'It's such an honour': Deaf students first to graduate as primary teachers using sign language

DCU graduates Aimee Ennis McLoughlin, Kevin Dudley and Aisling O'Halloran. Picture: Dublin City University

Three deaf students have made history by becoming the first to graduate as primary school teachers using Irish Sign Language (ISL).

The students completed Dublin City University’s Bachelor of Education through a pilot ISL pathway which was created following years of campaigning by deaf community groups.

Introduced in 2019, the programme enabled deaf and hard of hearing people who use ISL to enter primary teaching for the first time.

Dr Elizabeth Matthews from DCU’s Institute of Education, who was among those pressing for the initiative, said it would have a transformative impact on deaf children’s education in Ireland.

“The ISL pathway was created primarily so that deaf children who used Irish Sign Language could have teachers who were also deaf ISL users.

“The importance of early effective language modelling for deaf children was one of the driving forces for this initiative. So too was the belief that deaf children deserved to have deaf role models in influential positions in their school system,” she said.

Among the three students is Aimee Ennis McLoughlin, who said graduating from DCU was a proud moment for her and her colleagues.

“It's such an honour to be able to say, yes, I am one of the first qualified deaf primary school teachers in Ireland,” she said.

Kevin Dudley was also presented with the Chancellor’s Medal — an honour awarded to exceptional students who have made a significant contribution to university life.

Mr Dudley was previously a professional football player for Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians.

However, a stint as a replacement PE teacher at a deaf school sparked his interest in becoming a teacher:

“I actually found that I loved teaching. It was something that lit a fire inside me, and I knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my career,” he said.

The three graduates now work together at Holy Family School for Deaf Children in Cabra, Dublin.

Graduate Aisling O'Halloran said the three ISL students quickly became great friends as they took on the challenge of studying for the degree.

“We had each other, we would support each other, and so we knew that we would get through it, and that was great,” she said.

Dean of DCU Institute of Education Prof Anne Looney said the three graduates send a clear message that a university degree and a teaching career are open to the deaf children they now teach.