Cinema: People who are deaf will be able to watch newly released subtitled films for the first time in the Republic with the introduction of special screenings at UGC cinemas in Dublin. For many, it is the first visit to the cinema. A new digital subtitling system has been introduced and the screenings take place up to twice a week.
Members of the Irish deaf community have expressed their gratitude to UGC saying they hope the project will now expand and other companies will take up the opportunity to provide access for deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
"Without subtitles, it caused frustration among the deaf community with many never attending cinema or \ stopped from attending altogether a long time ago," said Kevin Stanley, programme development manager with the Irish Deaf Society.
"When subtitled films came, many deaf and hard-of-hearing people attended, with many of them attending for the first time in five, 10 or 15 years and with quite a few of them attending for the first time in their life."
Mr Stanley said the lack of subtitled films had caused the social exclusion of the deaf community where "they endured decades of inequalities".
The Irish Deaf Society lobbied UGC, UCI and other cinemas for equal access and is eager to see the service extended nationwide with the option of sign language translation.
There are about 1,000 deaf people in Dublin, who use Irish Sign Language everyday to communicate. There are literacy services, information on deaf issues and advocacy services available from the Irish Deaf Society.