Grumpy Old Deafies

The Guardian has published a hitting piece on the reality of deaf education, through the personal experience of John Smith, who is known for his Deaf comedy:

I went to a primary school for the deaf, where we weren't allowed to use sign language. We were forced to speak, using hearing aids. What was the point of that? It makes me angry just thinking about it. When the teachers' backs were turned, we used to sign to each other.

I learned nothing at school. The teachers told me I was rubbish. I used to get very tense and stressed out. I was good at maths, but I struggled with English. Even now I find writing difficult. I use a lot of "text" speak and struggle with more complicated words. I'll often ask a translator to sign things back to me if there are long words or lots of jargon.

At 11, I went to a mainstream school with a deaf unit. School was OK, but I had no deaf friends living nearby. The hearing children used to tease me a lot. I felt very low and frightened.

Education failed me. I left school with CSEs in woodwork and history. I didn't have any friends. I felt damaged by the education system, angry that I was discouraged from using my own, natural language. I hadn't been taught British Sign Language (BSL) at all. I'd picked up most of it informally.

John then goes onto describe the positives in his life now, which you can read by clicking onto the link below.

Source:
The Guardian The Sign Language Teacher

See also:
BBC Video Footage: John Smith, Deaf Comedian

Elsewhere:
John Smith: Beautiful BSL

Continue reading "The Guardian: The Sign Language Teacher; the Personal Experience of John Smith" »

Posted by alison at 2:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Following the meeting with the Prime Minister in February, the Department for Children Schools and Families are planning to announce the publication of a tender for a project to improve access to and demand for BSL.

The relevant DCSF page by Lord Adonis can be found here, and the direct link to the document is here [Word] (the link on their website does not work).

British Sign Language. I recognise the importance placed on British Sign Language by many in the deaf community and their desire to make sure it thrives as a language. Malcolm Bruce MP, the Chair of the APPG on Deafness, has been campaigning for legislation on this issue and for greater availability of signers and interpreters. He and many others here will be pleased to know that later this week my department is inviting organisations to bid for a project testing an approach to improving demand for and use of British Sign Language in a particular area or region. It is important that parents with deaf children are aware of BSL and can make informed choices as to its use with their children. We also need to share the expertise we have in those schools and colleges that use BSL amongst mainstream services.

Comment from GOD:
Whilst this is a practical step for families, and it even makes a government policy statement - it has the language of NDCS written all over it - to counteract all the medical agenda, "It is important that parents with deaf children are aware of BSL and can make informed choices as to its use with their children", it does not go far enough.

This is very much a single department response, and still fails to address the root issues that comes with BSL recognition. BSL recognition cannot be driven by project funding, e.g. more money for interpreters, funding for more websites for BSL. This is not what BSL recognition is about.

Deeper issues needs to be addressed first, and if project funding comes later as a result of addressing these issues, then all good. Continually aiming at short term solutions - whilst good for an organisation's balance sheet - is not in the interests of the greater good.

Ask the Readers:
What do you think? Drop us a line in the comments.

Source:
Department for Children, Schools and Families: Speech by Andrew Adonis : Children with Disabilities and Special Education Needs

See also:
The 5th anniversary of apathy BSL recognition
Photo Friday: Prime Minister Gordon Brown meets suit-types to discuss BSL

Posted by alison at 12:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Below is a BSL based commercial for Skype, who had commissioned Remark!:

You can watch it in full glory here.

Fantastic collaboration, and good to see BSL being used as a marketing tool. Deaf people after all do use Skype as a communication tool.

Source:
Skype: Hello is now “What shall I cook?”
Remark! Skype Commercial

See also:
Sign language in advertising
Pepsi Superbowl Advert
More ASL Pepsi advertising

Posted by alison at 7:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Here's a trip down memory lane, a video by Usher Life of FDP's BSL March 2000:

I think this march have around 10,000 people (am I right?) In the footage, spot Jen (the co-author of this blog), being bossy via her co-ordinating duties. There's also footage at the end of Doug Alker, and Clive Mason MC; however the umbrellas sort of get in the way!

Does anyone else have any footage of BSL marches, or past demos?

