NI to be first part of UK to offer free sign language classes for deaf children

Northern 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.

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 Communities estimates that at least 5,000 people in Northern Ireland use either British Sign Language (BSL) or Irish Sign Language (ISL) as their preferred way to communicate.

It is anticipated that the services introduced under the bill - such as more translators and interpreters - will cost about £3m a year.

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said: "This landmark new law will send a clear signal that Deaf people and sign language users are valued members of our society.

"I join with the Deaf and deafblind signing community in celebrating this milestone.

"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."

Lifelong friends John Carberry and Brian Symington have spent the past 40 years working tirelessly to promote sign language in NI.

John has been deaf since childhood and growing up, he learned both ISL and BSL.

"For so long, the lives of deaf people and their language have been overlooked. Now our language is being lifted up. We are thankful to our government for their support," John said.

"Sign language changed my life. It made me who I am today and gave me my place in the deaf community and wider society."

Brian added: "It's been a struggle for deaf people over many years, but to have sign language recognised is a huge step forward. There is an opportunity here to go further than other parts of the UK."

What are the laws in the rest of the UK?

The British Sign Language Act received Royal Assent in April 2022.

It provided legal recognition of British sign language as a language in England, Scotland and Wales, but does not automatically provide free, universally accessible language classes for all families.

The act also created a duty for the government to report on progress towards greater promotion and use of sign language in government communication with the public.

Plans for a sign language bill for Northern Ireland had been in the pipeline for a number of years, but stalled during several collapses of power-sharing.

The Republic of Ireland passed legislation in 2017, providing for the recognition of Irish Sign Language, its use in legal proceedings and the provision of interpretation into sign language by public bodies.