In the past 12 months, the NI Deaf News team did daily news summary in Northern Ireland’s two sign languages, making it fully accessible for the deaf community in Northern Ireland. Videos were sent every day on social media: chiefly Facebook and YouTube.

Northern Ireland's Department for Communities (DfC) paid for that from May 2020 to March 2021 as part of the emergency pandemic funding. From April 2021, no more money from DfC.

The Deaf News Team are still doing the news summary on a voluntary basis, but not every day – only 3 times a week.

It is a devastating blow for Northern Ireland’s deaf community. People, deaf and hearing, have found our news service very useful and informative. Until now, the community feels more confident and assertive because of regular information in our two languages.

We ask you to sign this petition: to ask the Department for Communities to resume paying for this very important service: that Northern Ireland Assembly  have a duty to ensure that the deaf community receives regular updates in our two sign languages, made accessible for everyone.

Please support our community and protect our two languages!

many thanks from NI Deaf News Team.