Pages 14 and

Majella McAteer, Community Development Manager

Majella started with the BDA NI in 1997 as a Community Advocacy Officer and since that time has been promoted into a variety of roles, resulting in her most recent position in June 2015 of Community Development Manager for Northern Ireland. Throughout her time in BDA NI, Majella has led, managed and delivered a wide range of projects and programmes involving a diverse range of funding sources and stakeholders.

are confident that it will happen. It just might take another one or two years to get there.

VIEW: Have you have sought the support of the Irish language speaking community for a Sign Language Act?

The BDA organised an event in 2015 which was a pledge for a BSL/ISL Sign Language Act. All the five main political parties signed up to it. We have no formal agreement with deaf Irish language supporters, but we obviously support each other in our fight to obtain a Sign Language Act for both Irish Sign Language and British Sign Language users.

VIEW: What impact did the pandemic have on the BDA and the Deaf community?

Majella: Before lockdown we were the same as any other organisation, we were just getting on with our work. And then lockdown was officially announced. Being at home meant that deaf people had more time to look at Facebook, but they also became more reliant on BDA services because they weren’t getting access to vaccination, they weren’t getting access to government guidelines, and they weren’t getting access to what lockdown actually meant. There were a lot of barriers during the lockdown such as home schooling which was really challenging. I have to put my hand up and say that during lockdown, I think that the Deaf community was brought together in a more closer environment because we were more likely to be online with each other. Unfortunately though, the lockdown also left some deaf people feeling very isolated.

VIEW: Do deaf people still face a constant struggle to get the help and support that they are entitled to receive from the State?

Majella: Definitely. But that has always been the case. We just had to accept that this is part of our life that there is going to be this barrier or we’re going to have to fight to try and get ‘doors’ opened to services.

VIEW: Have there been any significant changes since the struggles of the 1960s and 1970s?

Majella: I think it’s better than it was back in those days. It’s possibly a generational thing. I think the older generations just accepted the situation as being the norm, whereas the younger generation now are more willing to fight for what they would like to see and have.

VIEW: Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the struggles that lie ahead for the Deaf community?

Majella: In relation to the Sign Language Act, if it comes about and is set up, I think things could nearly be perfect, because the rollout of it would mean the protection of our language, the preservation of our language, and the awareness that would be raised. I think deaf children would grow up in a more healthier environment. So yes, I am positive about the future.