Northern Ireland uniquely has two sign languages – British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL). There are at least 5,000 people in Northern Ireland who use sign language as their preferred means of communication (estimated at 3,500 people who use BSL and 1,500 who use ISL). In 2004 the then Northern Ireland Secretary of State recognised BSL and ISL as languages in their own right. This did not however provide any legal rights.  In February 2025, the Sign Language Bill was introduced to the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Bill recognises and promotes British Sign Language and Irish Sign Language, including the right to use, develop and preserve BSL and ISL, as well as to develop deaf culture, whilst preserving the architecture of disability legislation.

It is against this backdrop that the Centre for Children’s Rights has been commissioned by the Department for Communities to assess the impacts of sign language classes, for families of deaf children in Northern Ireland. The project will do this through three stages (i) establishing an advisory group of deaf young people, (ii) documentary analysis, and (iii) interviews and focus groups with parents, children and stakeholders. This is a key opportunity to develop an evidence base that can be used to inform the implementation of the eventual sign language legislation.

For more information contact Professor Bronagh Byrne, b.byrne@qub.ac.uk