Lámh sign language and Irish Sign Language

11th May 2020 

Dear Parents and Pupils, 

We are going to begin a new project for anyone who is interested, which is to learn some Lámh sign language and Irish Sign Language. Lámh is a simplified version of Irish Sign Language and is derived from Irish Sign Language. 
Irish Sign Language is now recognised as an official language in Ireland and is more complex than Lámh. I will be speaking in English and the signs will be matched to the English words. 

Learning sign language will allow us as a whole school community to be able to include all children in reaching their potential with regards to communicating. 

• I will be doing one to two signs per day by video. 
•  I will recap on the signs learned as we go along. 

I am not fluent in sign language but I will do my best to impart what I do know. This will allow us to begin to learn sign language and improve communication with the pupils who require this support. We will also have little fun challenges as we go along. 

This is open to anyone who would like to get involved: pupils, parents, grandparents, guardians, siblings, and the whole school staff. Hopefully when everyone returns to school you will have a bank of signs that will allow you to help the children most in need. It will also help develop friendships further and give you an extra skill of communicating with people who are deaf, hard of hearing and/or have additional needs in the wider world. 

The first sign language videos are below. These videos were created initially for the staff and pupils of Le Chéile NS, Limerick and so may make reference to teachers from that school from time to time but the lessons are applicable to all schools. 

Please start on Week 1, Lesson 1 and continue on from there each day.  

Included under the tab “Lámh Lessons” is some background on Lámh sign language, some links and websites to get your interest going and guide you along the way too. 

In the meantime, mind yourselves, cherish those whom you love and stay safe. 
​
Yours Sincerely, 
Niamh O’ Sullivan Costa Pinto (Aidan Costa Pinto’s mother)