ISL Charter
The ISL Charter outlines key commitments and goals to improve access and rights for the Deaf community. These commitments are aligned with the full implementation of the ISL Act 2017 and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
The Irish Deaf Society is asking individuals, service providers, organisations (public and private) and State bodies to support this charter by sharing it on social media and sending it to public representatives and service providers.
If you are an organisation and would like to learn more about the practical steps you can take to support the commitments in this charter, please contact the Irish Deaf Society Advocacy Department by calling 01 860 1878, text 086 440 1443 or email advocacy@irishdeafsociety.ie.
Key commitments
- Ensure access to services and information for Deaf people
Deaf people have the right to access public services and information in ISL as their native language (ISL Act 2017, Section 3) and there is a corresponding duty on public bodies to provide ISL Interpreters (ISL Act 2017, Section 6). Private sector organisations recognise that Deaf people should have equal access to their services and should pro-actively account for and provide accessible services for Deaf people. All service providers commit to full accessibility for Deaf people through the provision of ISL Interpreters and ISL translation of information along with the appropriate technology solutions such as high-quality subtitles.- By supporting this Charter, you commit to the provision of services and information that are accessible to Deaf people.
- By supporting this Charter, you commit to the provision of services and information that are accessible to Deaf people.
- Meaningfully engage with Deaf people and their representative organisations
Deaf people should be consulted with by service providers and policymakers on the design, delivery, implementation and review of services, policies and decisions that affect them. This is in line with Article 4.3 of the UNCRPD which highlights the importance of meaningful engagement with Disabled Person’s Organisations (DPOs).- By supporting this Charter, you commit to meaningfully engage with Deaf people and their representative organisations about the creation of or changes to services and policies that affect them.
- Support Deaf children and access to education
Deaf children should have access to inclusive education. Inclusive education for Deaf children consists of direct instruction in ISL, access to Deaf teachers and Deaf peers who use sign language, bilingual curriculum that includes the study of sign language, supportive and inclusive signing environments and opportunities to develop strong sense of linguistic and cultural identity. Further, families of Deaf children should be provided with information about ISL, the Deaf community and Deaf culture at the earliest opportunity and a sufficiently funded ISL Home Tuition Scheme should be developed to facilitate the teaching and learning of ISL to these families. Deaf children should be exposed to ISL from birth and protected from language deprivation.- By supporting this Charter, you commit to supporting Deaf children, their families and access to ISL and inclusive education.
- Ensure equal access to employment and inclusive working environments
Deaf people should have equal access to work and employment which are free of discrimination. The unique contribution of Deaf people as members of a linguistic and cultural minority should be celebrated in the workplace. Further, working environments should be fully accessible for Deaf people. Employers and colleagues should engage in Deaf Awareness Training and ISL interpreters should be provided.- By supporting this Charter, you commit to ensuring equal access to employment and inclusive working environments for Deaf people.
- Promote the learning and teaching of ISL and raise awareness about Deaf culture
Opportunities for the learning of ISL should be grasped by organisations, service providers, public bodies and wider society and Deaf people should be at the front of all activities relating to teaching of ISL. Capacity-building measures must be taken to training Deaf people with the skills and qualifications to teach their national sign languages. The State should undertake measures to raise awareness about ISL and Deaf community to foster respect, combat stereotypes and highlight the unique contribution Deaf people bring to society.- By supporting this Charter, you commit to promoting the learning and teaching of ISL and raising awareness about Deaf culture with Deaf people being at the forefront of these activities.
- Support and promote the preservation, development and protection of ISL
The Deaf community has the right to preserve, develop and protect ISL which is critical to the vitality of the language. This can only be achieved with sufficient funding and resources. Such investment is required for the development of ISL dictionaries, corpora and translation resources. The State should undertake measures to support these endeavours.- By supporting this Charter, you commit to promoting the preservation, development and protection of ISL.