We are celebrating Deaf Awareness Week (4-10 May 2026) with a campaign of social media activity.
To begin our campaign, Deaf Social Care Assistant, Carmel is keen to share some of the differences between Irish Sign Language (ISL) and British Sign Language (BSL).
ISL while distinct from BSL, has evolved over centuries with its own grammar, signs, and cultural customs. ISL is used by around 1,500 Deaf people in Northern Ireland, and more widely across Ireland. Both languages are central to many in the Deaf community.
Thank you Carmel and to Deaf Community Coordinator, Cathy, for demonstrating.
We’re also helping to break down barriers during Deaf Awareness Week, sharing facts on Deaf History. To help staff at our charity improve their Deaf awareness, Cathy, Deaf Community Officer has been hosting lunch and learn sessions at our Head Office. We will be sharing a video of Cathy introducing staff to a range of topics on Deaf culture – from improving our communication to learning about Deaf history. Then we are wrapping up Deaf Awareness Week with our final post on Deaf history.
To find out more about the Deaf services and support we can provide, please visit Deaf – Sensory Services by Sight for Surrey
