On January 28th, the British Sign Language Bill passed its second reading. This is a huge step for BSL achieving legal status and protection.
The bill has been presented by Labour MP Rosie Cooper, who, as Eleanor discussed in last week’s blog, is a member of the CODA (children of d/Deaf adults) community. Cooper’s name was drawn from a Private Member’s Bill ballot in June 2021, after the British Deaf Association (BDA) launched the BSL Act Now! Campaign in March 2021. This campaign began in Sign Language Week, calling for legal recognition for British Sign Language, and nearly 90% of MPs received letters from d/Deaf members of the public asking them to bring forward this proposal.
Who is Involved?
The BSL Act Now! Campaign was led by the British Deaf Association. They stand for equality, access, and freedom of choice for d/Deaf individuals. The BDA advocate for the d/Deaf community to have access to services and information in their first language, BSL, and have been pushing for legal recognition for a very long time. Success was found in Scotland, who passed a BSL Act in 2015, and BSL Act Now! urges the UK government to follow in these footsteps.
As well as this, the BDA do great work focusing on educating families about d/Deaf culture and providing mentors to young d/Deaf people. To find out more about the BDA, take a look here:
The BDA were also supported by a wide range of charities and organisations. The Royal National Institute for Deaf People was founded in 1911 and, among lots of things, they work to provide information on d/Deaf issues and hearing loss. They also put a great focus on improving technology to become more accessible to d/Deaf individuals.
The Royal Association for Deaf People provides services to d/Deaf people and their families, and offers d/Deaf awareness training and promotes community engagement. Among many things, they also have a wellbeing live chat available to talk through any worries or concerns someone may have.
Another organisation working closely with the bill is Black Deaf UK. They focus on helping Black d/Deaf individuals connect with each other, creating a safe, inclusive community. They also recently set up a great scheme for parents and carers of Black d/Deaf children, providing free sign language classes.
Signature is the leading award body for British Sign Language. They provide beginner courses in BSL, up to level 6, and offer certificates in d/Deaf awareness, Sign Language interpretation, and many more. Learn more about their courses here:
The Institute of British Sign Language also provide British Sign Language courses and awards linked to d/Deaf awareness, working with teachers, the government, and d/Deaf organisations, and is completely run by d/Deaf individuals.
SignHealth is another wonderful charity who focus on improving health and wellbeing in the d/Deaf community. They work with the NHS and other organisations to remove barriers d/Deaf people face in accessing necessary services, as well as providing their own psychological therapy, education on domestic abuse, and so much more.
The National Deaf Children’s Society is a community of over 65,000 parents and professionals who campaign for d/Deaf children’s rights, particularly in accessing the same opportunities and education as hearing children. To learn more about the services they provide and how they impact young d/Deaf people’s lives, visit their website and social medias.
Finally, the National Register of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People (NRCPD) regulates all communications professionals to ensure the d/Deaf community has access to high-quality interpreters, translators, lipspeakers, and more.
Rose Ayling-Ellis, following her history-making Strictly Come Dancing victory, has also spoken up about how important the BSL Bill is:
“I’m backing [the Bill] because this is my language. The fact that my country doesn’t see it that way is really sad and means we don’t get the respect we deserve, and the language deserves”.
“BSL is not an official language, legally, in this country. Which is outrageous. Because it is such a beautiful, rich language with its own structure, its own grammar, its own slang. It’s even got accents.”
Its clear that the BSL Bill is a crucial step forward in increasing support for the estimated 151,000 people in the UK who communicate through BSL. As discussed by Eleanor, this bill could greatly increase inclusivity for the d/Deaf and CODA communities.
Be sure to check out the updates on the BSL Act Now! website, and also take a look at the amazing work that all these organisations do!