Signs speak louder than words for local college

TRANSITION Year students from Killarney Community College represented their school at this year’s Young Social Innovators (YSI) Speakout which took place in Cork City Hall last week.

The aim of the students’ project was to help raise awareness of the Deaf Community here in Killarney and encourage people to learn sign language.

They believed that this was an issue that needed to be explored in order to create a more inclusive society, especially now that ISL (Irish Sign Language) is now officially recognised as a native and independent language in Ireland.

This legislation was passed by the Dáil in December 2017 and was put forward by Kenmare Senator Mark Daly.

On the day teacher, Lorraine Crowley, a YSI guide, received an award for most inspiring leader. Ms Crowley helped guide the TY students as they completed research to find out the level of knowledge and awareness of the deaf community amongst students.

They also invited Aileen Curtaine from ‘DeafHear Killarney’ to visit their class with her daughter Aisling who is a member of the deaf community.

Aisling explained how she would love people outside of the deaf community to learn some basic sign language so that they can all communicate on a wider basis.

This is a wish for many people who are deaf and this motivated the students to organise sign language classes for their Transition Year class.

The students are currently in the process of learning sign language with John Patrick Doherty who himself is a member of the deaf community.

This is a QQI Level 3 Certificate and once they have this completed, these hardworking Young Social Innovators hope to teach sign language to all of the first years in the school.

Teachers from the school have said that all the students involved in the project are helping to create a positive influence in the community.

If these young students can do it, we can follow suit.

Students from Killarney Community College promote their Sign Language research.