BSL Act Now: Government supports British Sign Language Bill with ASL video

The Department for Work and Pensions has come under fire for a video expressing its support for Rosie Cooper MP’s British Sign Language (BSL) Bill, by including stock footage of American Sign Language (ASL).

The tweet by the DWP Press Office was shared on Friday afternoon, as MPs gave their unanimous support for Ms Cooper’s Bill to pass its second reading in the House of Commons.

“The Bill recognises BSL as a language in its own right, and will see guidance issued to departments across the Government on the promotion and facilitation of BSL,” said Chloe Smith MP, the Minister for Disabled People.

The video then cut to stock footage of a woman appearing to sign ‘name’, ‘nice’ and ‘meet’ in ASL to nine people on a video call, as Ms Smith continued to say “the deaf community deserve to be heard like everyone else”.

"Today, the Government has backed a Private Members' Bill introduced by Rosie Cooper MP (@rosie4westlancs). The time is right to make #BritishSignLanguage a part of everyone's lives" – Minister for Disabled People @NorwichChloe

Find out more https://t.co/K6V1n6Hs6U#BSLBill pic.twitter.com/PggVmS2cQv

— Department for Work and Pensions (@DWPgovuk) January 28, 2022

The mistake has since been pointed out by Deaf users, who said the “embarrassing” video contains “bad” ASL and not BSL:

They don't even know what language it is they're recognising, at 22 seconds they're using a video that is clearly (bad) ASL… Embarrassing! https://t.co/vJ1zp4Adpx

— Dai (@DrDaiJestive) January 28, 2022

https://twitter.com/LTKelly84/status/1487161668853456897?s=20&t=1rllkdhwWvRDTq2P4gjI-Q

Uh, the sign language seen in that zoom part isn't BSL or ASL. SMH

– a guy who knows six sign languages https://t.co/nZf7EEgnlY

— ZadeTheCheetah (@ZadeTheCheetah) January 28, 2022

Love that DWP is showing support for this bill. However why then throw in a video of signing without having checked it is actually BSL! Urgh 🤦🏼‍♀️ https://t.co/oKREppsPt4

— SignConnectuk (@ConnectukSign) January 28, 2022

@dwppressoffice please respect the Deaf BSL community and their language BSL. The signed language in this video is not BSL but ASL https://t.co/WTDtv1ft12

— Kerena Marchant (@kerena27) January 29, 2022

“We need some stock sign language videos..”

“I got this! It is just people waving hands around right?”

This is what I predict went on, the stock video is ASL (American Sign Language). Completely different to BSL.

🤦 https://t.co/Sun02wPDOb

— Craig Butcher (@craigbutcher) January 29, 2022

@dwppressoffice try and respect the Deaf BSL community and recognise BSL NOT ASL which is used in this clip 🙈🙈 https://t.co/WTDtv1ft12

— Kerena Marchant (@kerena27) January 29, 2022

THAT AINT EVEN BSL BEING USED

THATS ASL

AND EVEN THAT AINT RIGHT

WHO. SIGNED. THIS. OFF.

— Sarah x (@ambideafkid) January 29, 2022

You do realize the stock clips used is not BSL? It’s (very bad) ASL.

— Quinn (@Quinns_quirks) January 29, 2022

Responding to The Limping Chicken‘s request for comment, a DWP spokesperson did not address the error and instead said: “Yesterday saw a significant step towards real equality for those who rely on British Sign Language to communicate and passing the Bill will see Government commit to a more inclusive and accessible society.”

However, this website the department can include stock footage in their content for creative and illustrative purposes.

Photo: @DWPPressOffice/Twitter.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is an award-winning Deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.