Deaf Brothers' Deaths Raise Isolation Concerns

Deaf rights campaigners plead for recognition to prevent more tragedies like death of Daniel and William McCarthy.

DUBLIN, Ireland -- Irish Examiner: The Irish Deaf Society said that, if given official status, Irish Sign Language would have to be used in State services and Deaf people would be less at risk of isolation.

Eddie Redmond, the society’s chief executive, said: “The Deaf community face huge barriers in accessing services due to the lack of services available through Irish Sign Language.

“Services such as social workers, home help, the HSE etc need to be more aware of the needs of Deaf people and the importance of communication and provision of information through ISL.”

Mr Redmond was speaking following the discovery of the bodies of semi-reclusive brothers, Daniel and William McCarthy, at their home in Dublin on Tuesday.

Originally from Kerry, the brothers, in their 70s, were Deaf with limited verbal communication, and lived together in a terraced home at the Millrose Estate in Bluebell, Dublin for many years.

Daniel is understood to have run the household and became carer for William in recent years. It is believed that he passed away several weeks ago and William was unable - or felt unable - to seek help.

Their remains were found by gardaí after a neighbour noticed Daniel’s car had not moved for some time and there had been no sign of either brother outside the house. Their deaths are expected to be referred to the coroner’s court for an inquest but foul play has been ruled out.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) declined to say if the brothers were in contact with any of its services in recent times or if it was reviewing any interactions they may have had.

A statement said: “The HSE cannot comment on individual cases but would like to offer sincere sympathy to the McCarthy family at this time.”

Groups working with older people urged people with concerns for their own well-being, or that of a neighbour, not to be afraid to knock on a door.

Alone said older people should be encouraged to approach their neighbours for help, while Age Action asked younger people not to worry about appearing nosy if they enquired after an older person in their community... Read More - Irish News.

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Saskatchewan Needs More ASL Interpreters

Deaf News: The Deaf Canadian community feels marginalized in Saskatchewan, says human rights report.

REGINA, SK -- The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission is pushing for more sign language interpreters in the province. The commission has just released a report identifying some of the barriers faced by the Deaf community.

Chief Commissioner David Arnot said people in the north suffer from a serious lack of access to services.

"There are seven trained and certified interpreters in Saskatchewan, as compared to Manitoba that has 70," he said. "So I think that is clearly an area that needs to improve."

The report also calls for universal screening of newborns and linking diagnosis with appropriate treatment.

Arnot said the commission is helping the Deaf community to meet with policy makers to address these issues. He said he believes there is the political will to make changes.

SOURCE - CBC News

Related Deaf Saskatchewanians:
Deaf Education 'Nonexistent' In First Nations
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Deaf Student Told To Stay Home From School

Deaf News: Deaf Canadian student told to stay home from mainstreaming school in afternoons due to a lack of interpreter, says mother.

ARVIAT, NU -- A mother in Arviat, Nunavut, says her Deaf daughter has been told to stay home from school in the afternoons because of a lack of sign language interpreters.

Rochelle Suluk's daughter Kimberly Joy Anoee is a Grade 9 student at John Arnalukjuak High School in a community of about 2,700.

Nunavut gets poor grade from audiologists for lack of child hearing programs.

At the beginning of the school year, Suluk said she met with the principal of the school who informed her about her daughter's change in schedule.

"The principal was saying that she only has to go to school only in the mornings because the ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter is looking after other students," she said.

School only has one full-time interpreter: The high school has one full-time American Sign Language (ASL) assistant. According to the superintendent, there are two Deaf students in the school.

Suluk says a handful of other students hard of hearing also require the use of the ASL assistant and are able to attend a full day of class.

Related: Mainstream School Lacks Communication Access

"I really want my Deaf child who is 15 years of age to go to school too, just like any other normal student who goes to school everyday," Suluk said.

Suluk said her daughter spends her afternoons at home with nothing to do. She has failed Grade 9 once and her mother is worried that by not going to school full-time, her education and social life is being compromised.

Families usually consulted: department - Nunavut's department of education would not discuss the details of Suluk's daughter, citing confidentiality and privacy concerns, but said it provides "appropriate programming for children with special needs."

Cully Robinson, the superintendent for schools in the Kivalliq region, said staff positions are reviewed on an annual basis.

"There's an ongoing gradual increase in school aged children with profound hearing impairments and ASL assistants assist with facilitating communication inside and outside the classroom," he said.

Robinson said a student's schedule could be reduced for a variety of reasons, including social, physical or academic needs.

"A change would not be implemented without family agreement, involvement of the school team, school administration and the involvement of the student support consultant," he said, adding the aim is to make sure every student is receiving the best education possible.

Related: Deaf Education 'Nonexistent' In First Nations

"The best way for parents to support their children is to work with the school and staff there who are very empathetic to the situation and want to help anyway that they can," he said.

No help - Suluk said she has contacted the school's committee and district education authority officials to discuss why her daughter is not attending class in the afternoon.

"I talked with them so many times," Suluk said.

"I thought they would be helping me from the very start."

She said it's heartbreaking when her daughter asks her why she can't go to school in the afternoon.

When she grows up, she says Anoee hopes to become a sign language interpreter to help other students in Arviat.

"If she ever graduates."

SOURCE - CBC News