Free sign language classes to be offered for deaf children in UK first

NI to be first part of UK to offer free sign language classes for deaf children2 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleJayne McCormack,Political correspondentandEmma Orr,BBC News NIBBCAnthony Sinclair, who is profoundly deaf, said he's relieved the law is imminent after years of campaigningNorthern Ireland will become the first part of the UK to provide free sign language classes to all deaf children and their families, through a new sign language law being passed on Tuesday.The Sign Language Bill (Northern Ireland) 2025 will put a duty on the Department for Communities to provide free classes for deaf people under-25 and their close families, guardians, and carers.Anthony Sinclair, who is profoundly deaf, said he is relieved after campaigners like him "had to fight for such a long time" for the law."We're starting to see systemic change where we're seen as equal and we really do look forward to feeling that respect for our language, our culture and our values."The legislation will also give official and equal recognition of British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL) as languages of Northern Ireland and promote the use and understanding of sign languages.It was introduced in the Northern Ireland Assembly by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons in February last year, who had committed to bring the bill shortly after taking office.'Brilliant first step'Anthony, a Belfast-based sports coach, and his wife, Kristina, who is a registered language interpreter, brought their three children up using sign language."Our language at home is sign language. When I'm not here they talk to each other in English, but they naturally switch to sign language when I come home," said Anthony.When he was 11 his family moved to England as the education system at the time in Northern Ireland didn't offer GCSEs for deaf students."It was hard leaving home and the life I had to move to a school environment, but there was no choice as far as we could see, but it was difficult," he said."Other children have the opportunities, everything they need is here and it should be the same for deaf children."Anthony moved back to Northern Ireland as an adult and met Kristina, who was already working as an interpreter.She has been doing that job for 18 years and also worked as an interpreter at Stormont, providing updates for the deaf community at executive press conferences during the Covid pandemic.Kristina described the new laws as a "brilliant first step" to providing more opportunities for the deaf community."As good as a course is, when you learn a living language with people who use it and own it, creating those opportunities will make a massive difference for improving the quality of interpreters here too," she said.Anthony spoke of his "relief" that the laws were imminent, after years many of campaigning by the deaf community for an act to be introduced at Stormont."A shift needs to happen where people see it as a visual language and not just a tool so wouldn't it be wonderful to see people learning sign language for the sake of a new skill, learning about culture and history."It's such a positive time for us as we walk into the future."What else will the bill do?The legislation will mean that public bodies will have to, by law, "take reasonable steps to ensure that the sorts of information and services provided by it are as accessible to individuals in the deaf community as to those individuals who are not in the deaf community".The Department for…

This excerpt is published under fair use for community discussion. Read the full article at BBC News.