Live: Social media responds to The Silent Child’s BBC1 screening

The Oscar winning short film The Silent Child has just been screened on BBC1 in a prime-time slot on Good Friday, and can now be seen on iPlayer by clicking here.

This screening in such a prominent slot, of a film that highlights language deprivation in deaf children and makes a strong point about the importance of accessibility to BSL, is incredibly rare and represents a major opportunity for wider awareness of the issues in the film.

If you’d like to read how our bloggers have responded to the film, here’s 5 things the film shows us about deaf childrens’ lives and here’s a blog from Nina Thomas about awareness and change.

On this page, we’ll be charting some of the responses on social media as people see and react to the film.

Here they are below:

Just received emotional message from my own father after watching #TheSilentChild – both he & Mam took advice from local experts that oral method was the only way forward. If he had known there was bilingual education 50 years ago they would gladly have chosen it for me. https://t.co/kJTVOYVfVF

— Craig Crowley MBE (@craigcrowley64) March 30, 2018

Very emotional after watching The Silent Child. My deaf 10 year old daughter is now drafting a letter to our MP, all she wants is the right to learn BSL
#TheSilentChild

— Lucy Jayne (@LucyJayneB) March 30, 2018

Over 78% of deaf children attend mainstream school without any support in place.
Over 78% of deaf children attend mainstream school without any support in place.
Over 78% of deaf children attend mainstream school without any support in place.#TheSilentChild

— Emma Case (@EmmaCase) March 30, 2018

The first thing my dad said after watching @SilentChildFilm was “so is it easy to learn sign language? How do I do it?” This is why it is a film everyone needs to watch. #TheSilentChild

— Alice-May Bermingham (@AM_Bermingham) March 30, 2018

#TheSilentChild Amazing, I recommend this short film to everyone! I believe sign language should be taught in all school, at work we are given basic training and it is so rewarding when you can hold a short conversation with a deaf customer💛

— Charlotte (@_charlotte_amy) March 30, 2018

Watching @SilentChildFilm made me smile because it is so beautiful & cry because of the isolation of the deaf child in a hearing world. I learned that using even my basic, mistake-riddled BSL with my deaf nephew goes some way to alleviate this. Amazing, long overdue film 👍

— Annette Powell (@AnnettePowell14) March 30, 2018

WOW! Speechless. Actually cried at the end. No Child deaf of not. Should never feel that way
#TheSilentChild

— Sam (@Sam_Moir) March 30, 2018

Dear @NickGibbUK, @10DowningStreet @educationgovuk have you watched tonight’s #TheSilentChild film on @BBCOne? Your Govt still ignores us why NO to GCSE #BSL, @BDA_Deaf campaign for legal status BSL since 1890!! Give us a new BSL law as equal as Welsh, Gaelic & Cornish!

— David Buxton (@DavidBuxtondc) March 30, 2018

Great to see such a positive reaction for #TheSilentChild in a prominent slot on @BBCOne. Next week’s @BBCSeeHear asks if the film could be a turning point for deaf children. It’s on Wednesday next week at 8am on @BBCTwo.

— Roger Farrant (@roger_farrant) March 30, 2018

For those of you who watched the #TheSilentChild I hope you took away a serious message from it, that deaf children need access to education and also sign language (irrespective of their other communication abilities). Sign language doesn't just benefit children but adults too.

— Alison (@Deaf) March 30, 2018

#TheSilentChild even without a deaf child, how many parents are like these characters & as guilty? Too busy to give people ‘Time’ we need to slow down a little & give each other time. Beautiful & thought provoking film about us all really, perfect for today’s society.

— Simon – VRDT (@SimonVelocity) March 30, 2018

I could totally see why #TheSilentChild won its Oscar though! Definitely deserved. I’ve always wanted to learn sign language but never have. Maybe I will now.

— Tamsin Wood 🐶🐁🐆 (@Tami_A) March 30, 2018

The Silent Child was simply amazing!! @SilentChildFilm sign language should be globally recognised just like English as a first language for non-deaf people worldwide! This had added even more to my motivation to learn #signlanguage #TheSilentChild #SilentChild #deafawareness

— Jane Bayliss (@bayliss_j94) March 30, 2018

If watching #TheSilentChild doesn’t melt your ❤️ and make you want to learn at least some very basic #signlanguage, then nothing will. It really *SHOULD* be taught in primary schools #LoveBSL #GetTheNationSigning @presenterwayne https://t.co/Uzw6V4AJm9

— 🌈#hellomynameisben (@radiographerben) March 30, 2018

#TheSilentChild was such a moving short film. Thanks @BBC for giving it a prime time slot. It’s not just deaf children who would benefit from learning sign language in schools, it will be a lesson for all of us in communications, tolerance & equality

— Parveen (@Parveen_Comms) March 30, 2018

Watching #TheSilentChild and just glad that when my parents found out that my big brother was deaf they weren’t like the family in this film. They learnt sign and got support, speech and language and hearing aids. My parents are heroes.

