AGM 2025 (Reporting on financial year 2024)

IDS welcomes nominations for new Board Directors

3 of our current board directors’ terms finish their terms this year. Our Chairperson Lianne Quigley, Vice Chairperson Professor John Bosco Conama and Lynn Cullen.

Lianne has confirmed that she will serve for another term of 3 years. Both Lynn and JBC will not seek another term as director and will retire at the AGM in June 2025.

We would like to thank Lynn for her committed work over the last 3 years on the board and representing the board at meetings of CISLI. Lynn also joined our Digital Education Committee which she has agreed to continue serving on.

I am sure all of our members will all join us in expressing huge thanks and gratitude to Professor John Bosco Conama who has been involved in IDS for 31 years, 25 of those as a board director. His work in IDS the community, in research and academia, in education, over the last 3 decades has contributed to the progressive improvement of rights for Deaf people in Ireland. JBC has played a leading role on the board for many years getting IDS to where we are now.

We look forward to continuing to work with JBC in his role as a fellow and Professor in Trinity College and as a director of the Centre for Deaf Studies.

With the retirement of JBC and Lynn, we  now have availability of 4 spaces for new board directors. We welcome new director nominations to represent different parts of the Deaf community. The meetings are on Zoom, and you can be a board director even if you do not live in Dublin.

New directors will be supported and trained with a mentor. If you are interested and would like to find out more, please contact us and we can discuss it with you or fill out the motion form to nominate your preferred candidate. All candidates must be nominated by two members.

If you have renewed your membership or joined this year:

• Please email an RSVP to us now at membership@irishdeafsociety.ie and tell us if you will attend in person or on Zoom.
• If you are attending on Zoom please register using this link https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gKY29adGRga-MdexWIVg9w

If you are not a 2025 member yet you can renew membership on our website www.irishdeafsociety.ie/membership/

If you need any support in relation to the AGM contact our advocacy Department at advocacy@irishdeafsociety.ie or text 086 4401443 or phone 01 860 1878.

Please put the date of the AGM in your calendar and we look forward to seeing you there, in person or online – Saturday 28^th June in the Clayton Hotel, Limerick, at 14:00 and we will have a social event afterwards!

Every year to represent Deaf people in Government policy consultations and in 2023 we made many submissions on topics from the new IHREC Strategy and the Green Paper on Disability Reform to the National Advocacy Service and ISL on the school curriculum. In the section of this report titled “IDS Campaign for Rights and Equality” we describe our submissions and engagements with the public sector in more detail.

It is clear that there is a need for more Deaf-led research to build an evidence base to support our campaigns. IDS is committed to collaborative research and we were proud to work with Dr. Noel O'Connell in 2024 on research funded by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) titled “Breaking the Barriers: A study of Deaf people’s experience of employment discrimination”.

In addition, we started a second piece of research, again funded by (IHREC) titled “Barriers to studying and working as an ISL Interpreter: Developing an evidence base in order to launch a campaign to increase the number of ISL Interpreters in Ireland”. This project is due to finish in August 2025.

IDS Further Education and Training Department provides education courses for Deaf adults and ISL courses for hearing people throughout Ireland, in-person and online. Our Advocacy Department provides Deaf awareness training for State and private organisations, and this report has details on our targets and achievements in this area.

2024 was a busy year, IDS engaged with the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and European Union of the Deaf (EUD) at webinars and consultations including the EUD General Assembly in Belgium. There is more information about these events and more in the International Affairs section of this report.

Our celebration of ISL Awareness Week (including International Week of Deaf People 2024 and International Day of Sign Languages) and National ISL Day were a great success with media coverage, buildings lit up blue and many events both online and in person throughout the country. There are more details about this celebration in the Advocacy Department Report.'

A note on board elections at the upcoming AGM in June 2025. This year Professor John Bosco Conama and Lynn Cullen will step down from the Board

We would like to thank Lynn for her committed work over the last 3 years on the board and representing the board at meetings of CISLI. Lynn also joined our Digital Education Committee which she has agreed to continue serving on.

This year Professor Conama became the first Deaf person to be elected to the Fellowship of Trinity Colleg and on behalf of IDS we would like to extend our congratulations to him as he continues to be a role model for what can be achieved by Deaf people in our community.

I am sure all of our members will all join us in expressing huge thanks and gratitude to Professor John Bosco Conama who has been involved in IDS for 31 years, 25 of those as a board director. His work in IDS the community, in research and academia, in education, over the last 3 decades has contributed to the progressive improvement of rights for Deaf people in Ireland.

Many thanks to our board, CEO, staff, volunteers, and IDS members within the Deaf community for your unwavering support for our campaigns, services and activities. We will continue to work for your rights, access and equality.

All the goals in the Strategic Plan are based on the Deaf community’s feedback and opinions, it is your plan and ours. IDS staff worked hard to create clear tasks and work stages for all goals, and I am pleased to say that we made significant progress on our strategic plan throughout 2024. You can refer to a separate section in our Annual Report to see a progress report on each goal.

We have identified several key areas of improvement that underpin our ability to achieve strategic goals: better community engagement, building deaf-led research and evidence to support our policy positions and developing a strategic approach to fundraising to ensure sustainable income for core services.

In 2024 we expanded our team and created new roles on our staff to meet each of these challenges:

• A Research & Policy Officer to support our national advocacy work and policy feedback to Government
• A Community Outreach Officer on our Advocacy Team with a goal of re-starting our IDS Roadshow visiting National Council Members throughout Ireland
• 2024 was the first full year with our new Retail and Fundraising manager who had started work in IDS in December 2023

IDS now has almost 30 staff specialising in different areas from Policy to Advocacy and Education and we are achieving a lot. You can see news about our achievements for Deaf people on our website and social media every month.

This year, the report from our Finance Department shows that our financial situation is stable and that we have significant reserves, almost €1m. We will continue to manage our income and expenses in a responsible way, but at the same time making sure we are confident about spending to achieve our goals.

In 2024 we continued to develop alliances and partnerships with other organisations in the Deaf community, the Disability Community and in the Government and Public Sector. We cannot achieve our goals on our own and strong partnerships are essential.

IDS is a Deaf-led organisation and recognised as a DPO by the United Nation. A DPO is a “Disabled Person’s Organisation” which means the organisation is led by the people it represents. We are proud to be a founding member of the DPO Network, an alliance of 5 DPO’s in Ireland including: IDS, As I Am, Disabled Women Ireland, Independent Living Movement Ireland and the National Platform of Self Advocates. We are working together to influence policy and disability services so that they are delivered on a rights basis and to monitor the Governments implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

We are looking forward to continuing our work campaigning for your rights, equality and access for all Deaf people. Please support our campaigns, our services and get involved.

I would like to thank all of our members, Chairperson and Board, our staff, the National Council, our peer advocates, FET teachers, tutors, and everyone in the Deaf community for their support in 2024. We look forward to the coming years and what we can achieve together for Deaf people in Ireland.

