A significant day for inclusion, dignity and belonging.
News
International Day of Sign Languages
23 September, 2026 marked an important moment for the Deaf community in Northern Ireland.
On the International Day of Sign Languages, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons visited Jordanstown School to mark the first Commencement Order of the Sign Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2026 coming into effect.
Representatives from PCI’s Kinghan Church were privileged to be present and share in this significant occasion. Kinghan Church, supported by the Council for Social Witness, is a worshipping community of deaf and hearing-impaired people, based on Botanic Road, Belfast.
For Kinghan, inclusion is about more than accessibility. It reflects their Christian commitment to recognising the God-given dignity and worth of every person, ensuring that people are heard, valued, included and enabled to participate fully in the life of their communities
“Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” – 1 John 3:18
Everyone valued. Everyone heard. Everyone included.
Claire Nicholson, Administrative Assistant at Kinghan House said, “This was a very important and historic day for the Deaf Community and one Kinghan Church felt so privileged to be represented at. We warmly welcome this important milestone and look forward to seeing its principles translated into meaningful change.
As an organisation providing care, support and ministry across Northern Ireland, today also challenges us to consider what more we can do to remove barriers to communication within our own services.”