RNID TRAINING OFFICER APPOINTED TO NORTHERN IRELAND DISABILITY COUNCIL

The Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) Northern Ireland has welcomed the appointment of its Regional Training Officer John Carberry to the Northern Ireland Disability Council (NIDC). The NIDC is the independent body set up under the Disability Discrimination Act to advise the Government on the timing and implementation of measures to reduce or eliminate discrimination against disabled people in Northern Ireland.

Mr Carberry, 45, uses British Sign Language as his first language. He is the only deaf person to be appointed to the NIDC which will have 13 members from relevant interest groups. The Council will prepare codes of practice on the right of access to goods and services and advise the Government on the operation of the legislation in Northern Ireland.

John Carberry said: ~I am honoured to have been appointed and will strive to ensure that deaf and hard of hearing people will get the maximum benefit from forthcoming legislation and above all that it is effective. The Disability Discrimination Act is a step in the right direction towards full equal rights for disabled people and the NDC allows us to review

1. John Carberry has been Regional Training Officer at the RNID Northern Ireland since 1991. He is 45, and comes from Glengarnmey. Prior to his current post he worked as Development Officer at the Council for Advancement for Deaf People for five years.
2. The RNID is the largest voluntary organisation in the UK representing the needs of 8.4 million deaf, deafblind and hard

of hearing people. Its vision is for deaf people to enjoy full rights of citizenship and equality of opportunity.

the Act as it affects the daily lives of disabled people in

Northern Ireland.

"The RNID's aims have not changed since the legislation was passed - we still aim for full citizenship. We still want to same standard of goods and services as hearing people and that discrimination either directly or indirectly against disabled people in the workplace ceases. This will involve making employers and providers of goods and services aware of the benefits of ensuring that the communication needs of deaf people are met - through sign language interpreters, text telephones and loop systems, for hearing aid users."