Elsewhere:
Usher Life
Usher Life egroup

See also:
The 5th anniversary of apathy BSL recognition
Photo Friday: Prime Minister Gordon Brown meets suit-types to discuss BSL

Posted by alison at 12:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Yep, five years ago today, the Government announced that it recognised BSL as an official British language. Whoopee-do!

A few months later, we had another (pre-planned) march through London to push for a BSL Act. This banner was there:

And on the back, it wisely said...

Did we? Umm, no.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - we British Deaf NEED to get off our arses and do something useful without squabbling or saying "oh, he's doing it, you don't need me."

We do need you. More than ever before!

And on a final note - one final question - do you think anyone would ever bother to spend hours making such a fine "world's biggest BSL banner" now, like Millie Vagadama did in 2003?

That was back in the days when we cared enough to do such things.

- jen

More info:
Parliament: Prime Minister agrees to meet a BSL delegation
Government response on BSL & the UN Convention of Human Rights for Disabilities
Parliament: BSL on websites & recognition of BSL

Posted by j at 9:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

Does anyone have any digital videos of any of the BSL marches or roadblocks that they wouldn't mind me using for an art project?

If you have any footage - I just need a short clip - that you can send to me on CD, or preferably via email or filesend, I would be very grateful. Comment below or email me at tips@grumpyoldeafies.com.

Cheers!

Jen

Posted by j at 8:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Sarah Teather (Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform; Brent East, Liberal Democrat)

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families

(1) what standard of British Sign Language attainment is required of teachers of the deaf;

(2) what comparative assessment he has made of the educational progress of deaf children taught using British Sign Language and those taught using total communication.

Kevin Brennan (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Children, Schools and Families; Cardiff West, Labour)

Where qualified teachers wish to specialise in teaching children with a sensory impairment, including a hearing impairment, they must obtain an additional mandatory qualification (MQ). The current specification for MQ courses includes the expectation that participants successfully completing the MQ for teachers of pupils with hearing impairment should have a minimum competence in signing, equivalent to the CACDP (Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People) Stage 1 qualification. The Training and Development Agency for Schools is currently reviewing the MQ specification, which has included detailed consultation with the approved MQ providers and a range of other interested parties. The Department has made no comparative assessment of the educational progress of deaf children taught using British Sign Language and those taught using total communication.

Source:
Hansard
They Work For You

Posted by alison at 4:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Forgive me for losing my sense of humour, but I was definitely NOT amused this morning when I read Deafweekly's report on a "sign language lady randomly waving her arms around during a British children's TV programme." You can read more about it here.

Er, is it real?! Someone, please reassure me either way.

If it isn't, is the RNId quote fake too?

And if is, is it really 2008, or did I wake up in 1968 or something?

- Jen

Posted by j at 8:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (12) | TrackBacks (0)

As the title suggests, this blog post is a bit of a mixed bag, mostly because I haven’t blogged here for a while and things tend to pile up. So, here we go…

Firstly, what is this about captioned radio ‘for deaf people’?! (You can read more about it here and here and here.) While this has been a long time coming, Tony was right in pointing out that deaf people cannot interact with captioned radio by calling in and making comments like hearing people do. I really can’t think why any Deafie would like to use one, apart from maybe to gain access to song words (if music can be captioned? I’m unsure?), or to see what their hearing families/partners/friends/housemates are listening to from time to time. Aside from that, imagine a Deafie buying one and just sitting watching these scrolling words over and over and over again, with no visual simulation, intonation or anything!? How very boring. I’m sure the inventors meant well..!

More importantly, we’ve been wondering what would happen after Malcolm Bruce MP brought up BSL recognition at the Prime Minister's Questions on 12th December, and Gordon Brown agreed to meet a “delegation of sign language users”. Surprise, surprise, the UKCoD appear to have taken over again… or maybe they were behind the whole thing, as Malcolm Bruce is the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Deafness, and UKCoD seems to be attached to it in some way (please correct me if I’m wrong)?

