Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) will introduce a professional sign language interpreter to its council from next Tuesday.
The service will be provided by Bridge Interpreting, a sign language service that aims to give the “growing ISL [Irish Sign Language] Interpreting body a support structure within which they can develop fulfilling careers”.
The initiative comes from TCDSU’s communications and marketing officer Muireann Kane.
Speaking to The University Times, Kane said: “I’m very excited to bring this new initiative to the first council of the year – it’s a fantastic move for accessibility on campus.”
“I hope to see it continue for the year and would love to work alongside the Deaf Studies School in the coming months”, she said.
Kane thanked Declan Treanor, the head of the Disability Service, and TCDSU Officer for Students with Disabilities Courtney McGrath for their work on the project.
Tuesday October 1st will mark the first TCDSU council of the academic year.
TCDSU recently signed a €12,000 deal with mobile network provider Three.
The deal has allowed Three to advertise on campus, with a stand at the Arts Block during freshers week and at Ents events throughout the year.
TCDSU has also recently signed a deal with international package delivery company UPS, while financial firm KPMG will sponsor elements of this year’s class representative training.
TCDSU reported a deficit of over €70,000 in November 2018. This deficit was largely down to the expenses of May’s repeal referendum, as well as to the costs of the Take Back Trinity protests in March, meaning TCDSU spent almost €45,000 more in campaigns.
