Rebecca Mansell

Join us in Leeds on 17-18 July for key discussions on BSL and Deaf communities ✨Marco Hafner on BSL's economic benefits. ✨Dr Hannah Anglin-Jaffe on sign bilingualism in schools. ✨Dr. Dai O’Brien on political representation. Get your tickets: bslconference.org.uk/tickets/

The future starts with us
Join us in Leeds on 17-18 July and discover how early access to signed languages sets the stage for lifelong learning and empowerment.

Secure your ticket for 1 day or two! Go to: bslconference.org.uk/tickets/

The future starts with us✨

Join us for the BSL Conference and explore the power of language, culture, and community to shape the future we want to see.

Secure your ticket now! bslconference.org.uk/tickets/

🎉 BSL Conference 2025
Top speakers. Bold ideas. Big conversations in British Sign Language.

📅 17–18 July | 📍 Queens Hotel, Leeds
🎟️ bslconference.org.uk

British Deaf Association reveals the UK’s 2025 British Sign Language Poet Laureate The British Deaf Association (BDA) is proud to announce the winner of their second annual BSL (British Sign Language) Poet Laureate competition.

🎉 Winner Announced! 🎉

The British Deaf Association is proud to announce the 2025 BSL Poet Laureate — Ishtiaq Hussain!

🥈 2nd place: Maral Mamaghanizadeh
🥉 3rd place: Zoë McWhinney

A huge congratulations to all our winners!
Read the full press release: bda.org.uk/2025-bsl-poet-laureate-winner/

BSL Poet Laureate Don't miss your chance to become the UK's BSL Poet Laureate! We are excited to announce that DeafZone Glastonbury has kindly sponsored a total of £800 prize pot, with £500 going to the winner, £200 to...

BSL Poet Laureate judges Ismael and Nadia share tips on creating BSL poetry✨ Why not take the chance and apply! Only one week left!

🎥 Submit your 2-minute BSL poetry video on the theme “What I hope for the future of BSL” by 28 April at bda.org.uk/poet-laureate

Video Here: vimeo.com/1076343408/0...

✨ Join us for the BSL Conference 2025 – "Us. Here. Now. Always." ✨

With a packed programme of inspiring presentations, engaging workshops, and special 135th anniversary celebrations, this is your chance to be part of history!

🎟️ Get your tickets now at bslconference.org.uk

#BSLConference2025

Thinking of applying to be the next BSL Poet Laureate? Judges Nadia and Ismael are here to motivate you and offer words of encouragement to anyone considering applying.

Submit your 2-minute BSL poetry video on the theme “What I hope for the future of BSL” by 28 April at bda.org.uk/poet-laureate

Have you gotten your BSL Conference 2025 tickets yet?

Don’t miss out on presentations from Dr. Kate Rowley, Jeff McWhinney, Dr. Dai O’Brien, and many more!

17–18 July 2025 | 📍 The Queens Hotel, Leeds
Get your tickets now at bslconference.org.uk

#BSLConference2025

Press Release: BDA Publishes Discussion Paper on Artificial Intelligence and British Sign Language

You can access the full press release and Discussion Paper in both English and BSL here: bda.org.uk/discussion-p...

Today at the Houses of Parliament, we’re inviting MPs to learn about BSL & Deaf culture. Later, for the first time, Parliament will debate BSL as a language, not just access to services. A major moment for BSL during #SLW2025. We look forward to real progress.

🔗 signlanguageweek.org.uk

#SLW2025

BDA Statement on the Proposed Cuts to Disability Benefits and Access to Work The British Deaf Association is deeply alarmed and outraged by the potential cuts to Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, and Access to Work

The BDA is deeply alarmed by proposed cuts to DLA, PIP & Access to Work. These are not luxuries—they're lifelines. Without them, Deaf & disabled people face poverty & isolation. We refuse to be silent.

Read our full statement: bda.org.uk/bda-statemen...

Sign Language Week is taking place from 17-23 March! If you're planning a fundraising event, we’ve put together a fundraising pack filled with creative ideas, decorations, and activities to set you up for success.

Download your pack and learn how to get involved at signlanguageweek.org.uk

#SLW2025

Happy Sign Language Week! 🎉

Sign Language is more than words—it’s culture, history & belonging.

Get involved:
🔹 Go Blue! Fundraise with our pack: signlanguageweek.org.uk
🔹 Donate to Loss to Found & support deaf children
🔹 Share your story with #SLW2025

Implants can help deaf kids hear—but many still struggle with spoken language Some researchers worry about risks of devaluing sign language, overreliance on imperfect devices

Language is the social&cognitive air that humans breathe. It underlies our thinking, connection, education.

So what happens when, as a young child, you don't get access to it?

Implants can help deaf kids hear – but that's not always enough to give them language 🧪
www.science.org/content/arti...

Home SLW 2025 - Sign Language Week 17 - 23 March 2025Sign Language Week More than a language: culture, community and belonging Sign Language Week is a flagship awareness week for British Sign Language and Irish Sign Language, celebrated every year in March to commemorate the first time BSL was acknowledged as a language in its own right by the UK Government

signlanguageweek.org.uk

#SLW2025
#SignLanguageWeek2025

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There are so many ways you can get involved this Sign Language Week. Together, we can change the narrative on our language, and the Deaf community, so that future generations inherit a stronger, more inclusive society.

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Sign Language is the heart of our living, cultural heritage. It is a place to belong and feel seen. A place that is rich with history, humour and activism. And stories. And we want to share those stories with the world.

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Sign Language Week is a flagship awareness week for British Sign Language and Irish Sign Language, celebrated every year in March to commemorate the first time BSL was acknowledged as a language in its own right by the UK Government on 18 March 2003.

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Happy Sign Language Week 2025! The theme this year is “More than a language: culture, community and belonging”.

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We're about to launch our first fundraising appeal during Sign Language Week, #LossToFound, raising funds to bring BSL into the homes of families with deaf children and raise awareness of its vital role in Deaf lives.

Visit signlanguageweek.org.uk/losstofound

🎉 Free Corporate BSL Lessons for Sign Language Week! 🎉

Learn BSL for your workplace with the BDA! 🙌 Join us 17–23 March 2025 & be part of our inclusivity push. Last year, 1,200 joined—let’s top that! Flexible slots available.

Sign up: signlanguageweek.org.uk/company-bsl

#SLW2025 #BlueOutForBSL

#DeafLeadership conference today with Camilla, CEO Lumo TV, Reg Cobb, CEO deafPLUS, Joel Kellhofer, CEO SignWow, Toby Burton, CFO Fastmarkets. Incredible. Looking forward to the next event. Watch this space.

Hamilton Lodge calls off closure: This is really good news for the pupils at Hamilton Lodge and their families. It also sends a signal to the rest of the education system that the availability of BSL-medium education is critically important to many families.