Anyway, the latest UKCoD Bulletin, which found its way into GOD’s inbox (*we are NOT members(!)), says that Gordon Brown’s meeting with sign language users is “being arranged and the details will be announced shortly.” It continues…

“To prepare for the meeting the All Party Group are holding a series of pre-meetings to debate the issues that should be raised with the Prime Minster.

The first meeting is being held on Tuesday 22 January at Westminster. Places at the meeting are limited, anyone wishing to attend should please book their place with Jonathan Isaac, Clerk to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Deafness at j.isaac@deafcouncil.org.uk”

What I want to know is:

1) Who is going to this meeting?! Just UKCoD members?
2) Are they Deaf BSL users?
3) If not, what the hell are they doing there?
4) If so, what do they really know about BSL recognition?

We all know that UKCoD is an ‘umbrella organisation’ which has loads of hearing-led member organisations which are AGAINST BSL and PRO oral, and aim to cure the-awful-thing-that-is-deafness and whatever else. So what does BSL recognition have to do with them?! And what does Joe Deaf have to do to get his view to Gordon Brown? He has to go via an organisation that has to go through UKCoD, and when it's gone through X number of people, is 'his' view still his? I doubt it.

Let’s just hope that the BDA’s renewed UKCoD membership helps somewhat, if they can get a word in amongst all the non-BSL users and audiologists. And yes, I am cynical. I have reason to be.

On the same subject, the NDCS has suddenly become interested in BSL recognition too – correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t recall much happening there before? But anyway, they seem to be going along to this meeting with Gordon. The questions above apply again.

The NDCS is also calling on Gordon Brown to “ensure the parents of every deaf child who uses sign language are offered free, high quality and local child-focused sign language classes to enable the whole family to communicate effectively together and ensure that the child is included in the family unit at all times.”

Great idea… I would have thought that the NDCS would have done this already, as they are an organisation for parents of deaf children?? Isn’t that the kind of thing that they’re meant to do anyway, as well as promoting CIs and the other stuff that they do? Maybe not. I’m also concerned that they seem to think that this is what BSL recognition is about, as well as having Level 3 CSWs in schools. Sigh.

Whatever happens, it is clear that we need someone who knows what BSL recognition is about to go along to that meeting. Not just random deafies who can sign a bit and wear a suit, or people who think they know what’s what because they work for organisations with “deaf” or “hearing” (ha!) in their names. Life is never simple, is it? And no, I’m not biting the hand that feeds me. Hell, if I relied on that hand to feed me, I’d starve to death.

Jen

Posted by j at 8:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

Taken at BSL March 1999 (wow, 8 years ago now?!) by an unknown photographer. These kids signed a poem called 'Sisters', if I remember correctly, and one of them has just written a really cool blog post which can be found here*.

Who are they?

* Click on the red bit! It's a link!

Posted by j at 9:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's Learn to Sign Week this week (1st-7th October). Check out the BDA's new Learn to Sign website here!

Also, there will be a Deafie on The Paul O' Grady Show at 5pm tomorrow (Tuesday). Whoopee do!

Not forgetting See Hear is back on Wednesday, in its rather crap new 1pm mid week slot. I still object (see link below)!

Anyway, if you can't sign... this week is the week to learn!

jen

See also:
Save See Hear!

Posted by j at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

A rather un-grumpy vlog, featuring Jen, her runaway dog and some trees...

English script:

It's International Sign Languages Day today, and I thought I would vlog from my corner of the world, just to show that, indeed, there are sign languages all over the world.

So here I am in the middle of nowhere - AKA Yorkshire - quite near my house. It's kind of over there somewhere... can you swivel the camera please?

[CAMERA PANS TO SHOW TREES & NICE BLUE SKY]

Great, thank you. Oh no, the dog's running off! [LOL] Happy International Sign Languages Day! Oh, one last thing...

PROTECT BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE IN LAW - NOW!

Posted by j at 5:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (13) | TrackBacks (0)

The Concert for Diana which marked what would have been Diana, the Princess of Wales' birthday on the 1 July this was televised by the BBC. As part of this concert, there was a series of tributes - Diana and Me - from people who she worked with.

