Campaign for BSL Act of Parliament gathers pace

A campaign to establish a BSL Act of parliament to enshrine the rights of BSL users into law is gathering pace on Facebook. Plenty of sign language contributions are being added by people to the group which has grown to over 3400 strong over the weekend.

This comes ten years after BSL was recognised as an official language in the UK but since then, people who rely on sign still feel there is much to be done to recognise their rights for access.

One of the leaders of the group is John Smith, the BSL comedian, who came to Peterborough in 2012. John and other leaders of the group are meeting with the BDA today. If you believe in BSL - join the group and join the campaign!

British Deaf Association react to the sign language census results

The BDA (British Deaf Association) today reacted to the census results that seemed to show a smaller then expected number of BSL (British Sign Language) users in the UK. Doubt has been cast on the figures for a number of reasons and now the BDA have made official their position.

BDA Chief Exec David Buxton

The BDA believes that the census gives a misleading picture of the actual number of Deaf users of BSL. It is asking local authorities and health commissioners not to cut services on the basis of inadequate data.

The census identifies 15,000 people in England and Wales who declare BSL as their first language and 7,000 saying they use another sign language. However, the Department of Health’s GP Patients survey estimates there are 122,000 BSL users - eight times as many.

BDA chief executive David Buxton said: “While we welcome the attempt to count BSL users for the first time, the census gives a wholly wrong impression of numbers. By asking the question confusingly, the census undercounted those for whom BSL is a first language. It also did not, of course, count the many tens of thousands of deaf people who use BSL alongside English.

“We are asking local authorities and health commissioners not to rely on the census when they plan services for Deaf people. It would be a tragedy if these misleading figures were used to justify cuts, resulting in Deaf people being further marginalised.

“There is already a shortage of BSL interpreters across the country and Deaf people are routinely denied access to health, education and employment.”

Deaf children and young people's rights .. what are they?

It's important to know your rights and that especially true for young deaf people to ensure that they can get the most our of what's on offer here in the UK and from life. 

The BDA (British Deaf Association) has been working with organisations in Wales to produce a video informing young deaf people of their rights. This from the BDA site:

To produce information about United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) aimed Deaf Children and Young People to give equal access to all Deaf young people in British Sign Language and the aim is to empower the young people with knowledge's to increase awareness of rights, responsibilities and participation.

This film was produced by Deffo! Welsh Deaf Youth Forum and BDA with support from ProMo-Cymru and CLIConline, also funded by Welsh Government in building a resources that is the first of its kind in Wales aimed specifically at Deaf Children and Young People which informs them of their rights in BSL.

The BDA would like to thank the staff from Promo Cymru, volunteers and Deaf young people who took part and contributed to the film also Welsh Government for funded this project to allow Deaf Children and Young people to have access to information in the choice of their preferred languages.

Check out the fully signed and subtitled video here

BDA BSL debates - Derby

Next week, Friday 23rd March, the British Deaf Association series of BSL debates will at Derby Deaf Club. The debates are part of this year's BSL day celebrations.
The debate topic will be "BSL Act -Achieveable or Not?"

Door opens 6.30pm, debate begins 7.00pm

Door entry will be £2 per person and BSL interpreters will be provided.

Further information is available from Robin Ash Community Development Team Manager

robina@bda.org.uk