To ensure a Deaf community perspective we consult with the ISL Act Cross Community Group, and the IDS National Council of Deaf clubs and organisations throughout the country. Our research and policy activities are guided by our strategic goals which are detailed in a separate section of this Annual Report.

In addition, we work closely with other organisations in the Disability Sector primarily through the DPO Network, of which we are a founding member. Our work in the Network is focussed on implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the status of Disabled Person’s Organisations (DPOs) in Ireland.

We regularly inform our community about our submissions and representation work in the weekly e-info email newsletter, and our “IDS Update” articles and “Government Submissions” in the publication section of our website.

Policy Submissions and Consultations

Submission to IHREC on their Strategy 2025-2027: IDS highlighted the need for stronger enforcement of the ISL Act, early ISL access for Deaf children, inclusive education and meaningful engagement to ensure human rights and equality are fully realised for the Deaf community.

Submission to the Joint Committee on Disability Matters - Planning for Inclusive Communities: IDS highlighted that local authorities must prioritise accessible information, inclusive community engagement and physical accessibility for Deaf people, including the use of ISL and universal design.

Submission to the Department of Social Protection on the Green Paper on Disability Reform: IDS urged the Department of Social Protection to adopt a balanced approach to disability payments, addressing concerns around raising the Disability Allowance eligibility age, implementing a tiered payment system and overemphasising employment despite the persistent barriers Deaf people face in the workplace. Key recommendations included a 'Cost of Disability' payment, Free Travel Pass and an Access to Work Scheme similar to the UK.

Emergency Call Answering Service: IDS highlighted serious accessibility issues with the current ECAS emergency SMS/Text service, including unclear registration requirements, slow response times, lack of ISL translations and reliance on written English which disadvantages many Deaf users with lower literacy levels. We advocated for urgent improvements such as ISL video relay services and real-time communication options.

Pre-Budget Submission to the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands: IDS called for urgent funding to expand regional outreach, increase ISL interpreter availability, support families and ensure meaningful engagement with IDS, alongside a request for a meeting with CIB and SLIS to improve service delivery.

Night-Time Economy Accessibility Survey: IDS highlighted that equal access to cultural and social events must include the ISL interpreters and accessible materials. Event organisers should proactively provide ISL interpretation at convenient times, promote events widely to the Deaf community, receive Deaf Awareness training and implement technological solutions to improve accessibility.

Submission to the National Advocacy Service (NAS): IDS highlighted that NAS is currently inaccessible to Deaf people due to a lack of ISL translations, insufficient Deaf awareness and misunderstanding of legal obligations, making it neither Deaf-friendly nor inclusive. To address this, NAS should receive Deaf Awareness Training, collaborate with the Deaf-led IDS Advocacy Service and urgently ensure ISL access and cultural competence to better support Deaf clients.

Submission to the NCCA Consultation on the Primary Curriculum: IDS highlighted that ISL should be explicitly recognised alongside English and Irish in the Primary Language Curriculum. To support this inclusion, urgent action is needed to address the critical shortage of qualified ISL teachers, ensure culturally appropriate teaching led by Deaf experts and engage meaningfully with the Deaf community and experts in the curriculum’s development and implementation.

Pre-Budget Submission to the Department of Children, Equality and Disability: IDS requested sustained funding to fulfil its role as a DPO, ensuring meaningful engagement in policymaking, community development and the preservation of ISL and Deaf culture. Key budget priorities included addressing the national shortage of ISL interpreters, expanding access to interpreting services across sectors, supporting Deaf education and employment and ensuring the State’s capacity for co-creation.

Draft Access Rules for Television Broadcasters: IDS highlighted issues with ISL and subtitles both in terms of quality and quantity. The targets relating to ISL are very low compared to those of subtitling. It was highlighted that subtitles do not constitute full access for Deaf people whose first language is ISL. This led to a follow-up in-person consultation where these issues were discussed in more detail.

Communication on Closure of Residential Facilities: IDS highlighted key learnings from the closure of St. Joseph’s House and outlined the critical need for early, honest and culturally appropriate communication with Deaf residents using qualified ISL interpreters (including Deaf interpreters) and ensuring their full understanding and involvement in decision-making.

Education Quality Assurance Standards for Clinical Counselling and Education Psychologists: IDS highlighted the need for ISL interpreters (both hearing and Deaf) and accessible communication materials as mandated by the ISL Act 2017. Additionally, all mental health professionals should receive Deaf Awareness Training to understand Deaf culture, communication and the historical and systemic factors contributing to higher mental health risks within the Deaf community.

Department of Education Review of the 1st Phase of ISL Scheme: IDS highlighted a rights-based approach instead of medical-based selection criteria is essential to uphold the linguistic and cultural identity of Deaf children. IDS also called for inclusive recruitment practices for ISL Specialist Classroom Support and ISL Advisor roles, involving Deaf individuals in assessments and prioritising ISL proficiency. This led to a follow-up in-person consultation where these issues were discussed in more detail.

Engagement with National Council for Special Education (NCSE): IDS met with NCSE to discuss strengthening engagement, focusing on NCSE policies and their approach to Deaf Education. IDS presented its Education Policy, identifying gaps in NCSE’s current policies. NCSE expressed their commitment in continued collaboration and there is a follow-up meeting planned for mid-February to discuss each topic in more detail and how NCSE will engage, in addition IDS is doing a review of the most recent NCSE policy advice on Deaf education which is not very out of date, from 2011 based on research and data from 2008.

Draft National Standards for Home Support Services: IDS highlighted the importance of accessible communication (specifically ISL) and Deaf awareness across all principles and standards to ensure Deaf ISL users can fully access, participate in and benefit from services.

Research Activities

In early 2024, we published a research report called “Breaking the Barriers: A study of Deaf people’s experience of employment discrimination”. The research was carried out by Dr. Noel O'Connell and was funded by the IHREC Human Rights & Equality Grant Scheme 2022-23. The report was formally launched at the IHREC headquarters.

The report highlighted the persistent discrimination faced by Deaf individuals in Ireland's employment sector, based on interviews with 14 Deaf adults. Many reported negative experiences during job-seeking and employment, including discouragement from school career guidance counsellors and a lack of access to ISL interpreters during interviews and at work. These barriers violate key legislation such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), the ISL Act 2017 and the Employment Equality Act 1998–2015. Deaf people continue to face mistreatment, bullying and exclusion in the workplace, as well as from policy-making processes, where the views of DPOs such as IDS are often ignored.

Based on these findings, the report recommends that the government officially acknowledge this discrimination and involve Deaf community representatives in policy development. It calls for employer education on Deaf culture and ISL, ISL classes for workplace staff and financial support for employers hiring Deaf individuals. Additionally, the report stresses the need for larger-scale research and surveys to better understand employment patterns and include the perspectives of employers and career guidance professionals regarding Deaf employment.
Towards the end of 2024 we started an Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) funded research project “Barriers to studying and working as an ISL Interpreter: Developing an evidence base in order to launch a campaign to increase the number of ISL Interpreters in Ireland”.