One of these tributes was delivered by Clark Denmark, who talks about Diana becoming Patron of the BDA, learning BSL and delivering an address at the BDA's centenary celebrations back in 1990. For those of you who missed it, or international readers, here's a clip:

Posted by alison at 1:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

At the BDA Congress, we at GOD offered Francis the opportunity to say whatever he liked to our readers/viewers, and he accepted the offer. So, here he is:

... so if you're interested in the BDA and/or Deaf education, get the next train to Southport!

Jen

(English translation for non-BSL signers below...)

Continue reading "Statement from Francis Murphy, BDA Chair" »

Posted by j at 5:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

I can't believe that the BDA London / South East Office was closed a few weeks ago, and they seem to have forgotten to tell us! An email to members would have done the job. [ Or even better, a blog! WISH THE BDA WOULD GET A BLOG! I volunteer to help them to set one up, if that is any use (I suspect not, but anyway) !]

Dawn, thanks for the reply to my last post on the BDA - I really do support the BDA and want to see it thrive, as I am sure you understand. So it is with this support in mind that I will be going to the Congress in Southport next week, or at least some of it, depending when I can get time off work. Hope to see many Deafies there to show their support too!

If you're reading this blog, it would be interesting to know if you're going to the Congress, and if not, why not? Comments in the comment box below, please!

There is new information about the Congress here - programme etc - thanks to Tony B for the heads up.

Jen

Posted by j at 8:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

Who can recognise who, for the benefit of international readers.

Do you have any photos? We'd like to publish these here.

Posted by alison at 7:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBacks (0)

FYI, See Hear sent this long email in reply to my vlog about the changes they are making:

Hi Jen.

Yes, we are going through major changes, but See Hear continues as the only programme presented in BSL on a mainstream terrestrial channel. We are forever breaking new ground at the cutting edge of deaf television.

We still have a strong core of deaf members of the team. For the first time in five years, we have a deaf producer. We also have two deaf assistant producers, one deaf researcher and one hard of hearing researcher, so, a wealth of skill, knowledge and culture, and a strong affinity with the community. To complement the deaf team members, we have a number of hearing staff, who offer an enormously wide range of knowledge and experience of television, and who share the same enthusiasm for 'See Hear'.

Change of Slots

Television is changing, and how we view our programmes is also rapidly changing. Gone are the days of our entire audience sitting around the living room, tuning in to watch favourite programmes (like See Hear) at specific times. Services such Sky PLUS and PVRs allow viewers to record selected programmes to watch as and when is convenient for them. Self-service is becoming increasingly popular, and we believe it is time for us to change too.

All programmes within the BBC are experiencing budgetary cuts, and See Hear is no exception. We believe, after much thought, that the best way to maintain the quality of the show and still be able to make 38 programmes a year is to reduce the length of the programme to 30 minutes. We can assure you that we will be using the budget to maintain the high production values and quality that the programme is renowned for, and with this extra time and staffing we are now focusing on more investigative stories, consumer items and reality television, as you have rightly been asking for. This does take time and a lot of effort.

What is our new vision?

The move to a midweek slot on Wednesdays in September is an exciting new challenge. See Hear will remain on BBC2, one of the BBC's main terrestrial television channels. With the new time slot we will have a new audience, and will also be looking at stories of interest to the
signing community, as well as the hearing, hard of hearing and deafened who are out there.

Our lifestyles have changed - we have become much more aware of the wider world, and deaf and hearing are merging together. I do accept that for many, change is difficult. But we have to seek new ways to be exciting and challenging, and to meet and attract a wider audience.

Please bear with us whilst we take up these challenges. Over the next few weeks you will see some more fine-tuning as we develop our new ideas and bring them on stream. Two weeks ago we had some great stories in our 'Fostering and Adoption' special, and in last week's programme we had an eye-opening film about the failure of shops to provide working induction
loops to assist hearing aid users. Over the next few months we will follow a young deaf girl having a cochlear implant, and we will explore the reasons for her decision to go ahead with this life changing operation. And there will be much, much more.

See Hear has been going now for 25 years, and with these changes, we aim to continue for another 25 years - and to remain the flagship programme for the deaf.

