far behind lived reality.
“This new law sends a clear signal that Deaf people and sign language users are valued members of our society. It reflects modern understandings of equality and human rights, and it aligns Northern Ireland with international good practice.”
The landmark Bill formally recognises the use and importance of British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL) and strengthens support for Deaf people across Northern Ireland.
It places new duties on listed public bodies and Executive departments to promote and facilitate the use of BSL and ISL, improve accessibility to their information and services, and support greater inclusion of Deaf sign language users in daily life.
Rebecca Mansell, Chief Executive Officer at the British Deaf Association, said:
“The passage of the Sign Language Bill is a powerful recognition of our languages, our culture and our community.
“The hard work starts here. That means ensuring early access to sign language for Deaf babies, children and their families; expanding the availability of public information in sign language; and empowering Deaf signers to play a stronger, more visible role in shaping the decisions that affect our lives and our future.”
Action Deaf Youth Services Director Julie Graham said:
“We are very pleased that the much-awaited and long-fought-for Sign Language Bill has today passed into law.
“This new law recognises, nurtures and enables our Deaf children and young people and their families to live fulfilling and inclusive lives – in their language – in Northern Ireland and will have a considerable impact on the quality of the children’s lives.”
George Crockford, Chief Executive of the National Deaf Children's Society, said:
"This is a historic milestone for the Deaf community of Northern Ireland. We're very optimistic that this Bill will hugely improve access to sign language for many more families. We're also confident that public bodies will get behind their duty to promote sign language too, so we can create a much more inclusive and accessible society for all."
Natalia Buchanan from Craigavon, mother of Deaf son Alexander, 12, said:
"Today is a great day. Access to sign language in Northern Ireland has been too difficult for too long. Many Deaf children never get the chance to learn sign language, because classes simply don’t exist in their area or are too expensive. I really hope this Bill will help families across Northern Ireland access the support they need much more quickly and easily."
Natalia's son, Alexander said:
“BSL is part of who I am, so this Bill gives me real hope. I hope it leads to a future where we don’t have to fight for access, where more people can communicate with us, and where sign language is available for all.”
The Bill will now proceed to Royal Assent, followed by implementation, with work continuing on Statutory Guidance, engagement with the Deaf community, and arrangements to support public bodies in meeting their new responsibilities.
Notes to editors:
1. The Department intends to list all public bodies within regulations as ‘prescribed organisations’.
2. All prescribed organisations must take all reasonable steps to ensure that information and services provided by the organisation are as accessible to individuals in the Deaf community as they are to individuals who are not in the Deaf community, and offer or facilitate the use of British Sign Language and Irish Sign Language for the benefit of individuals in the Deaf community in accessing information and services provided by the organisation.
3. For media enquiries please contact the Press Office via press.office@communities-ni.gov.uk.
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5. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.