My name is Julie Rayson-Ward, I am a Library Assistant at the Glucksman Library University of Limerick. Today, I am creating awareness around ISL for Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) by showcasing my journey in ISL. Although you may not be aware, in 2017, the Irish Sign Language Act was passed, recognising ISL as one of the three languages in Ireland. ISL is a language I have always been interested in learning, and when, due to an infection, I woke one morning with 80% of my hearing gone in one ear, this gave me the push to investigate ISL in more depth.
My journey began when I took an entry-level course in LCFE (Limerick College of Further Education), which I really enjoyed and gave me a real interest in the language and Deaf Culture. I then had the opportunity to go further with my learning when Disability Services in UL ran a course for their employees and kindly allowed me to tag along. Working on a busy Information Desk in the UL Library, any opportunity to learn and enhance communication at work is always going to be useful. ISL has also taught me to read people and their body language more, as ISL is not only a hand sign language, but also uses the entire body and facial expressions.
The classes included not only teaching the signs and conversation in ISL but also the history of the deaf community in Ireland and how to engage and communicate with deaf people in a deaf-friendly way. This is important, as awareness of the deaf community is needed to reduce barriers and highlight the experience and the issues deaf people face daily. I also joined a deaf choir, Hands in Harmony, prior to COVID-19, and this gave me a great opportunity to use and practice the ISL I had learned. By immersing myself in their witty and entertaining conversation I learned more there than I could have in any class.
I have only used ISL to talk to one student in the library in the six years I have been learning, mostly, I believe, as cochlear implants have become more accessible. Still, I have helped people in supermarkets, DIY shops and once just in the street when a deaf person was looking for directions to the train station in Limerick. If you want to learn a language or take a night class, please consider ISL. The more people who become aware of the deaf community, their culture and their language will hopefully lead to a more respectful and inclusive environment for everyone.
For more information on ISL, please visit the Irish Deaf Society website.