Tel
Terry Riley
Editor- SEE HEAR

Posted by j at 12:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (1)

A vlog from mouse, about online translation services, the first for the UK. What's interesting about this, is its online marketing specifically targeted at BSL users. Does anyone know of this happening elsewhere? All other marketing I've seen to date (even when targeted at BSL users), relies on English. Does anyone know of any different?

Disclosure: Although Jen (co-author of this blog) did not ask me to blog this, in the interests of transparency, Jen is a partner in mouse. For the record, I don't have any interest in this company.

Posted by alison at 10:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Yesterday's debate in parliament made reference to the use of BSL in schools.

Madeleine Moon (Bridgend, Labour)

May we have a debate on the increased teaching and use of British Sign Language? Last week I visited Archdeacon John Lewis primary school in my constituency and was pleased to see children as young as three and up to the age of 11 not only singing in English and Welsh, but using British Sign Language, along with all their teachers. As there are two profoundly deaf children in the school, all at the school have taken responsibility for learning British Sign Language. Is that not a subject that we should be rolling out throughout our schools?

Jack Straw (Lord Privy Seal, House of Commons)

As someone who takes a close interest in matters related to the deaf, I applaud my hon. Friend's interest and will certainly look for an opportunity for a debate, possibly on the Adjournment or in Westminster Hall.

Jack Straw MP is hard of hearing, and some of you might remember he opened FDP Conference at Blackburn in 1997 (his constituency). He caused a stir in the UK last October, by suggesting Muslim women should remove their veils.

Question: why are such measures delivered on an ad hoc basis, instead of the government taking inclusion seriously in schools, and introducing measures such as BSL as a language option, on par with French and Welsh?

Link

Posted by alison at 11:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

Full English translation:

Firstly, I'd like to say a big thank you to all of you who commented on my last vlog - I was very touched, and didn't expect it! So, many thanks!

I have to say I laughed at the comment about watching me vlog since my hair was short... you're right; it's getting very long now. Oh, well. I also laughed at the comments from those who thought I was a grumpy old man, and I look too cheerful when I vlog. I assure you, I'm grumpy inside, OK?!

And today I do have a good reason to be proper grumpy, because I've heard that See Hear, our weekly Deaf TV programme here in the UK, is going downhill. Terry Riley, the Deaf Editor, has been doing a great job for a while, but I've been told hearing people are taking over and basically spoiling the show. Our 45 minute programme is being cut down to only 30 minutes! And if that isn't bad enough, as from this September it's being moved from Saturday to Wednesday (daytime). What?!

I'm sorry, but I do have a job, and I don't sit around watching TV with nothing much else to do all day, and nor do other Deaf people I know. We have busy lives, you know! This is us Deafies being swept under the carpet again, I know.

So today I am really grumpy, and I say:

And...

I urge the BBC to please rethink their decision and consider us Deaf people.

SAVE SEE HEAR!

Posted by j at 10:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (14) | TrackBacks (1)

English translation for non-BSL users:
Another vlog from me in such a short time! I’m doing well… better keep it up!

I just wanted to post about commenting on blogs. Lots of Deafies like this blog and keep mentioning how they think Alison makes sense and all that, but mostly face-to-face, on MSN, via email or whatever. That’s all really nice and everything, but can we try and change tack, and use the comment box more?

It would be really cool if you’d click ‘comments’ at the bottom and reply after reading or watching a blog/vlog. That way, other people can join in too and get discussing things. It’s great! Discussion is what we want. Plus, all bloggers love comments – they make us feel loved and warm inside – if no-one comments, we feel a bit sad and ignored (!)

I’ve noticed more and more British Deaf people are blogging, which is fab, but I’ve also noticed that some bloggers seem to stop blogging, and I think it’s partly because no-one comments. So, I’m going to try and leave more comments on other people’s blogs (you can leave critical comments too, you don’t have to be nice!), in the hope that we can all interact a bit more and discuss things together. That would be good.

So come on and comment! It’s good for the soul!

Jen

Posted by j at 10:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (14) | TrackBacks (0)

The British Sign Language Bible Translation Project now has its own website.