Dr. Gearóidín McEvoy was recruited as the Project Researcher and steering group was established. A survey for ISL/English Interpreters and students was launched in February 2025 and over 80% of interpreters completed the survey. It was also decided to include a survey for Finnish and Finnish Swedish Sign Language Interpreters. Interviews took place with ISL interpreters and key stakeholders (Irish and Finnish). This project is due to finish in August 2025.

World Federation of the Deaf

IDS celebrated International Week of Deaf People 2024 and International Day of Sign Languages 2024. As part of the celebrations, we collaborated with organisations such as RTÉ, Leinster House, Cork City Hall and National Emergency Services. There are more details about this celebration in the Advocacy Department Report.

European Union of the Deaf

IDS Chairperson Lianne Quigley and Board Member Sofiya Kalinova attended EUD General Assembly in Belgium in May - 29 EUD members were in attendance. There were 3 motions, 2 were withdrawn after discussions and 1 was accepted. This is in relation to Sign Language and Children. The EUD cannot campaign in individual countries, but they can campaign in a more generic way regarding the risks to a Deaf child with no sign language. EUD will consider how to raise this awareness and then individual countries can campaign based on their own government policies.
Other topics discussed include the European Accessibility Act which is due to be implemented in 2025. Countries are free to pick and choose which sections of the act they implement in domestic law. In 2025 the EUD GA will be in Poland and in 2026 the EUD board will come to Ireland. The EUD 40-year anniversary will be in 2025.

Other EUD activities included:

• Submission made to the EUD on CyberBullying, with support from JustSigns. The results from EUD were that the main problems for Deaf people right now are the lack of research and accessible resources.
• Involved in EUD’s Alternative Report to the UN CRPD committee
• IDS Chairperson Lianne Quigley presented about Ireland in EUD’s Focus Group on Gender Equality in part of EU Gender Equality 2020-2025.
• The Advocacy Manager, Elaine Grehan, and IDS Chairperson, Lianne Quigley, attended EUD 3rd Deaf Women European Forum in Brno, Czech Republic. The theme for the conference was '30 Years of Deaf Women: Then and Now?'

Europe

• The Advocacy Manager, Elaine Grehan, attended the Mental Health Conference Hosted by the European Society for Mental Health and Deafness. The theme was "Joining Forces New Perspectives: the future of Mental Health for Deaf people" and the conference was in Haarlem, the Netherland. The conference was truly inspired, and it influenced the guidance paper for the IDS Mental Health Working Group.

United Kingdom

• Attended the Legal Recognition of Sign Language Webinar: “Realities of Deaf Experience”
• Attended Belfast Queen’s University BSL Network Conference

Other international activities included:

• Created ISL Translation on the update of the EU Disability Card and shared on our website and social media platforms.
• Created Manifesto and ISL Information about the European Elections and shared on our website and social media platforms.
• Attended Social Inclusion Forum Group on Disability by Community Work Ireland and European Anti-Poverty Network
• Involved in EU Fundamental Right Agency’s research on Abuse in Residential Institutions

In 2024 we welcomed Emily Matassa to our team as our new Community Outreach Officer. Emily’s role includes liaison with local Deaf clubs in our National Council and re-starting the IDS roadshow with a target of running IDS meetings in 5 local areas throughout Ireland.

We continued to develop our engagement and communications with members and the general public. This included more events in our new Information Office in the DVI atrium area and adding new content and ISL translations to our website. We also started publishing shared monthly updates about IDS achievements.
The Advocacy Department staff work closely with our Research and Policy team supporting responses to requests for submissions, policy recommendations, responding to surveys and attending consultations and steering group meetings. These activities are described in more detail in the section of this report titled “IDS Campaign for Rights and Equality” and “International Affairs.”

Advocacy Service

Our Advocacy service is unique because it is led by Deaf people for Deaf people. We support and provide information in our clients preferred language, Irish Sign Language. Our service advocates for Deaf people and empowers them to recognise discrimination and promote equality, equity, and inclusion. Our Information Office in the DVI Atrium is a place where Deaf people can find information about our services and get help finding out about their rights. In 2024 our Advocacy service supported 725 client interactions delivered to 249 individual clients, with our busiest months being April and June.

Deaf Awareness Training

Deaf Awareness training for hearing organisations highlights the lived experience and barriers faced by the Deaf community. It fosters understanding and promotes communication in a Deaf-friendly manner. Raising awareness is crucial for breaking down barriers and fostering inclusivity. In 2024 we continued to deliver Deaf Awareness Courses to private and public organisations. Over the course of the year 857 people attended 35 courses.

Deaf Career Project

This project delivers career guidance for Deaf people. We believe that with the right opportunities, all Deaf people can overcome challenges and experience the same successes as anyone else. But key to the creation of opportunity and removal of barriers in education, learning and work is accessible guidance.

Key activities for the project in 2024 include:

Careers on the Couch Podcast Series: We recorded six video interviews with career experts like guidance counsellors and college staff. These videos were in ISL and gave clear, helpful advice about jobs, education, and career choices. They were to support Deaf people in learning about different pathways.

Peer Mentor Monthly Meetings: We had monthly check-in meetings with our Deaf Peer Mentors throughout 2024. These meetings helped keep mentors up to date with what’s happening in the world of career guidance. Also gave them more confidence to talk with the Deaf community and offer the right support.

ISL Glossary for Career and Education Terms: We translated 26 important guidance and education-related words like “guidance counsellor,” “career path,” or “further education” into ISL. This glossary helps Deaf people better understand key terms when looking for jobs or taking part in courses. We aim to add 20 more words by July 2025.

Future Learning & Work Conference: In April, we hosted a large event at the Mansion House focused on education and employment for Deaf people. It was a chance to share what the Deaf Career Project has done so far and to build strong connections with decision-makers, policy makers, and other organisations.

Irish Deaf Society Events

National ISL Day 14th December 2024: Our celebrations of National ISL Day 2024 were a great success. Our social media had great engagement, with support from RTÉ, Trinity College Dublin, The Bar of Ireland, The Houses of the Oireachtas, Holy Family School for the Deaf, and more.

• We hosted an event at Deaf Village Ireland, where IDS CEO, Vice Chairperson and Advocacy Manager spoke. There was a great turnout, including students from Holy Family School, and everyone enjoyed tea, coffee, and treats.
• We shared a video featuring 7 Deaf people explaining the meaning behind the new Deaf flags colours and symbols.
• We also featured a video on the Declaration on the Rights of Deaf Children, with 10 Deaf children from the Holy Family School signing each article.
• IDS supplied Deaf Flags to our National Council Members (NCMs) to promote the celebration in their communities.
• The Community Outreach Officer and Advocacy Project Officer held a Zoom meeting with 14 NCMs to discuss the importance of the celebration, the theme of the Deaf Flag, and ideas for local events. A draft letter for local TDs to fly the flag was shared, and the importance of social media for spreading awareness was highlighted.

