Sign Language training helps health staff to assist deaf and hard of hearing patients and clients

Twelve health service staff recently completed sign language training to enable them to communicate better when working with deaf and hard of hearing patients, clients and colleagues.

The staff, who took time to learn how to sign, were presented with Irish Sign Language (ISL) Quality and Qualification Ireland (QQI) Level Three awards at special presentation held in Galway University Hospital, Merlin Park.  It is fitting that the awards were presented during Irish Sign Awareness Language Week which runs from 16th – 24th September.

The 12 were among a group of 39 healthcare staff in Dublin, Galway, Letterkenny and Cork who received the qualification. The learners include therapists, audiologists, social workers, paramedics, nurses, doctors and staff working in customer services and administration.

The qualification gives staff a basic foundation in Sign Language to enable them to improve their experience when working with deaf/hard of hearing colleagues, clients and service users as well as parents and family members who use ISL (Irish Sign Language).

The course and examination was facilitated by the Irish Deaf Society ISL Academy.  The initiative is part of the HSE’s commitment to supporting diversity for all HSE staff and service users. It has been led by the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion function within the HR division of HSE.

While the Level Three certificate will help staff to communicate better with deaf and hard of hearing colleagues, clients and service users, it should be noted that it is not intended to substitute for the highly qualified ISL interpreter qualification gained via a TCD degree programme under the Centre for Deaf Studies.

Pictured receiving their Irish Sign Language (ISL) Quality and Qualification Ireland (QQI) Level Three awards from Tony Canavan, Chief Officer, Community Health Care Organisation (CHO2) with Tony Dolan (DeafHear) are: Back row L-R:  Barry Hannagen, Denise Fahy, Mary Hynes, Frances Mannion, Caitriona Conroy, Michele Finn. Front Row L-R: Mona Eames, Linda Rabbitte, Anne Silke, Stephanie Cassol. Unable to attend were Gary McDonald and Geraldine McEleney.