I'm only going to focus on BSL as a language here. Irrespective of what your religious beliefs are (even if you have them), this is an important project in terms of raising the status of BSL. Whether the Bible is translated into a particular language has been used as one benchmark in denoting the validity of a language. After all, besides legal recognition raising the status of a language takes many forms.

Wish the site would push the language model a bit more. Who said only Deaf people would like to access the Bible in BSL?

It also states:

Why do we need a Bible in BSL?

Many Deaf people find reading English difficult; it is hard to learn English without access to the sounds of the language from birth.

I hate this sentence. Please someone hit the delete button. It comes across as BSL is the failure option, even though unlikely intended by its authors. This sort of sentence isn't unique on this site, and is seen across too much literature. We don't need to devalue BSL.

In tone, it reads like this: I tried to use English - can't, couldn't, I am a failure. Therefore they had to teach me BSL instead. Sorry about this, but I need help.

Whilst Deaf people's brain might be wired up differently, and there's the exposure to language and even educational opportunity: don't make excuses for using BSL. Some people use English, some people use BSL.

If we are going to raise the status of BSL, it needs to be treated as a language, and is used in the same way as other minority languages around the globe. No apologies or excuses necessary, as it devalues BSL. Instead it has every right to be used in the same way as English, Welsh, Gaelic, or any other language globally.

I can only hope the translation will be disseminated online, and to allow embedding on various other sites. I'm thinking of making this website as a case study from a geek angle over at Noesis, over the need to move towards web 2.0 and also the whole information thing. May take a while, as I've got several thoughts that need covering and so many posts I would like to write.

Posted by alison at 1:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Paula Cox is at it again, this time "How to Flirt using BSL":

As a friend said, it looks like she wants to be a children's television presenter. Imagine if some random hearie approached you in the pub, pulling such exaggerated facial expressions. Perhaps the video should be called, "How to turn someone off".

Anyhow, 10p to a Deafie to use a phone? Since when did the phone have a minicom, and secondly, I've never seen a minicom call or interpreter come so cheap. 10p terps, please show me where!

See also: Doing the rounds: How to insult someone using BSL

Posted by alison at 2:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

Only blogging this, because this video is doing its rounds on mainstream blogs right now. Gadling is carrying it as A Welsh View, and I picked it up somewhere else yesterday.

The BSL is grammatically incorrect in places. Since this person is training to become an interpreter, one has to wonder about the quality of the teaching.

Thanks to this, I can see some of us are really going to get some stupid 'signs' thrown at us in random places, from people trying to think they are being clever. First line, something along the lines of: "Hello, F*** Off".

Update: Just to clarify in response to the comments, this is not me. Its a student interpreter, and I found the video online via various mainstream blogs.

Posted by alison at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (17) | TrackBacks (0)

A Number 10 petition petition has been set up around the use of accredited and professional interpreters in legal proceedings. This isn't limited to BSL, but other languages too:

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to ensure that accredited and professional interpreters are used in legal proceedings, from time of arrest throughout the judicial system, and that 'language agencies' who provide unqualified so-called interpreters should be strictly monitiored and disqualified from providing interpreting services. More details

Further detail is provided as:

Unqualified interpreters are being employed at police stations and at Court, to provide a service that must be accurate and professionally undertaken.

Only interpreters from the 'Nation Register of Public Service Interpreters' should be used for judicial purposes (including the initial stages of an investigation). Members have proved themselves to be proficient, having passed stringent exams, and are monitored regularly.

Most agencies employ unqualified interpreters, many of whom cannot speak English; they are generally unqualified and do not meet the standard required, thus, foreign offenders 'get off', due to poor interpretation services from the outset.

The police, CPS, and Courts MUST use accredited interpreters.

With so many foreign migrant workers in the UK, the NRPSI network of accredited interpreters MUST be used, in order that foreign offenders can be treated in the same way as indigenous Britons.

Whilst I support this, I feel frustrated how little people really understand how things work online. Again, as with my question around the subtitling petition, I immediately ask is the time frame realistic? Waiting one whole year loses momentum, and a week is a long time in cyberspace, nevermind a year. I will have forgotten about this in a month, and the long timeframe discourages me from the urgency to address this. Even if you need time to reach out to others through conferences, and written publications, it is still too long. Do people really need one year to collect names?