International Week of Deaf People 2024: The Irish Deaf Society marks International Week of Deaf People each year by celebrating ISL Awareness week. Our celebrations in 2024 were a great success, with strong engagement on social media, support from public figures, schools, and cultural bodies, and local events promoting ISL and Deaf culture. RTÉ, government officials, and local Deaf groups all played important roles in raising awareness.

Highlights of the week included:

• RTÉ raised the Deaf flag at their headquarters and presented coverage on RTÉ Nationwide and RTÉ Junior
• Minister Paschal Donohoe and the Lord Mayor of Dublin posted videos signing for ISL rights
• Many schools, cultural bodies, and organisations like the National Gallery of Ireland and Trinity College Dublin shared posts and events promoting ISL and Deaf culture.
• Institutions and cultural landmarks around the country were lit up blue to support ISL and Deaf rights including Leinster House, Cork City Hall, Kilkenny Castle, Bunratty Castle, and Cork County Hall
• IDS collaborated with Deaf Village Ireland (DVI) to host a coffee morning and launched a series of videos focusing on the weeks daily themes such as ISL Advocacy and the launch of an ISL Charter
• Local groups like Cork Deaf Club, Mayo Deaf Group, and Kerry Deaf Group organised events and raised awareness
• An event with Emergency Services was hosted at Deaf Village Ireland on 10th September, highlighting their role in emergency preparedness for the Deaf community.

Overall, the Advocacy Department has been extremely busy in 2024 and we will continue to campaign for Deaf people’s rights and represent their views to the State and public services.

Deaf Adult Courses 2023-2024

Course Count:
2023 40
2024 38

Beneficiaries:
2023 - 281
2024 - 310

Deaf Adult Courses – 2024 Summary
Before the start of the Spring and Autumn 2024 terms, a total of 400 registrations were received for Deaf Adult Courses. After 30 withdrawals, 370 learners commenced their courses. Of these, 25 learners dropped out, 33 did not attend (no shows), and 2 learners deferred to a future term. Despite these challenges, a total of 310 learners successfully completed their courses, reflecting a strong overall completion rate and continued engagement in the programme

2024 Number of Deaf Adult Courses
Ancestry and Genealogy - 0
Business & Management - 3
Creative Arts and Media - 7
Deaf Literature & Literature - 2
English and Spoken Languages - 5
Financial & Accounting - 0
Healthy Eating & Cookery - 0
History & Deaf History - 4
IT & Computers - 2
Learn to Drive - 4
Nature & Environment - 3
Politics and Society - 3
Psychology and Mental Health - 3
STEM - 2
Total of courses 38

Irish Sign Language Courses Hearing 2023-2024

Hearing Course Count
2023 - 69
2024 - 83

Hearing Beneficiaries
2023 - 555
2024 - 490

Irish Sign Language Courses Deaf & Hard of Hearing 2023-2024

Deaf and HOH Course Count
2023 - 13
2024 - 13

Deaf and HOH Beneficiaries
2023 - 62
2024 - 71

ISL Courses – 2024 Summary: Hearing learners: A total of 554 hearing learners registered for ISL courses including ISL QQI Level 3, ISL QQI Level 4 and ISL non-QQI courses in 2024. After 17 withdrawals, 535 learners began the courses. There were 33 dropouts, 5 no shows, and 7 deferrals. In total, 490 hearing learners successfully completed their courses.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Learners: A total of 91 Deaf and Hard of Hearing learners registered for ISL courses. With 5 withdrawals, 84 learners began the courses. There were 7 dropouts, 3 no shows, and 3 deferrals. A total of 71 Deaf/HOH learners successfully completed their courses.

Combined Total of Hearing learners and Deaf / Hard of Hearing learners: 645 learners registered for ISL courses in total. After 22 withdrawals, 619 learners commenced the courses. There were 40 dropouts, 8 no shows, and 10 deferrals. In total, 561 learners completed their ISL courses in 2024

ISL Courses for Hearing learners

QQI Level 3 - 294
QQI Level 4 - 62
Non-QQI - 134

490 hearing learners completed ISL courses in 2024 is a great achievement. In learning ISL, they’re not just learning a language, but they are taking a step to connect with the Deaf community. This growing interest shows a strong move toward a more inclusive society for everyone.

Summary of Deaf Adult Courses and ISL Courses in 2024: We had a total of 1,045 learners registered for both Deaf Adult courses and ISL courses before the start of courses in Spring and Autumn terms of 2024. 871 learners completed the courses.

Learners Survey 2024

A learner satisfaction survey was conducted across all our courses to assess key service areas including registration, course information, access to our learning management system, support service and overall experience. The result reflects a strong level of satisfaction among our Deaf and hearing learners.

• 86% of learners, on average, were satisfied with the registration process and course details, indicating that the majority found the enrolment process clear and the course information accessible.
• An impressive 94% of learners stated they would recommend their course to others, demonstrating a high level of overall satisfaction and perceived value in the learning experience.
• 90% of respondents reported being satisfied with the FET service, particularly in terms of the support and information provided throughout their learning journey.

These findings highlight the effectiveness of current service delivery, particularly in learner engagement and support. The strong recommendation rate suggests that learners view their FET courses as valuable and worthwhile. However, minor differences between course types suggest there may be opportunities to further enhance registration clarity and support services.

Projects and Collaboration

Digital Education:  In 2024, we continue to develop our content and course materials on the Learning Management System (LMS) Brightspace. The LMS is integrated with video conferencing for our online classes and learners give us positive feedback about the usability of the system. In 2023 we added ISL Linguistics Level 1 and 2 to the LMS and those courses started in 2024. The learners who attended these classes found the course materials on the LMS very useful with ISL video resources about ISL Linguistics.

ISL Dictionary: As part of the 2023–2026 IDS strategy plan, one of our FET key goals was to conduct a feasibility study for the development of an English–ISL Dictionary. In 2024, we successfully secured project funding from Rethink Ireland to implement the first-ever English–ISL Dictionary, focusing on 200 employment-related terms. A Project Officer, Sinead Winters, was recruited in October 2024 to work with a steering committee on this initiative. The dictionary was successfully launched in March 2025 and is now available on the IDS website, marking a significant milestone in ISL accessibility to dictionary.

South East Technological University (SETU):  In 2024, the FET Deaf Adult Course team collaborated with Family Carers Ireland to deliver a series of workshops specifically designed for Deaf carers who face barriers in accessing information and support. These workshops aimed to empower Deaf carers, equipping them with the skills and confidence to advocate for themselves and for the persons they care for. This successful collaboration led to a new partnership with South East Technological University (SETU), which also works closely with Family Carers Ireland on an ongoing project funded by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to provide a 12-week course on Level 6 Certificate in Advocacy. This course will be provided to Deaf carers and is scheduled to commence in February 2025.

