We provide a wide range of services and activities, which we deliver from a number of bases, including Belfast, Londonderry, Omagh and Enniskillen.

RNID's Northern Ireland office was officially launched at Wilton House, Belfast, in 1991. Wilton House has been the centre of activity for the deaf community in Northern Ireland since the beginning of the last century and is known as a deaf centre throughout Northern Ireland. We share the building with a range of organisations including the National Deaf Children's Society, Ulster Deaf Sports Council, The Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People and Northern Ireland Deaf Youth Association.

Breaking down barriers

There are currently 219,000 deaf and hard of hearing people in Northern Ireland. Here, many deaf people are prevented from getting information, interacting with providers and employers, and taking part in training and careers events. This affects their opportunities for learning and employment, and limits their ability to make informed decisions about careers and training options.

We work in four key areas to break down these barriers:

Campaigning for change

We campaign and lobby on behalf of deaf and hard of hearing people in the Northern Ireland Assembly government, and raise awareness of deafness in the media, among health professionals and in the general public. Read more about our campaigns in Northern Ireland.

Changing attitudes

We challenge negative attitudes and raise awareness about deafness and hearing loss. We run training courses to help businesses become more responsive to the needs of deaf people and those with other disabilities. These courses raise staff awareness and improve practical communication skills.

Providing direct services

We provide a number of services in Northern Ireland directly to deaf and hard of hearing people, and to employers, including:

Research

We act as a catalyst for research, performing and supporting medical, social and technical research in areas of key importance to deaf people.