Little Mix court case parents up for top campaigning award

The three Deaf parents who successfully challenged a Little Mix concert promoter over a lack of British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation have been shortlisted for a campaigning award.

Sally Reynolds, Sarah Cassandro and Victoria Nelson all attended a gig by the girl group in September 2017, but ended up taking legal action after LHG Live Limited only provided an interpreter for Little Mix and not their support acts.

In his judgment issued in September last year, in which he said he would declare LHG Live discriminated against the parents, District Judge Avent said: “Live sought to impose what it considered to be solutions in a rather high-handed manner and in a vacuum of ignorance and understanding as to any of the claimant’s disabilities and needs.

“There was no enquiry from Live at any point as to the extent and nature of their disabilities.

“Overall, the thrust of Lives’ position in relation to the support acts was that there was insufficient time to deal with the issues which arose. I reject that contention.”

The three Deaf mums’ legal victory is now one of three campaigns up for the ‘Best Use of Law’ category in the National Campaigner Awards – run by the civil society organisation the Sheila McKechnie Foundation.

The other shortlisted campaigns are ‘Stop the GP Data Grab’ (which highlighted concerns over NHS collating private NHS data) and the not-for-profit Good Law Project (which drew attention to the Government’s PPE contracts).

In a joint statement responding to their being shortlisted, the Deaf parents said: “We are extremely delighted that SMK Awards has recognised the outcome of our important legal campaign.

“We hope that raising awareness of this legal case will empower Deaf people who want access to services, without them having to go through lengthy discussions or seek out legal action.”

The winner will be announced during a virtual award ceremony on 19 May.

Photo: Marcen27/Flickr.

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.