Coding Institute: The collaboration with the Coding Institute in Limerick continued to be successful and positive. Our learners progressed well in their studies. Three of our learners have successfully gained employment as software development as a result in Silence Speaks which is a UK-based technology start up with focus on accessibility for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people through AI-powered avatars capable of translating text into sign language.

Engagement with the ETB Sector: To strengthen collaboration and referral pathways, a comprehensive database of ETBs and FET contacts was developed, identifying sixteen key stakeholders across multiple ETBs. We are working to develop communication channels to promote awareness of IDS FET services and explore potential partnership opportunities in areas such as training and programme delivery to support learners' progression pathways.

Education Team Development

New Staff in 2024: In 2024, IDS FET expanded its team to strengthen operations and improve service delivery. Joanne Chester, formerly the ISL Media Production Coordinator, moved on to a new role in FET as Course Management Assistant to support the Course Manager in overseeing FET operations and providing day-to-day assistance to the FET team. Marion Christiansen joined as Quality Assurance Assistant to support the Quality Assurance Manager in maintaining and developing high standards across all FET programmes. We also had other internal staff changes. Robyn Cunneen, our former ISL Administrator, moved into a new role within IDS as Research & Policy Officer. Melissa Howlett was successfully appointed as her replacement. Following Joanne’s transition to her new role, Sophie Kennedy was appointed as the new ISL Media Production Coordinator.

Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and Staff Training: Every year we delivery initiatives to enhance staff capabilities and support effective teaching and learning practices. Our aim isto ensure continuous staff development and to build both onsite and online classroom competencies. This includes participating in online webinars and workshops facilitated both internally by us and externally by outside organisations or experts in education and training.

Training in 2024 included workshops delivered to our teaching staff by Further Education Support Service (FESS) on further education and training opportunities and challenges presented by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and “Active Teaching and Learning: Visual Thinking, Mapping & Framing Techniques.” The IDS staff also delivered internal training to teaching staff to ensure shared understanding of our policies, quality assurance processes, accreditation requirements, and compliance standards.

ISL Tutor Training Course: The demand for ISL classes continues to grow all over Ireland, but a shortage of qualified ISL teachers remains a crisis. We do need ISL Tutor training, more than ever, to expand ISL tutors. Last year, we applied for funding to Solas with the aim of launching a new ISL tutor training programme in 2025. Unfortunately, the application is still in negotiation. We have received the feedback from SOLAS and are now looking at different ways to meet their criteria. We are still fully committed to making ISL tutor training happen. It is important for the Deaf community and for the future of ISL classes across the country as this is a national crisis.

Quality Assurance: From a quality assurance perspective, significant progress has been made in aligning FET operations with national standards. Our submission to QQI seeking approval for an Extension of Scope for fully online and blended learning, along with our action plans and related tasks, was accepted. These will help us formulate a quality and strategic initiatives Action Plan as a living document, allowing IDS FET to continuously improve and enhance its approach to teaching, learning, and assessment. Furthermore, a draft Online Education Strategy 2025–2028 has been created, outlining our commitment to providing inclusive, high-quality online and blended education that supports lifelong learning. The final application for approval is due in June 2025 and will then be submitted to the QQI panel for review.

Conclusion: As we look ahead to 2025, IDS FET remains committed to delivering quality, inclusive and learner-centred education. This includes enhancing professional development, embedding a culture of quality assurance, and expanding our programme for Deaf and hearing learners both onsite and online.  A key challenge continues to be the shortage of qualified teachers and tutors of ISL. In 2024 IDS continued planning a new ISL tutor training course in conjunction with the Centre for Deaf Studies and our funders, we are hopeful this course will be approved for funding and delivered in 2025.

One new direction for us in 2024 was a focus on legacy gifting and IDS is now a member of an organisation called My Legacy and we have developed website content and promotional resources asking the public to consider thinking of IDS in their wills.

During 2024 we received significant legacy gifts including an anonymous donation of €20,000 in respect of a deceased daughter identified as Louise, over €221,000 from the estate of Áine Madden, €5,000 from the estate of Madeline Cunningham and €2,000 from the estate of Jack O’Dwyer.

We would like to express our thanks the families of the deceased for these bequests which make a huge difference to our campaign for rights.

We would also like to say a special thanks to Ulster Bank Ireland DAC, who made donations to the Irish community sector as part of their process leaving the Irish market. This included a donation to IDS of €400,000 in 2024.

Social Enterprise Shops

One of our goals with our shops is to engage with local communities and promote the work of the Irish Deaf Society and Deaf awareness at a regional and local level. In 2024 we re-branded our shops as “social enterprise shops” and we are currently exploring how our Education Department and the Retail can work together to support employment opportunities for Deaf workers in mainstream retail companies.

Our shop operation expanded in 2024 and we opened a new shop in Bray. We also moved to a new location in Drogheda and refurbished our shop in Ashbourne.

Overall sales for 2024 were €331,000, this is roughly a 10% increase from 2023. This was an increase on projections for the year of 2%. Ashbourne and Drogheda performed above projections while our shop in Bray was not in operation for the full year and needs time to develop in this new location.

We see a trend of falling sales in retail in general in Ireland. An additional challenge is reduced numbers of volunteers and placements from schemes like CE and Tús. We are assessing challenges in the retail sector on an ongoing basis as we continue to decide if opening additional shops will be a focus moving forward.

Raffle

There were 3 raffles in 2024 as the Winter Raffle for 2023 was drawn in January, we decided to hold a further summer and winter raffle with the draw in 2024 so that we could bring the schedule back in line for an earlier Spring raffle in 2025 and a Winter Raffle before the end of the year.

Overall gross income for the year was just above €212,000 and after expenses the raffle income was €60,700. Our raffle has been reducing year on year and we have taken some steps to adjust the schedule and structures of the raffle and income is starting to level out. Further work is needed in this area, particularly to increase the database of raffle contributors or to investigate more contemporary forms of raffle, such as online.

Other fundraising activities in 2024 included

• Bucket collection and blue box collections in retail outlets, with much thanks to Breda Phelan and Mark Doyle
• Online donations from the public
• Fundraising activities by schools and communities
• Corporate Donations from Deutsche Borse Bank, Bank of Ireland and Sky Port of Cork

At the end of 2024 we started an exciting project to develop a new fundraising strategy. We are working closely with Michael Nason, from an organisation called 2into3, to develop a multi-annual fundraising plan to deliver increased income for IDS between 2025 and 2028. This new strategy which will be implemented in 2025 will help us to ensure that the board and Departments work together to ensure sustainable funding for IDS and to achieve our strategic goals.

Key financial points in 2024:

• Our overall income was €2,213,957 up from €1,440,591 the previous year. This is a significant increase of more than 53%.
• Our donations in 2024 were €686,000 compared to €39,000 in 2023. This is largely related to a donation from Ulster Bank Ireland DAC of €400,000 and a bequest of €221,000.
• Fundraising income was €225,303 which was an increase from €145,134 in 2023.
• Charity shop income was €331,000 up from €300,000 the previous year.
• ISL class income was €122,625 up from €113,000 in 2023.
• Expenditure was €1,787,135 up from €1,441,081. This was an increase of 24%.

