West Cork town plans to teach residents sign language

Businesspeople and schoolchildren in a West Cork town could learn sign language to help them communicate better with hearing-impaired visitors and locals.

Submissions are to be made to Cork County Council, the local Chamber of Commerce, and the Tidy Towns group on a number of issues in a drive to make Clonakilty more user-friendly for people with special needs.

The town is host to organisations such as the Cope Foundation, CoAction, the Irish Wheelchair Association, and two residential care homes. However, Clonakilty Access Group feels the town needs to do more to cater for people with special needs.