As many of you may be aware, today marks the second reading in Parliament of the British Sign Language Bill, brought forward by Labour MP Rosie Cooper. If the bill passes the second reading, the subsequent committee stage, and the third reading, it could pass into law. This would declare BSL a legally protected language of the United Kingdom, and lead to the provision of a British Sign Language Council to advise on the use of BSL.
By making BSL a protected language, government departments and public bodies would be required to follow new guidance in order to better accommodate BSL users, of which there are an estimated 151,000 in the UK. Importantly, this could mean that BSL interpreters would have to be available for services such as the NHS and would hopefully give d/Deaf people equal access to education and employment.
Not only would this bill be beneficial for members of the d/Deaf community, but it would also impact the lives of their loved ones, such as people who identify as part of the CODA community.
Who are CODAs?
Children of d/Deaf adults, or 'CODAs' account for around 90% of children raised by one or more d/Deaf adults and are hearing. Regardless of whether they use sign language, although many are bilingual, CODAs experience both the d/Deaf and hearing world.
What is it like growing up as a CODA?
Naturally, every child of d/Deaf adults has a completely unique experience, however, there are some situations that many CODAs report to be difficult and recurrent growing up in both the d/Deaf and hearing world.
Being raised within two communities, and not necessarily feeling fully a part of either one, can cause some children to struggle with being bicultural. This can be amplified by the fact that for many, whose first or second language is BSL, its current lack of legal protection can lead some to feel further invalidated and alienated. This can deepen the gap between their two cultural identities and cause some to feel conflicted or not fully a part of one group or the other. This is why organizations such as CODA International and CODA UK and Ireland are so important, as they encourage CODAs to celebrate their identity and heritage, and provide them with a network of support and understanding.
Due to the lack of BSL interpreters, for CODAs who are bilingual, many may often interpret for their parent/s at an early age. This responsibility for communication can weigh heavy for some as they try to ensure their parent/s are not being excluded, which may result in them dealing with circumstances beyond their age, such as speaking to the bank, or even the doctor. In some situations, CODAs such as Francesca Bussey, who gave a recent interview to the BBC, have had to interpret when doctors have given their parents terminal diagnoses. The responsibility of interpreting in adult situations as a child often causes CODAs to have high emotional intelligence at younger ages, however, the psychological impact of this responsibility is deemed by many as inappropriate, and again raises the importance of providing trained interpreters. Relying on family members to fill in the gap can not only feel infantilising and disempowering for d/Deaf people, but it also has ramifications for their loved ones.
Why is the new Bill so important?
As we've already discussed, the new bill, if it passes through Parliament, will have a huge impact on the d/Deaf community and those around them.
By being given legal protection and increasing awareness, the hope is that BSL users will have greater equal access to services such as the NHS. This not only allows d/Deaf people greater autonomy and privacy but further can help to remove the responsibility placed on CODAs to interpret and allow them to simply be a family member.
The bill also legitimizes British Sign Language, and in doing so allows those who use it to fully embrace and celebrate their heritage and makes the hearing world more inclusive and accessible.
CODA Stories
To hear more about people's experiences of being children of d/Deaf adults, I really recommend the radio documentary "CODA: I'm the thumb of the family" by Humera Iqbal, who interviewed several CODAs of varying ages and backgrounds. Beneath is the signed version of the programme which accompanies the audio.
The 2021 comedy-drama film 'CODA', which is a remake of the 2014 French film 'La Famille Bélier', has also been praised by some within the critic and d/Deaf community for providing a good portrayal of life as a CODA within a d/Deaf family. Winning several Sundance awards, the filmmakers were careful to ensure the casting of d/Deaf actors in the appropriate roles, with Oscar winner Marlee Matlin, the only d/Deaf actress to win the best actress Oscar, playing the role of the mother.
Ultimately, the proposed BSL bill advocates for greater inclusivity and recognition of BSL users, and thus both the d/Deaf and CODA communities, and seeks to have a profound impact on the lives of many people within the UK.
For more information on the bill, please visit BSL Act Now! and see how you can get involved and help.
Update
Since the publication of this article, the BSL Bill passed its second reading in the House of Commons and has since progressed to the House of Lords, where it awaits its third and final reading on the 27th of April 2022, before it is set to enter final stages and be presented for Royal Assent. If passed by the Queen, the Bill will then become law.
At the 94th Academy Awards, the film ‘CODA’ won the Best Picture Award, with co-star Troy Kotsur winning Best Supporting Actor, making him the second d/Deaf person to win an Oscar. In his acceptance speech, he dedicated the award to the d/Deaf, CODA, and disabled community, stating “This is our moment”.