Chime is committed to a society with no limits or barriers for anyone living with deafness or hearing loss in Ireland. We work towards achieving this vision by seeking changes in legislation, policy, practice and resource provision to address inequality, exclusion and injustice.
Our advocacy efforts includes working with and on behalf of people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing through personal advocacy and representative advocacy.
Below are some links to recent advocacy activities:
To read Chime's press release for World Hearing Day 2022: click here.
Watch coverage on Virgin Media News of Chime's call for action on audiology waiting lists: click here.
If you are experiencing barriers in accessing services, rights or entitlements, we will work with you to break down these barriers so you can live your life with the same choices and opportunities as other citizens.
Common issues include access to education, health, employment, training, technology and sign language interpretation.
Contact your nearest Chime centre if you are experiencing difficulties in accessing your rights and entitlements.
Our Representative Advocacy focuses on developing supportive communities and an accessible society for all. We work to create awareness of hearing loss across all sections of society, as hearing loss is very common and impacts on many aspects of life.
Important areas include:
In 2021 we made a submission under the Government's consultation on its draft Initial State Report under UNCRPD. You can view our submission here.
In late Summer 2021 we produced our first Chime Advocacy Newsletter, which is aimed at informing key stakeholders, including public representatives, of the priority issues affecting Deaf and Hard of Hearing people that Chime is currently advocating on. You can read it and each of our subsequent newsletters below.
You can download the Chime Winter 2022 newsletter here.
You can download a LARGE PRINT version of the Chime Winter newsletter here.
You can download the Chime Spring 2022 newsletter here.
You can download a LARGE PRINT version of the Chime Spring 2022 newsletter here.
You can download the Chime Summer 2021 newsletter here.
You can download a LARGE PRINT version of the Chime Summer 2021 newsletter here.
Research forms an increasingly important role in our advocacy programme, as research can provide important evidence to shape future priorities and policy.
Recent publications/research supported by Chime includes:
A systematic review and meta analysis exploring the association between age-related hearing loss and cognitive function, cognitive impairment and dementia (JAMA Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, 2017), completed by David Loughrey, PhD, Global Brain Health Institute and Chime Research Partner, and research colleagues.
Research investigating the literacy attainment of children with hearing loss completed by Dr Elizabeth S. Mathews & Dr Margaret O’Donnell: Reading and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Pupils in Mainstream Education (2018).
In 2020 Chime is supporting research led by Dublin City University examining the social and emotional development of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children.
For further information on our advocacy programme, contact:Brendan Lennon, Chime Head of Advocacy, 35 North Frederick Street, Dublin 1 brendan.lennon@chime.ie