— Peter (@LastNation) March 30, 2018

#TheSilentChild ok… Two words that i thought would never make me cry… ORANGE JUICE @RachelShenton

— Lisa Catchpole (@LisaM_Catchpole) March 30, 2018

#TheSilentChild is an excellent film about children born with hearing impairment.
It is not a learning difficulty, all children need is support in schools.
A worldwide problem of lack of support has to change.https://t.co/VZNTI08OU9

— Ysbryd PPFOB 🕊🦊🐝🌳🌗 (@YsbrydArtist) March 30, 2018

Congrats on the #Oscar the greatest gift is the powerful message #TheSilentChild leaves with you raising awareness is so important @BBCOne

— Julie Bell BCA (@buliejell) March 30, 2018

Oh, that was brilliant. Bravo to all those @SilentChildFilm who worked on such an authentic, sweet but also emotional film. I welled up a bit there. Full review to come but please, if you missed it, give #TheSilentChild a watch. Absolutely superb.

— Liam O'Dell (@lifeofathinker) March 30, 2018

Knowing is one thing but it seems like actually understanding is a completely different thing and even more shocking is how easily it must feel to be so isolated. Eye opening & thought provoking short film 👏🏾👏🏾😢

— 👺Lorenzo 👺 (@Roug3_D3mon99) March 30, 2018

OMG. #TheSilentChild is totally amazing. Please, it's time to stop seeing Deafness & Disability as negative. If your child has an impairment celebrate it. Help them to love who they are & give them the skills to fulfill their potential.

— Mik Scarlet (@MikScarlet) March 30, 2018

It's not just deaf people who benefit from sign language. It should be taught in schools for everybody. And besides the obvious fact, it'd be useful in loud workplaces as well. #TheSilentChild

— DJ Villan ♿🎙 (@DJVillan) March 30, 2018

Truly stunning short film. Emotional, heart felt. #silentchild 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

— Nikki Mackenzie (@nmacikki) March 30, 2018

Very poignant and beautifully made. Also very thought provoking re lack of provision in main stream education and the expectations that the deaf should ‘fit in’ to the hearing world.

— Sally B #NHS love ❤ (@B17sallyb) March 30, 2018

Watching #thesilentchild on BBC. Wow so moving and really tugs at heart strings 😘😘 such an amazing young actress too who plays Libby. @RachelShenton

— May Dean (@HomeEdFamily) March 30, 2018

I can’t begin to imaging how isolated she must feel from her own family. The feeling of being lonely, but being surrounded by so many people at the same time. #TheSilentChild

— Craig (@TheNameIsCraig) March 30, 2018

Everyone needs to learn #BSL (British Sign Language), from school age upwards so they can communicate with #deaf people – and be able to communicate if they lose their hearing. It’s a beautiful language #TheSilentChild

— Fiona Shoop (@FiShoop) March 30, 2018

#TheSilentChild imagine being told you weren’t allowed to speak your language again, Or telling the optician that you don’t think you’ll let your child wear glasses even though they need them, or that your child can just walk even though they need a wheelchair. You wouldn’t!

— SarahClements_12 (@mrs_c85) March 30, 2018

#TheSilentChild why would you not give your deaf child the assistance and support they need to be able to communicate?! #deafawareness is so important

— SarahClements_12 (@mrs_c85) March 30, 2018

Well done to the the #bbc for showing a short film prime time on a Saturday night. Shame it took an Oscar win for them to take the plunge but long may it continue. Story telling comes in all forms. #thesilentchild

— Matt Bell (@MattBellAD) March 30, 2018

Watching #TheSilentChild. Being #deaf is one of the hardest disabilities, not least because of other people’s reactions and lack of understanding. Deaf people and their use of BSL are even openly mocked. So ignorant!

— Fiona Shoop (@FiShoop) March 30, 2018

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