In an increasingly global world it is unimaginable to realise that not all voices are heard.
Equality is still out of reach for the 560,000 deaf people – 1 in 7 of the population - in Ireland.
Since 2004 t he Kerry Deaf Adult Learning Programme (KDALP) has been seeking to change this.
Funded and supported by the Department of Education and Science with Leargas, KDALP is a 3 year project, jointly managed by the Kerry Deaf Resource Centre and the Kerry Education Service.
The project has set out to train 18 Deaf people (Irish Sign Language users from Kerry, Cork and Limerick) as tutors to deliver a range of learning programmes for the hearing and Deaf community.
In response to a growing community interest in Irish Sign language (ISL), the Deaf tutors are now able to offer the following courses :
- CACDP Level 1 Certificate in Irish Sign Language
- CACDP Level 2 Certificate in Irish Sign Language
- CACDP Level 1 Certificate in Communication Tactics with Deaf People
In 2006, the final year of the project, the tutors will undertake further training in order to offer:
- CACDP Level 1 Certificate in Deaf Awareness
- CACDP Level 1 Certificate in Deaf Community and Culture
- CACDP Level 1 Certificate in Deafblind Awareness
This programme extends the boundaries of ‘mainstream’ education to promote genuine equality and inclusion for the Deaf community by teaching Irish Sign Language, and other communication skills to hearing people.
For more information www.leargas.ie/eei or www.cokerryed.ie/kerrydeafproject |
