The Sign for Future project is a project that aims to embed and further grow ISL (Irish Sign Language) in Tipperary, as a follow up to the recently funded Sign Up for ISL Tipperary project.
ISL (Irish Sign Language) became the 3rd officially recognised language of the Irish State in 2017. It is the first language of over 5,000 people in Ireland and approximately 40,000 people in general use ISL to communicate with family, friends and or their co-workers. ISL is a full language with its own complex linguistic structure and features.
The aim of the Sign for Future is to provide a train the trainer’s course in ISL Tutor skills, to upskill Deaf members of the community, whose 1st language is ISL, to become Deaf ISL Tutors in the community.
Sign for Future will ensure Deaf tutors will go on to gain meaningful paid employment in their local communities, and there will be availability of ISL tutors locally. Currently, it proves difficult to source ISL tutors.
The SOLAS Collaboration and Innovation Fund supported the Sign Up for ISL project in previous funding rounds enabling seeds to be sown to grow ISL in Tipperary. Over 60 people took classes in Basic Introduction to ISL in 2024.
Sign for Future’s core aim is to build on this success and the strong momentum around supporting growth of the ISL language. The project ensures we make every effort as a community not to lose this.
Sign for Future can be mainstreamed
This project is a perfect example of one that can easily be mainstreamed across the region. The HSE can offer support to guide setting up a project, working with Tipperary CoCo, the TETB, and Tipperary Libraries, the project can be offered in a step by step guide example to any organization or group wishing to pursue a journey to raise awareness of ISL and meet a hugely unmet need across regions going forward.
For further information on how to initiate a project in your area contact : Anne Bradshaw, HSE, Disability Services, Tipperary Primary Care Centre, Rosanna Road, Tipperary Town, anne.bradshaw@hse.ie