Creating a unified system to ensure Ireland’s Deaf community learn the same sign language.
A committee of the National Association for the Deaf led by Sister Nicholas Griffey, has worked out a unified sign language system for the Deaf. All Deaf people will be taught the same sign language in future. Up to now, the boys learned one form and girls another.
This has created many problems for the Deaf themselves, for social workers, for chaplains.
It was decided that an effort should be made to bring the two systems together. The greater part of this work has been done by a group of Deaf people.
They are educated adult Deaf people who are using sign language, they’ve come together and they have amalgamated the signs.
The new unified code brings together the best of the old signs and some new ones. Sister Nicholas thinks the unity is a great step forward, not least because it is being done by the Deaf themselves.
In England there are three or four sets of signs. Northern Ireland will continue to use a system that is used in parts of Britain but,
At least the 26 counties will be united and such a small country I think we should have one set.
Arrangements are being made to coach the Deaf on a countrywide basis.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 29 June 1976. The reporter is Mícheál Ó Briain.