10 years ago this month, BSL was recognised by the government after a campaign that led to Deaf people marching on the streets of London.
For some, that breakthrough was the end of the fight, but since then, many Deaf people have said that without rights in law, BSL recognition didn’t make as much difference as it could have done.
Many have said that what the Deaf community really need is a BSL Act to enshrine the rights of BSL users in law when they are accessing services like healthcare or education.
Now, a new Facebook group called ‘Spit the dummy and campaign for a BSL Act’ has united a number of key members of the Deaf community behind the issue, gaining nearly 4000 members in just a few days.
There, influential people like John Smith, the Deaf comedian, Lee Robertson (below), Deaf actor Matt Kirby, James Clarke, former campaigner Jen Dodds, and many more have posted videos in BSL about the need for an Act.
They say the Equality Act isn’t strong enough and that it’s time for the Deaf community to “spit the dummy out” and do something about it.
When BSL was recognised, the driving force was the Federation of Deaf People. Will this new movement, linked online through social networking, lead to a new campaigning organisation that can help a BSL Act become reality?
We’ll have a blog about this later in the week – but for now, we’ll be keeping a close eye on the Facebook group for further developments.
Check out the Facebook group here: http://www.facebook.com/groups/bslact/
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Jason Sharpe
February 27, 2013
I’m full Deaf I use sign language. WOW have new open Facebook Group ” spit the dummy out for BSL ACT! ” a lots video and comment and lots member over 8,000.
Please welcome spit the dummy out for BSL ACT!
Thank you
msloloj
February 27, 2013
It’s absolutely fantastic that there is already so much support online in just a few days for a BSL Act! But to have any kind of real impact or any hope of changing the law, we must organise offline action too. A petition is a good start, although we would need serious numbers of signatures to stand out from the countless other petitions being put to Parliament. A huge march on 18 March. An advertising campaign, like the fantastic “middle finger” poster campaign run by BDA 10 years ago. Prominent supporters talking in the media about the urgent need for equal access and communication support for Deaf people (and what happens when they don’t get it). Targeted information sent to your local MP. T-shirts, badges and leaflets to raise awareness. It will be a big job but this year is the time to take action!
msloloj
February 27, 2013
It’s absolutely fantastic that there is already so much support online in just a few days for a BSL Act! But to have any kind of real impact or any hope of changing the law, we must organise offline action too. A petition is a good start, although we would need serious numbers of signatures to stand out from the countless other petitions being put to Parliament. A huge march on 18 March. An advertising campaign, like the fantastic “middle finger” poster campaign run by BDA 10 years ago. Prominent supporters talking in the media about the urgent need for equal access and communication support for Deaf people (and what happens when they don’t get it). Targeted information sent to your local MP. T-shirts, badges and leaflets to raise awareness. It will be a big job but this year is the time to take action!
Jill Jones
June 23, 2013
Malcolm Bruce’s Bill is ABSOLUTELY the wrong Bill for BSL!!! We are very worried about the future of BSL now. The DEXperience Board is unanimous about our draft Bill being the right way forward – as we say – is a draft, but those who have looked at our suggestions thought that we want the BSL Bill to be exactly as it is now in the draft!!! Of course not, it is a draft. What we are very clear about though, is that the Welsh Language model is the best model for BSL as it is seen as the best language plan in the world by language planners.
We want the Deaf community to work together – and discuss how to include deaf children’s and adults’ needs in a proper BSL Act (not a Communications Act) – which has really watered down what we asked for, and will achieve little. The chances of us getting BSL to be equal to English (and Welsh and Gaelic in Wales and Scotland) and for all deaf children to learn BSL are very slim indeed if we do not take action before October when Malcolm Bruces’s Bill will be read in Parliament.
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