Throughout 2024 we continued to develop our team and add new staff to our Departments, as a result our staff costs increased by 34%. With increased activity in our shops, with refurbishment and opening a new shop in Bray, our costs also increased in this area.

Our cash position at the end of the 2024 shows a positive balance of €1,026,046. As a result of this strong position we ended the year with reserves of €883,881. This figure is more than enough to hold in reserve for any difficulties we may face in the coming years. We are currently working on strategies to use this surplus of income to ensure IDS is operating efficiently and has the right staff team to deliver our services. In addition, we will be investing in our fundraising operation in 2025 to ensure sustainable fundraising into the future.

In 2024 our Finance Manager, Fiona Noone moved from the Irish Deaf Society to another organisation. Fiona had worked with the Irish Deaf Society since 2014 and helped to guide the organisation through significant changes and financial challenges. We would like to take this opportunity to wish Fiona the best in her career and our thanks for her work with us for more than a decade.

We would also like to welcome our new Finance Manager Ben Howe who started with us in April 2025 and we are looking forward to working with Ben on our team to ensure ongoing financial stability for IDS.

Be the leading voice on ISL act implementation and compliance (Goal 1.1.2): IDS is in a unique position to lead on issues related to the ISL Act. We are the only nationally representative DPO in the Deaf community, and as a Deaf-led National Association of the Deaf (NAD) we are members of the World Federation of the Deaf and the European Union of the Deaf. To ensure a Deaf community perspective we lead the ISL Act Cross Community Group. We engage with the grassroots community through the IDS National Council of Deaf clubs and organisations throughout the country. We engage and consult with Government and stakeholders in relation to monitoring and implementation of the ISL Act and we are currently campaigning for a review of the Act.

Promote status of IDS as DPO under UN CRPD (Goal 1.1.5): Our main activity to promote IDS as a DPO is our membership and activities of the DPO Network, of which we are a founding member. The Network has published a position paper on the Role of DPOs in Ireland and is working on a paper about co-creation and meaningful engagement. The Network monitors and reports on implementation of UN CRPD and regularly engages with State bodies on a wide variety of topics including the development of the new National Disability Strategy.

Establish a permanent Deaf-led ISL advisory committee to support Article 3 of the ISL Act (Goal 1.3.1): IDS have engaged with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality in relation to the next National Disability Strategy and a review of the ISL Act. We have proposed the need for a Deaf-led ISL advisory committee and will continue to campaign for this in our engagements with Government.

Succession planning for board (Goal 3.3.1): The board regularly discusses succession and communicates with the Deaf community in relation to recruiting new board directors, both by approaching potential candidates directly and by advertising on our social media and email newsletters. There is a focus on this in the run up to the AGM each year. This remains a challenge, and one of our goals is to involve representatives of the Deaf community in subgroups of the board as a step towards becoming board directors.

Develop a campaign plan to increase number of interpreters (Goal 1.1.1): IDS is working on an IHREC-funded research project “Barriers to studying and working as an ISL Interpreter: Developing an evidence base in order to launch a campaign to increase the number of ISL Interpreters in Ireland”. We have engaged with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE) to ensure the Government prioritises increasing the number of interpreters in the next National Disability Strategy. We have also engaged with IHREC and provided them with resources and initial findings from our research project to support their reporting to UN CRPD.

Campaign for ISL Act amendments (Goal 1.1.3): We have been working with stakeholders on the development of a position paper on proposed changes to the ISL Act and engaged with Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE) to ensure a review of the Act is included in the next National Disability Strategy.

Publish policy paper on all key issues (Goal 1.2.1): The Research & Policy officer is working on a goal of publishing 1 to 2 position papers annually. We are working on finalising a Mental Health Position paper and Deaf employment has been proposed as the next topic.

Develop team of policy representatives (Goal 1.2.2): IDS has established a Research and Policy subgroup of the board to coordinate representation. This group includes our Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, CEO, Advocacy Manager and Research and Policy Officer. This group works closely with the Advocacy Department staff to coordinate policy submissions and consultations with the State.

Development of paper for benefits of ISL for all (the general population) (Goal 1.3.2): This paper is currently in development following brainstorming sessions with management and staff.

Conduct research to support policy (Goal 2.1.2) & Campaign on Deaf education policy and engage with stakeholders (Goal 2.1.3): IDS have conducted an extensive review of policy literature on Deaf education including policy documents from NCSE and Department of Education. Our aim is to identify areas for collaboration and to clarify differences with IDS policy, which is aligned with WFD and EUD. We have started a series of engagements with Department of Education and NCSE to establish meaningful engagement on a series of topics including Visiting Teachers, Home Tuition, Bi-lingual Education, Educational Outcomes and Early Intervention.

Campaign for establishment of ISL on the National School Curriculum (Goal 2.1.5): IDS made a submission to the NCCA in relation to ISL on the School Curriculum which has been included n the National Disability Strategy from the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE). The NCCA has setup a steering group for this work which will include a representative from IDS.

Develop sustainable fundraising income to support unfunded advocacy service (Goal 3.1.5): Our Retail and Fundraising Manager has engaged an external consultant, 2into3, to work with our senior management and board to develop a fundraising plan with projected income to deliver sustainable income meeting our unfunded expenses by 2028. This plan will be implemented from 2025 to 2028.

Develop membership offering (Goal 3.2.3): IDS advertise membership benefits including based on the supports we provide to Deaf people from our Advocacy and Education services. We also advertise the benfits of our campaigns for rights and equality. A review of membership benefits and member attitudes towards those benefits is to be planned to determine a strategy to meet members expectations.

Develop Social media strategy (Goal 3.2.6) & Develop website content strategy (Goal 3.2.7): A social media strategy is being developed by our Advocacy Department in relation to community engagement and with the support of consultants through Rethink Ireland funding. In addition, a social media and website content strategy will be developed as part of an overall fundraising plan being developed in 2025.

Engagement with local Government and representatives (Goal 3.2.8) & Stakeholder mapping (Goal 3.5.1) & Develop stakeholder engagement plan (Goal 3.5.2): We have a developed a stakeholder map and an associated list of stakeholder categories. Contact information for stakeholders is managed by our Front Desk Administrator using database in our email management software. The next step is to develop an engagement plan to see how we can improve communication with those groups. Local Government is a key stakeholder and an action plan on engagement is to be developed.

Conduct awareness campaign for public bodies and State funded service providers (Goal 1.1.4): The Advocacy team have engaged with a communications consultant as part of their funding with Rethink Ireland. A social media strategy is almost finalised and this will be followed by a plan for an online awareness campaign.

Deaf Awareness Training for all Gov funded public service organisations (Goal 1.2.3): After compiling a contact list of 180 Disability Access Officers in public bodies, Deaf Awareness Training has been delivered to 92 officers. IDS have recruited and trained 5 new Deaf Awareness Training (DAT) presenters and updated the presentation resources.

