Nordic Deaf Culture Festival Highlights Gaps in Iceland’s Sign Language Services

Iceland lags behind its Nordic neighbours in sign language interpretation and video interpreting services for Deaf people, according to the chair of the Icelandic Association of the Deaf, as hundreds gather in Selfoss for a major Nordic cultural festival. The four-yearly Nordic Deaf culture festival is being held in Iceland for the first time since 2006, bringing lecturers, theatre groups and visitors from across the Nordic region to Selfoss. All events are conducted in sign language.

Original source: RÚV Iceland is hosting the Nordic Deaf culture festival for the first time in 20 years. Deaf advocates say Iceland trails other Nordic countries in interpretation services and workplace accessibility. A free public “Deaf village” will be held in Selfoss on 1 August.

Accessibility challenge Daði Hreinsson, chair and executive director of the Icelandic Association of the Deaf, said the festival offers an opportunity for Deaf people to meet and enjoy cultural events in their own language. “People come together to meet and enjoy events in their language – sign language,” he said. He also joked that Selfoss residents should not be alarmed if they see groups of people signing energetically around town, saying they are simply chatting, laughing and enjoying themselves.

Daði said Iceland’s biggest challenges remain the availability of video interpreting, interpreter services and sign language interpretation in the workplace, where he believes the country has fallen well behind its Nordic counterparts. As part of the festival, Árborg Municipality has produced welcome videos featuring local service providers to greet Deaf visitors from across the Nordic region. One of the festival’s main public events will take place in Sigtún Park by Selfoss’s new town centre on 1 August, where a free “Deaf village” with activities open to everyone will be held.

According to Daði, around 220 Deaf people live in Iceland. He added that the country’s sign-language community is gradually shrinking, as most children born with hearing loss today receive cochlear implants. The post Nordic Deaf Culture Festival Highlights Gaps in Iceland’s Sign Language Services appeared first on Iceland Review.