Welcome to National Deaf Women of Ireland

Welcome to the National Deaf Women of Ireland (NDWI) website. The NDWI is an organization in Ireland that represents Deaf Women. We are a voluntary organization. We aim to provide services and events for D/deaf and hard of hearing women all over Ireland.

The National Deaf Women of Ireland (NDWI) aims to promote and advance the civil rights and human rights of Deaf Women in Ireland. We seek to achieve equal access in all situations of life, with an emphasis on women’s health.

About Us

National Deaf Women of Ireland (NDWI) is a voluntary and non-profit representative organisation. The National Deaf Women of Ireland is registered with the Charity Organisations in Ireland. Our mission is to empower Deaf Women and to bring about equality among Deaf Women. The NDWI was founded 30 years ago.

Quotations from our members

I live in the country and I always try to attend the IDWG monthly meetings about Women’s health. I find these meetings very beneficial

Sinead Winters-Smith

Arklow 2011

I was isolated for many years until I joined the IDWG in 2010/11. I feel like a new person thanks to my involvement in the IDWG monthly meetings and meeting other Deaf Women who share similar experience as myself. After each monthly meeting, I always go home far more satisfied

Mary O’Neill

Dublin 2011

I would love to see women’s group liking in with each other and coming together all over the country, North and South to from a network under the Irish Deaf Women’s Group

Geraldine McNamara

Limerick 2007

The Irish Deaf Women’s Group have achieved lots, and I hope they keep going to achieve equality with Deaf men in the future

A Coogan

TCD Dublin 2003

Resources

NDWI have a lot of knowledge linked to women’s health, and NDWI provide workshops all over Ireland. These workshops are about leadership.

Affliations

Joanne Chester

Vice Chairperson

Melissa Howlett

Secretary

Patricia Delahunty

Committe

Sally Bryne-Smith

Committee

What some of us have gone through?

John Bosco Conama/Carmel Grehan

The report finds that dealing with medical professionals on health issues can be a disastrous and traumatic experience for the Deaf people.

2002

Leeson And Matthews

Low self-confidence among Deaf women is also a documented result of their educational experience under the oralist system in Ireland.

2002 In ‘Deaf Mothers And Reproductive Healthcare: Experiences’ Emily Steinberg 2006

Maeve O’Neill

Kilkenny has approximately 6-10 Deaf Women. A lot are isolated and don’t interact with the community. A lot from Kilkenny moved to Dublin.

Kilkenny 2007

Mary O’Connor

It can be difficult to access GP’s. There are 4 qualified interpreters but they all have full time work – we need more interpreters, Sometimes I have to use my family or friends.

Cork 2007

Get Involved

Explore how you can be a part of our organisation. Get involved with the NDWI. We have included a list below to give you some ideas of how to get involved with the National Deaf Women of Ireland. Please do not be hesitate to contact us by e-mail at ndwi@deafwomen.ie to find out more information of how to get involved.