Independents 4 Change TD Mick Wallace in the Dáil earlier this afternoon (top) and later this evening (above)
This afternoon in the Dáil.
Independents 4 Change TD Mick Wallace, among other TDs, raised the financial constraints besetting the Irish Deaf Society – after a quick changing of clothes.
The IDS – which provides services to 50,000 people across Ireland and held an emergency meeting last Saturday – is afraid it will have to close services, and possibly the organisation, due to lack of funding.
Mr Wallace said the IDS is seeking €150,000 so it won’t have to close in March.
The fears of closure come just a year after Irish Sign Language became an official language of the State.
During his contribution, Mr Wallace said:
“Ceann Comhairle, I noticed that you like my unusual shirt and I can tell you that I…I was asked to wear it in solidarity with the people of Malawi by the Irish ambassador to Malawi Gerry Cunningham.
“And I’m wearing it today in solidarity with the people of Malawi but also in solidarity with people, the most special group, the Irish Deaf Society. Please, minister, get the Government to do the right thing.”
Announcement – Update on IDS at risk of closure (Irish Deaf Society)
It embarrasses me that in this society the poor and the venerable are being left behind , I wonder of it bothers anyone else ?
Ok well I have encountered the IDS, also the visually and physically challenged on the same day. The hearing guy was quite political, which was of zero use to a bunch of engineers who wanted to know how they could make their work better. Raising awareness is one thing but being tone deaf (pun) to the audience is another.
Just a point to anyone from IDS if reading.
Ok well I have encountered the IDS, also the visually and physically challenged on the same day. The hearing guy was quite political, which was of zero use to a bunch of engineers who wanted to know how they could make their work better. Raising awareness is one thing but being tone deaf (pun) to the audience is another.
Just a point to anyone from IDS if reading.
So good he said it twice :-(
Is the “hearing guy” the deaf one?
Yes, or lack of hearing I should have said.
In fairness the one thing I learned from both the visual and hearing is that there is all sorts of conditions apart from just fully being blind or deaf and that when say, someone is fumbling for change getting onto a bus, to be a bit more patient. Likewise hearing, when you say something to someone and they look at you confused.
It is a very good course in disability awareness and certainly gave me food for thought.
I deleted one but sometimes the delete function appears to slip.
I like Mick’s second shirt which has the ‘kitenge’ look of shirts they wear in parts of Africa. Has Mick been on holiday in Uganda lately?
Maybe he saw GO’D’s tweet.