Dr. John Conama

Summary

While accepting the widespread perceived feeling of disconnectedness, the central hypothesis is to determine the level of how strong the sense of community the respondents feel. The level will be divided into geographical locations, gender, age groups, educational attainments and social classes. Despite the pessimistic feeling, the wording: "deaf community" is frequently used in many contexts, often in the public domain, especially when it comes to publicising the information gaps in the public service information. The recent coronavirus crisis is a recent example as the government had responded to calls for interpreters' constant presence at public briefings. The word "community" has positive connotations, and the fact that the word has brought in many positive changes for deaf people. Depending on the response, it may have potential further research.

Funding Agency

Trinity College Dublin

Programme

AHSS Benevolence Fund

Project Type

Community research

Person Months

18

Summary

Overview There is a strong perception among members of the Irish deaf community that the language community is in decline. The bases traditionally ensured the continuation of Irish Sign Language (ISL) are dwindling. For instance, enrolments in residential schools for the deaf have been decreasing steadily, and the numbers involved in community social, sports and cultural activities have been falling. Technological advances, consolidation of educational policies for deaf children in mainstream education, individualisation, and increased social mobility have also impacted how the community operates. There is tentative evidence that the well-being and self-identity of deaf people are put under considerable pressure due to the failure to replace older models with better informed and sustainable models. Why research Community Resilience? According to research (Patel 2019 et al.), individual resilience can be supported by knowledge, networks, relationships, communication, health, governance and leadership. Such skills or values like that are essential for deaf people to navigate the wider world (Listmann and Kruz 2020). As we know from research (Sense of Community research project and other research works), older community models ("brick-and-mortar" model; deaf clubs, residential schools etc.) are unsustainable in the long term, especially in this age of information / technological advances. New models that can sustain the community in the long term need to be found and developed to ensure its members can be resilient to navigate this world. Such new models can inform key policymakers and direct future service providers. These new models can replace older models as a basis for reinforcing the status of ISL in future. The ISL Act's first clause recognises the community's right to preserve the ISL. Aims " To investigate the role of the deaf community as a source of resilience for many deaf people who use Irish Sign Language (ISL) to adapt to and navigate Irish society. " Examine the possible development of sustainable models to ensure the continuity of resilience " Based on emerging findings, to examine how public policies can be articulated and supported to develop the vitality of the Irish deaf community as a source of resilience.

Funding Agency

REACH Deaf Services

Project Type

Community

Person Months

15

Summary

This proposal aims to better understand the assortative relationships within the deaf community, especially those using Irish Sign Language (ISL). This area is quite under-researched. An insight can be gained from the historical research of such relationships and their comparative correlation to today"s situation. Another insight can be gained from the question of whether assortative relationships can be a mainstay of sustaining Irish Sign Language (ISL) and providing positive mental well-being to those in assortative and non-assortative relationships.

Funding Agency

AHSSBF

Person Months

18

Summary

The DESIGNS project aims to bring together 7 partners from 4 EU countries who are renowned experts in the fields of Education and Training, Employment, Sign Language Interpreting and Deaf Community Advocacy. The overall aim of the project is to create VET and CPD training resources and exchange best practices across Europe to facilitate greater participation of Deaf sign language users in employment.

Funding Agency

European Commission

Programme

Erasmus +

Project Type

Employment Research

Summary

The University of Sussex leads this, with partners in Ireland (Centre for Deaf Studies, TCD), Austria and Finland. The project focuses on the creation of digital archives of community experiences in rural, nomadic, and Deaf communities. A key objective of this project is to increase the participation in lifelong learning of marginalised and disadvantaged groups and, as a result of this participation to increase their engagement with civic society and learning. It fosters learning opportunities based on participation in local community activities, developing alternative and innovative ways of learning, and sharing good practice on intercultural education, learning by marginalized citizens and their linguistic, social and cultural inclusion.

Funding Agency

This project is funded by the EU (Grundtvig programme).

Project Type

European-wide archive training project

Person Months

24