A “Sign Café” is up and running in Tipperary, as a resource that its organisers and participants hope will be of significant ongoing value in the promotion of Irish Sign Language (ISL).
The “Sign Café” project, which caters to the Deaf community (for who sign language is a primary medium) and those learning ISL, is headed up by the HSE’s “Tipperary Gold Star” disability awareness in the community programme and funded by the Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) scheme administered by SOLAS (the state’s further education and training agency) in partnership with Tipperary Library Services.
Tipperary Shopping Centre was the venue recently for the initial Saturday morning “Sign Café”. The top floor of The Carvery Restaurant premises was taken over to facilitate people who are Deaf to meet and sign with a group of very enthusiastic students who have been attending ISL classes in Tipperary since September 2024. The students are learning basic ISL, to help grow the language and to be able to communicate with people who are Deaf in Tipperary Town and surrounding area.
The aim of the “Sign Café” project is to develop Tipperary as a “Deaf Friendly Town”. ISL is a visual gestural language used by Deaf people in Ireland, along with many hearing signers too. It was officially recognised by the Irish government in 2017.
Currently, some 60 people are learning ISL each week, at classes held Tipperary Library (in in the Excel Centre) and at Spafield Family Resource Centre in Cashel.
Speaking at the “Sign Café”, Anne Bradshaw (HSE Disability Services Officer, Tipperary) said:
“It was wonderful that the ISL class students came along to enjoy coffee and cakes at The Carvery Restaurant and were helped and encouraged by Deaf people, who are delighted to see the community coming together to learn their language.”
“Deaf people can often be excluded from general participation in community events and this project is bringing about changes and raising Deaf awareness.”
“Thanks to Darren Connor (Manager) at The Carvery Restaurant, who kindly sponsored the tea/coffee for the event and allowed us to take over the upstairs of his restaurant on a busy Saturday morning. Thanks too to all the businesses and shops in Tipperary Town who are supporting the project. Many shops and service providers in the Town are committed to sending at least one staff member to attend the ISL classes, to ensure their business can be inclusive and welcoming for all.”
“Thanks to everyone who participated in the ‘Sign Café’. There was amazing communication between everyone, young and older and everyone is looking forward to the next Sign Café, which is one of many more planned to come.”
Last updated on: 16 / 12 / 2024