Posted by alison at 11:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you are interested in forthcoming plans by BBCi to address subtitling and BSL through its website, go here.

Posted by alison at 6:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'd almost forgotten it was BSL Day today until I saw Len's latest cartoon (nice one, Len!).

And that's saying a lot, considering how BSL Day used to mean - did I just type 'used to'?! - so much to me. I'd say Happy BSL Day to you all, but there isn't much to be happy about, considering how our Government has done f*ck all in the area of BSL lately, and no-one has told them otherwise. I seriously would, but I got worn out telling them.

So I won't say anything else now, then.

;-)

Posted by j at 10:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

If you ever wanted to download signs onto your mobile, this is the place to do it.

Posted by j at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Okay, if a government review issues a statement such as this:

A government-commissioned review led by Lord Dearing is expected to recommend that all children should have to learn a language from the age of seven.

Why the hostility towards BSL, as shown in this recent statement from Number 10? And for that matter, since the review talks about languages, why does the BBC label this as foreign languages?

Update:

The government has backed this recommendation, but restricts this to foreign language teaching. This gives the impression of excluding indigenous minority languages, however for the purposes of this study could they be included?

The BBC has a Have Your Say thread. I would encourage you to post comments here, re the lack of inclusion of BSL. This was mine:

Why is this restricted to foreign languages? British Sign Language is more useful for communicating with Deaf people and careers related to, yet is not included in this.

The government is contradicting itself, and not promoting inclusion.

Posted by alison at 2:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

You may remember from this post, the 2011 test census for the UK included a question about BSL, and another about deafness.

The consultation deadline has been extended to the 31 March 2007. The consultation questionnaire and documents can be downloaded online, and there's open meetings today in London, Sheffield and Cardiff. Given this focuses in part on the inclusion of minority languages, one has to wonder if interpreters will be made available at the events and secondly, why information about this consultation wasn't made available in languages other than English to begin with? Where was the outreach to these communities?

Because of these lack of measures, one has to wonder if consultation will be fair, and such questions not eventually excluded to please the majority.

Posted by alison at 1:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

You may remember recently there was an online petition for sign language for the teaching of British Sign Language in all UK schools.

The Government has now responded:

We recognise the tremendous value of British Sign Language (BSL) in helping hard of hearing pupils throughout their educational careers.

The National Curriculum, however, has been developed carefully over the years to provide young people with an entitlement to the essential knowledge and skills that will equip them for success in further education or training and in the world of work. It is important that the National Curriculum should offer a broad and balanced education, but we must avoid over-prescription of what is taught and leave sufficient time and space for schools to personalise their offer to address individual needs and aptitudes. The balance we now have is the result of extensive consultation and trialling but it is not fixed for all time and we will continue to monitor and review curriculum content at intervals to ensure that it still meets the needs of all young people.

The secondary National Curriculum is currently being reviewed in order to reduce prescription still further and to create more freedom for teachers to use their professional judgement in designing subject curricula. Across the whole of our 14-19 reform agenda we are developing further opportunities for young people to exercise choice about what they study and how, with the introduction of diplomas, apprenticeships and so on. In this context, we do not feel it would be appropriate to introduce a new statutory requirement to teach British Sign Language in all schools.

It is also worth noting that the National Curriculum does not represent all the teaching that goes on in schools. Teachers are free to introduce other experiences and subjects if they wish to do so, as long as they are also meeting the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum. The SEN and Disability Act, which was introduced in September 2002, means that more disabled children are now learning in mainstream schools, where that is what their parents want. This means that schools are developing a greater understanding of the needs of disabled people and in some schools this may well lead to teachers deciding to offer sign language to help ensure a child with a hearing impairment is fully included in school life.

In conclusion therefore, it is right that schools should have the opportunity to teach BSL but we would not wish to specify that it must be taught to all pupils. We believe rather that this should remain a matter for schools to decide in view of their own local, and possibly more pressing, needs.