Campaign for an ISL Officer in all healthcare settings (Goal 1.2.4): An action plan has been developed for this goal including a change of the role “ISL Officer” to “Deaf Community Liaison Officer”. The team are planning contact with HSE CHO’s to discuss this role before contact is made with hospitals.

Develop proposal for Deaf CAMHS in Ireland (Goal 1.2.5): The IDS Mental Health Working Group (MHWG) has developed a Wellbeing and Mental Health position paper which is planned to be launched in 2025. Following the publication of this paper further work will be done in relation to a CAMHS proposal.

Campaign for better access to media (ISL and subtitles) (Goal 1.2.6): IDS regularly attends Coimisiún na Meán (CNM) user panel representative meetings, and RTÉ Access meetings, to discuss accessibility and targets for subtitling and ISL. IDS has made submissions in relation to subtitling quality and campaigned to include our goals in the National Disability Strategy.

Increase access to news and public interest information for Deaf community (Goal 1.2.7): The Information Officer has worked with the Advocacy Team to develop a new type of news called “IDS Update”. This monthly report provides information about IDS activities in relation to campaigns and policy submissions for Deaf rights and equality. A new IDS Whatsapp channel has been launched for news and information. Over the last 12 months we have translated all of the IDS government submissions to ensure our campaigning is accessible for Deaf people in ISL. IDS regularly review public service content and request that the public bodies provide equal information in ISL. The information office regularly holds information sessions in person and online.

Campaign for access to interpreters for part-time and private education and related services (Goal 2.1.4): We have collected a contact list of 150 Adult Education Institutes including details for access officers. An initial email has been sent to all officers requesting information about provisions for access.

Establish permanent Deaf Career Service (Goal 2.3.1): Throughout 2023 and 2024 the Deaf Career Service has operated with short-term funding from different funders, you can read more about the service activities in the Advocacy Department report. We continue to provide this service, subject to funding levels, and actively seek ways to make the service permanent with multi-annual funding.

Awareness campaign to promote service to Deaf people throughout Ireland (Goal 3.1.1): IDS services are promoted on our website, social media and weekly email newsletters. Website content has been updated over the past year and videos have been developed introducing the Advocacy staff and their roles.

Campaign targeted to older Deaf (Goal 3.1.3) & Campaign targetted to Deaf+ (Goal 3.1.4): The Community Outreach Officer meets with the over 55’s Deaf Day Centre weekly and is building relationships with this group and is contacting service providers in this area to understand how IDS can support. The Advocacy Department have been involved in a number of events with Deafblind groups.

Engagement with clients to investigate and clarify results of survey (Goal 3.1.6): The Research & Policy Officer worked with the Advocacy team to review monthly client satisfaction surveys and compare the results to the Strategic Plan survey. We are confident that the level of satisfaction with the Advocacy clients are consistently over 70%. We concluded that lower results in the Strategic plan survey are a result of the way the question was asked and most likely because some respondents had not used the service and were possibly expressing an unrelated opinion.

Develop and expand Roadshow (Goal 3.2.1) & Develop strategy to establish regional drop-in centres (Goal 3.1.2): The goal to develop the IDS Roadshow is a priority for the Community Outreach Officer and initial contact has been made with members of our National Council of Deaf clubs. There is an action plan in place for 4 IDS meetings a year in 6 different locations around Ireland. The goal to establish regional drop-in centres is related to our engagement with National Council Members, IDS has developed a proposal about steps to establish drop-in centres which is being reviewed by management.

Develop community strategy for Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (Goal 3.2.2): An action plan for this goal is in development.

Develop plan to expand ISL Awareness Week (Goal 3.2.4): Each year IDS improves its approach to ISL Awareness Week and in recent times we have seen improved engagement from our National Council Members, stakeholders including schools and service providers and an increase in coverage in the media.

Develop programme of online events connecting with online communities (Goal 3.2.5): IDS regularly engages in online communication and information sharing, in webinars, online consultations and engagement in social media. In April 2025, IDS hosted the CODA na hÉireann webinar, focusing on the experiences of Children of Deaf Adults in Ireland. The event had 162 people attend live, with strong interest and steady engagement throughout. It was delivered in ISL with voiceover and subtitles. We plan to roll out similar webinars on hot topics to better connect with online communities.

Develop strategy to engage with Deaf youth communities (Goal 3.3.3): IDS have been supporting IDYA and gave a presentation to students in the Holy Family School for the Deaf which was followed by a tour of the IDS office. Meetings took place with St. Joseph’s and St. Mary’s boarding schools team leaders. Follow-up plans are in place to continue engaging with Deaf youth communities.

Awareness campaign including Deaf Awareness Training - Parents (Goal 3.4.1) & Develop collaborations with parenting organisations (Goal 3.4.2) & Establish Family Support Group (Goal 3.4.4) & Campaign for early intervention with education for parents (Goal 2.1.1): The Advocacy Team have continued to establish connections with parents through workshops and by contacting 3,263 primary and special schools by email. Responses are slow, however 11 schools replied requesting further information and 55 parents have been added to our contact list. In 2025 a survey has been sent to parents and IDS has applied for funding for a 3-year project focussed on parents of Deaf children. The IDS Information Officer has researched and gathered resources about the importance of early intervention. In addition, this topic has been discussed during engagement meetings with NCSE and the Department of Education.

Feasibility study for ISL Dictionary of English Vocabulary (Goal 1.3.3): Significant progress has been made with this goal and the first phase of a dictionary project was funded by Rethink Ireland and involved a glossary of 200 employment related words. This is an effective proof of concept and helps us to develop a longer-term feasibility study. For now, we will engage with funders and sponsors to add topic specific glossaries to the dictionary in the coming years.

Develop ISL QQI level 5 and 6 accredited courses (Goal 2.2.1): Work has been ongoing to develop our accredited QQI level 5 course which will be launched and delivered in September 2025. Development of QQI level 6 is currently on hold as we assess our capacity to deliver additional ISL courses. Our programming of courses is challenged by low availability of qualified teacher and tutors of ISL and addressing this is a key challenge for IDS.

Develop employer engagement process for course development (Goal 2.2.2): The Education Department and the Deaf Career Project has been engaging on this goal. The team has engaged with employers directly and collaboratively and with other organisations such as TCDIP in Trinity College to share insights and pathways. An employer engagement plan has been drafted.

Implement Quality Assurance Procedures (Goal 2.2.3): Quality Assurance is an ongoing goal and is integrated in all our Education Departments activities. Support structures that feed into Quality Assurance include our Quality Assurance Committee, Digitial Education Committee and Student Council. Recent priority activities included a review of our Quality Assurance Manual, and engagement with QQI to seek approval for ongoing delivery of online and blended education with assessment scheduled for June 2025.

