Vision

Deaf Village Ireland’s vision is of an Ireland that respects the rights, language and culture of all.

Mission

To create an inclusive, Deaf-led Centre where people and organisations serving Deaf, hard of hearing and hearing can work and socialise together, promote Irish Sign Language, raise awareness of Deaf culture and avail of Deaf led services.

Deaf Village Ireland will express the Vision and Mission by embracing the following values in our day to day work and relationships within the Centre

• Recognise and encourage the use of Irish Sign Language

• Respect the different ethos and abilities in the community

• Build a spirit of co-operation between all organisations

• Empower, educate and show living example of deaf awareness

• Share knowledge and skills to empower Deaf and hearing people

• Create and maintain a warm welcoming place for all

• Work in a sustainable manner

• Respect all people in accordance with the Equality Status Act 2002-2015

4.1 Ensure a smooth transition of responsibility for the Deaf Village Centre from CDIP

4.2 Build collective responsibility by all centre occupants for development of DVI

4.3 Support Deaf Organisations in DVI

4.4 Research and develop an outreach programme that may have national reach

4.5 Promote Deaf community life and culture

4.6 Provide, develop and support employment opportunities for Deaf people

4.7 Build financial sustainability for DVI

4.8 Ensure governance and structures are fit for purpose

Build collective responsibility for the development of DVI

Actions

• Review and revise the DVI Board structure to suit new and emerging responsibilities for the effective leadership and ownership of the Centre

• Provide training and development for Board members

• Engage a person in a paid or voluntary capacity to build a brand for DVI with which everyone can identify

Support Deaf organisations in DVI

Actions

• Continue to provide an environment and infrastructure that supports Deaf people and organisations

• Conduct an audit of the support needs of member organisations

• Provide a hot desk service to Deaf organisations who have limited resources

• Co-ordinate grant applications from member organisations to avoid duplication and maximise the possibility of securing resources

• Build relationships with grant giving and corporate bodies that could support the work of DVI and its member organisations

• Provide information and training to member organisations

• Explore the viability of having shared and coordinated publicity for DVI and member organisations through a communications centre using Facebook, media, twitter and other methods

Promote Deaf community life and culture

Actions

• Encourage people to use Irish Sign Language in the Centre

• Run a video in signing on the TV screen in the foyer, promote Irish Deaf Society video

• Encourage hearing people to attend Irish Sign Language classes

• Create, circulate and publicise a calendar of events that take place in the Centre

• Organise events for Irish Sign Language Recognition Day – September 23^rd 2018

• Explore the possibility of establishing a National Deaf Day

• Create opportunities and events that will bring people into the Centre such as Culture Night

• Organise events that will attract the local Cabra community to come into the centre, explore the possibility and viability of a regular Car Boot sale

• Participate in and support the Deaf Golf Tournament in July

• Participate in National Heritage Week

The context for the work of Deaf Village Ireland

1. Exploration of what’s important now, what’s about to become important and what’s no longer important in the world of DVI?

What’s important now in the world of DVI?

• Keep context in mind – recognition of experience of extreme marginalisation and systemic exclusion

• To welcome Deaf people from all over Ireland to the Village

• Inclusion – increasing the number of Deaf people who come to the Centre

• Keep Deaf organisations in the Centre

• To develop one shared goal for the Village

• Invest in destroying barriers and building support

• Building bridges with Inspire

• More financial assistance for all member organisations

• Financial prudence

• Maintenance and development of building

• Development of church space which has real income potential

• Development of DHC space which has real income potential

• Hub is not friendly or sociable – needs to be made so

• Better usage of space – a lot is wasted at the moment

• Health and Safety

• Deaf employment opportunities – there is a lot of exploitation at the moment

• Keep Deaf culture

• Participation by all in the future direction of the Village

• Image of DVI is old fashioned – young deaf people do not identify with it

What will be important?

• Competencies to develop the Centre

• Taking responsibility and charge of the Centre

• Deaf representation on the Board

• Supporting change

• All organisations and DVI working together

• Organisations not relying heavily on DVI financially

• DVI managing the Sports Centre

• Financial sustainability

• To preserve Deaf heritage

• Participation of all ages and regions

• Community activation

• Become a showcase for ISL

• Lots of and easy access to ISL interpreters

• Better security of employment for ISL interpreters and teachers

• Attract the next generation

• Deaf families and their children

• To address the decline of the Deaf Community

• Building and supporting social enterprises

• DHC – financial issue and pressure on DVI to support this

What’s no longer important?

• Hearing vs Deaf

• Drumcondra and Rathmines – is history, leave it in the past

• History of CDP

SWOT Analysis