* Department for Education and Skills
* Teachernet

Those who have worked in this field will see this response as no surprise, but the bottom line it is still pathetic and avoids the issue. Probably as a point of cost, but it still highlights a deficit in policy around inclusion and the need to recognise diversity. It fails to recognise that the SEN and Disability Act has a number of shortcomings, in respect of sign language. Secondly, it totally misses the point that language can be compulsory, for example Welsh in Wales. It fails to address the lack of status BSL still has, and measures needed to be introduced to raise this, to bring the language on par with say French, as an option within schools.

I wonder if new petitions could be introduced, with its wording to almost argue with the government's response.

Posted by alison at 9:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (1)

Am gobsmacked by this! Never thought I'd see a BSL lesson I can't understand(!)

Posted by j at 4:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Malcolm Bruce MP has an Early Day Motion in Parliament for the Legal Protection and Promotion of Sign Languages, specifically relating to the Council of Europe and the Charter:

Early Day Motion

EDM 775
30.01.2007

LEGAL PROTECTION FOR AND PROMOTION OF SIGN LANGUAGES

Bruce, Malcolm

That this House calls for legal protection of, support for and promotion of British and Irish sign languages in accordance with Council of Europe resolutions, recognising that it is estimated that over 200,000 British residents regularly use sign language, many of them as a first language; calls for the parents of deaf children to be given free tuition in sign language and information and choice over the role sign language can play in their child's development, for sign language to be offered a school curriculum option to increase awareness of the languages and to increase the potential pool of interpreters, and for deaf adults to be given the opportunity to study their own language at degree level and to be given the right to a free interpreter and other communications support services in a wide range of circumstances; further calls on the Government to adopt the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in particular Article 21(b), which calls on governments to `accept and facilitate the use of sign languages'; and requests that sign language users be provided with the resources they require in comparable terms to the users of other UK minority languages such as Welsh and Gaelic, which receive more than one hundred times the funding provided to promote and protect sign language.

Again, core activists have not campaigned for the Charter route, suggesting this route offers too little protection. Who is consulting here, and those in deaf organisations are you actually legal experts? I think not. What worries me is that a watered down campaign is (again) happening, and is miles apart from what people out there really want. Representation: where is it?

In relation to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, what is WFD doing here? Where is the clear distinction for language?

The other thing, why is an EDM being pursued in a UK parliament, for a European matter?

Bottom line, this whole thing lacks a clear vision.

Posted by alison at 10:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Scotland is consulting on a language strategy until 9 March. Today's press release clearly states BSL, something England, Wales and Northern Ireland could strive for. The consultation is available here.

Date: February 06, 2007 Time: 13:15

LANGUAGE STRATEGY

Views are being sought on a new strategy to raise the profile of the rich and diverse languages spoken in Scotland.

The Strategy for Scotland's Languages builds on previous work which has been done by a range of language initiatives supported by the Executive and others, and seeks to encourage progress that has been made in different areas.

There is a wide range of language activity promoted in Scotland, extending from language learning in schools to training British Sign Language (BSL) translators.

The strategy contains discussion of these and other key areas of activity, and seeks to highlight the initiatives that are in place and the direction of current policy.

It emphasises the need to equip all Scots with fluent English language skills, as well as promoting linguistic diversity and multilingualism including BSL and ethnic community languages.

The document also proposes the protection and promotion of the Gaelic language, as well as a pledge that the Scots language will be treated with pride and respect.

Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson said:

"This strategy seeks to provide a coherent approach to guide the development of languages in Scotland and to complement and encourage the progress that has been made so far.

"Through this strategy we aim to raise the profile of the rich and diverse languages spoken in Scotland, to ensure that this rich heritage is recognised as a national resource and to encourage people living in Scotland to learn languages other than their own.

"I look forward to receiving comments in due course on this draft for consideration before we finalise the strategy."

The consultation runs until March 9.

Posted by alison at 1:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Over on the Number 10 website, there is a petition for the Teaching of British Sign Language in all UK schools.

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Introduce the teaching of British Sign Language in all UK schools.

Go over there and sign it before the 21 February 2007.

Posted by alison at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)