Provide CPD training courses for Deaf teaching staff (Goal 2.2.4): Training in 2024 included workshops delivered to our teaching staff by Further Education Support Service (FESS) on further education and training opportunities and challenges presented by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and “Active Teaching and Learning: Visual Thinking, Mapping & Framing Techniques.” The IDS staff also delivered internal training to teaching staff to ensure shared understanding of our policies, quality assurance processes, accreditation requirements, and compliance standards.

Develop awareness and referral between IDS FET and ETB sector (Goal 2.2.5): Following development of a contact list for ETB and FET organisations a series of engagements has taken place with a variety of organisations including NLN Disability Support Service, Mayo Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB), and Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI). This goal involved collaboration with the Advocacy Department to support with the provision of Deaf Awareness Training and the Deaf Career Project in terms of career guidance support for students and guidance providers.

Engagement with learners to investigate and clarify results of survey (Goal 2.2.6): The Education Department management worked with our Research and Policy Officer to review learner satisfaction with the Education Service. Reviewing satisfaction survey results from learner over 3 years and concluded that learners expressed high degrees of satisfaction ratings over 80%. We concluded that lower results in the Strategic plan survey are a result of the way the question was asked and most likely because some respondents had not enrolled in a course and were possibly expressing an unrelated opinion.

FET collaborations with other FET providers (Goal 2.3.2): In 2024, we collaborated with Family Carers Ireland to deliver a series of workshops specifically designed for Deaf carers who face barriers in accessing information and support. This led to a new partnership with South East Technological University (SETU) to provide a 12-week course on Level 6 Certificate in Advocacy. Our collaboration with the Coding Institute in Limerick continued to be successful, and 3 of our learners have successfully gained employment as software developers.

Building capacity and pathways to leadership opportunities (Goal 3.3.2): An action plan is to be developed for this role in collaboration with our education Department and board.

There are 4 types of motions you can send for the AGM:

• Director Nomination: The deadline for IDS to receive a “nomination of a director” is 3 days before the AGM and not earlier than 21 days before the AGM. However we ask you to send us nominations as early as you can so that we have time to share information about the nominated person with members before the AGM.
• Ordinary Motion: The deadline for IDS to receive an “ordinary motion” is 7 days before the AGM. We ask you to send these to us as early as you can and not wait until the deadline. Ordinary motions must be relevant to the business of the AGM – that means related to the Annual Report, Audited Financial Accounts or the appointment of the auditor. If your proposed motion or nomination is not suitable for the AGM we will contact you with an explanation.
• Special Motion: The deadline for a “special motion” is 21 days before the AGM. A special resolution is a proposal to change the constitution or organisation name. Don’t forget that our Constitution is available on our website in ISL and English: https://www.irishdeafsociety.ie/about/ids-constitution-2021/
• Extended Deadline Motion: The deadline for an “extended deadline motion” is 28 days before the AGM. An extended deadline motion” is to remove an auditor or a director, must be received by IDS 28 days before the AGM to give the auditor or director a chance to respond to members.You might have heard the word resolution also used to describe motions, they basically mean the same thing. A motion is the same as a proposal, after it is agreed it is called a resolution.

To send us any of these motions you can use the form that can be downloaded from our website. Or you can email membership@irishdeafsociety.ie or ISL/text 086 380 7033 and we will send a form to you.

If you have a general suggestion about how IDS is managed, feedback or a complaint please email it to feedback@irishdeafsociety.ie, text 086 4401443 or phone 01 860 1878.

The person does not need to be an IDS member, but if you want to appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf this proxy form must be received by IDS no later than 48 hours before the AGM.

You will need to send a proxy form to IDS and that will be available closer to the AGM date. The form will contain a list of all the motions for the meeting and it is best if you tell your proxy how you would like them to vote on all the motions.

When the proxy form is available to download we will let you know.

If you need any support in relation to the AGM contact our advocacy Department at advocacy@irishdeafsociety.ie or text 086 4401443 or phone 01 860 1878.

As a member you can vote at the AGM on important issues for IDS and the Deaf community. Your membership is for the calendar year January to December but you can join at any time of the year.

• Renew membership on our website - Link to renew IDS membership
• Or email membership@irishdeafsociety.ie - we can post or email you with a membership form.
• Or come to the IDS Office, Thomas Mahon Building, Deaf Village Ireland, Ratoath Road, Cabra, Dublin 7. DO7 W94H

Remember, only members can attend our AGM online or in-person and vote. Non-members and observers can view a recording of our AGM after the meeting.
If you need any support in relation to membership contact our advocacy Department at advocacy@irishdeafsociety.ie or text 086 4401443 or phone 01 860 1878.

1) How to register online and get the AGM meeting link

Step 1 – Current members will receive an email with a link under the video. If you did not receive a link by email make sure your membership is active.

Step 2 – Fill out the online form with your name and email address.

Step 3 – The Zoom system will send you an email with the meeting link.

Anyone who registers but is not a member yet will receive an email asking them to renew their membership.

2) Notes about the meeting

Members can ask questions during the meeting after the CEO report and the financial report. If you have AOB you must inform the Chairperson at the start of the meeting. All questions must be relevant to the business of the AGM or they will not be allowed.

If you have questions for the board or CEO you can email them to us in advance, that will help us to prepare answers for you. Members who have renewed this year should already have received a link to a webpage with the Agenda, the Annual Report including Financial Statements and the minutes from our AGM last year.

• If you have not received the link this could be due to an email error, please let us know and we will send them to you again straight away – email membership@irishdeafsociety.ie.
• The meeting will be recorded and shared on social media during the week after the AGM for observers.
• Based on our constitution only “Ordinary Members” are entitled to vote on motions.

3) Using Zoom at the meeting

You’ll need a computer, phone or tablet. Please make sure that you do not join the meeting on more than one device yourself. Please note that you will have a better experience using a laptop or computer as the screen size on phones and tablets is very small.

• In order to vote each member must use a separate device (computer, phone or tablet). If two people use one device only one person will be able to vote.
• If you are using the Zoom app installed on your PC you can check if you are using the latest version by clicking your profile picture in Zoom and clicking “Check for Updates”
• Please do not share your AGM login details with anyone else. Only members can attend the Zoom AGM meeting. Non-member observers can view a livestream of the meeting on our Facebook page.

When you join the meeting

• Please make sure your display name in Zoom is your own full name (not a relative or friend)
• You will be asked to give your consent to the meeting being recorded on Zoom (for internal IDS purposes including writing minutes) and agreeing to the livestream on Facebook. The livestream will be for the full meeting including AOB.
• This process to confirm identities will take some time at the beginning of the meeting so we thank you in advance for your patience.

Members Questions

• To ask a question members must click “raise hand” button. The chairperson will select people from this list and ask each person one at a time to turn on their video and ask their question.
• If you are making comments or asking questions please do not use people’s names to protect members privacy

How voting will work on Zoom

• When it is time to vote a box will pop up on your screen and ask you to vote yes or no.
• You will click your choice for voting and then “submit”. You will have 2 minutes to do this and then voting closes.
• Thank you for your co-operation and we are looking forward to seeing you at the meeting.