Free app helps deaf children enjoy reading

Did you know that Monday, September 23, was International Day of Sign Languages? Well, it was a day to celebrate deaf unity, raising awareness of the issues deaf people face in their everyday lives.

Tech giant Huawei spent a day of storytelling and activities with Karen Koster at Dublin Zoo, and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ireland’s deaf community.

The company announced further investment in StorySign, a free app developed to bring the joy of storytime to deaf children, with the addition of four new books to the StorySign Library and the launch of the app on iOS, making it available to more families with deaf children, regardless of which smartphone they own.

Pioneered by Huawei, the app has been downloaded 40,000 times since its launch in December 2018, and created an authentic reading experience that truly helps enrich story time for deaf children and their parents.

Byron Maxi, Huawei Ireland’s Country Director said: “Huawei has worked closely with the Irish Deaf Society throughout the StorySign campaign to raise awareness of deaf literacy issues and develop the app as a long-term resource that grows over time and continues to benefit the deaf community in Ireland.”

John Sherwin, CEO Irish Deaf Society, said:

Education tools that enhance the use of Irish Sign Language at home are vital when tackling early development of language, cognition and literacy. The Irish Deaf Society are proud to support Huawei with its long-term vision to help open the world of books to Deaf children through StorySign.

"The expansion of the StorySign library, a new language and wider availability mark an important step towards helping Deaf children enjoy storytime.”

At Sunday’s event at Dublin Zoo families were treated to special performances by the Cabra Deaf Choir.

The children from the choir who attend the Holy Family School for the Deaf in Cabra, Dublin have benefited from the StorySign app and experienced first-hand the unique experience it affords them to enjoy storytime.

At the event Huawei Ireland also premiered a new short film directed by Oscar-winning director Chis Overton, bringing StorySign to life with a local Dublin family with two deaf children, Bobby and Sophia.

StorySign, comes alive with Star, the app’s friendly signing avatar which translates popular children’s books into sign language.