OpenLegislation

Section 12 Members of the deaf communityI1I2

Northern Ireland

(1)

For the purposes of this Part, the deaf community comprises all people falling within one or more of the following paragraphs—

(a)

individuals who rely for communication on British Sign Language or Irish Sign Language,

(b)

deaf or deafblind people who at any time use, or ever benefit from use of, British Sign Language or Irish Sign Language for communication (including such people who can obtain some or better levels of hearing when assisted by auditory devices), or

(c)

children of deaf or deafblind people who habitually or occasionally use British Sign Language or Irish Sign Language for communication (including such children who have some or full hearing).

(2)

Here, children of such people are their children and stepchildren of any ages (including of adult ages).

(3)

People who (whether or not they have some or full hearing)—

(a)

have little or no understanding of spoken or written language in English, but

(b)

are able to communicate effectively in British Sign Language or Irish Sign Language,

are for the purposes of this Part to be treated as if members of the deaf community.

(4)

That is, all individuals meeting this description are to be so treated where (for those purposes) they are not actually members of the deaf community.

Annotations

Commencement

I1

S. 12 not in operation at Royal Assent, see s. 15(1)(b)

I2

S. 12 in operation at 23.9.2026 by S.R. 2026/162, art. 2(k)