Learn to Sign with the British Deaf Association

The British Deaf Association talk about their Learn To Sign campaign which they hold every year.

The BDA is the largest organisation in the UK that is run by deaf people for deaf people. We represent the sign language community, which is united by shared experiences, history and, most importantly, by British Sign Language (BSL). Since the BDA started in 1890, we have been campaigning for deaf people’s right to use, be educated in, and to access information and services through BSL. We believe this is the best way for deaf people to be equally a part of society alongside hearing people. That is why we campaigned for the government to recognise BSL.

BSL was recognised as an official British language on 18th March 2003, but it still does not have any legal protection. The BDA wants to see a society where sign language users have the same rights, responsibilities, opportunities and quality of life as everyone else. Currently, deaf sign language users do not have full access to vital information and services, including education, health and employment. We want to see an end to this.

So, the BDA is campaigning for the legislation of BSL. We are also working to gain the right for all deaf children to receive bilingual education, using BSL and English, and the right to quality and choice in education.  

Why are we doing it?
British Sign Language, just like French or Spanish, has different sentence structures (syntax).  Deaf people use BSL as their preferred language, because they cannot hear, and find it difficult to communicate in the spoken language; in other words English can be regarded as a foreign language to them. Imagine being abroad not knowing the national language and having to open a bank account? Asking for directions? Or going to the doctor with a personal and emotional problem? Not easy, is it?  This is why deaf people need to communicate in their first language. They’re not asking for everyone to be fluent but to try out a basic sign course and make them feel at home! 

Some people learn for fun, for use in noisy work environments, for improved communication with their deaf relatives or friends or to develop a very rewarding career (eg deaf counselling, interpreting or even working for the British Deaf Association!).

To this end, the BDA holds an annual campaign to highlight this unique language and encourage members of the public to take up this fun and very useful form of communication.

Who can get involved?
Everyone can play a part and learn a few simple phrases.  The campaign aims to raise awareness of British Sign Language across the country and, in particular, with children.  It is hoped that this year’s campaign will have even more schools on board and will enable children to pick up simple sign language phrases for them to hold basic conversations in the classroom and playground.

Last year was the most successful yet, with over 33,000 school and nursery children taking part, raising in excess of £13,000 for the BDA.  This year, we are again inviting primary schools everywhere to take part and learn a phrase a day. As it is a well known fact that children are more receptive to learning a new language, and that a child who learns a foreign language at a young age will find it easier to learn other languages as they grow and develop.

Each school that registers to take part will have a password for the website.  Each day, a different phrase will be signed on the website for teachers to learn with the children. There are three different links for the different age groups targeted: nursery, primary and secondary.

Each school is encouraged to take part in fundraising activities, and must raise at least £50 through anything ranging from a non-uniform day or sponsored silence to a bring-and-buy sale or a talent show.

There are fantastic prizes* for the schools that come up with the wackiest ideas for raising money, which will help the BDA fund projects countrywide. Everyone who takes part will receive a special certificate, along with each school that takes part in the campaign.

Organisations are also invited to pitch in and learn more about BSL, whether it’s purely for fun or for a work-related reason, and will get the chance to win one of 20 passes for a paintball session for themselves and their friends. Special two-hour taster sessions are being offered for those organisations willing to fundraise at least £200 for the BDA.

The Sign Community run courses at all levels across the UK and want you to sign up to a BSL course, whether it’s a two hour course for fun or for a more dedicated course throughout the year.

Learn to Sign Week 2008
Fancy learning a new language? The British Deaf Association’s national campaign for Learn to Sign Week takes place again later this year (6–12 October).

Learn to Sign Week invites the public to join in and have fun learning to sign with an insight into a whole new language, used by around 250,000 people in the UK. 

There’s no need to shout anymore… just learn to sign!

To get involved in this year’s Learn to Sign Week activities or for further ideas on fundraising initiatives, please contact Sarah Murray, email: sarahm@bda.org.uk or you can register your interest now at: www.learntosign.org.uk

For more information about the Learn To Sign campaign, to subscribe to their monthly magazine British Deaf News and to learn more about the BDA, visit their website: www.bda.org.uk

* Prizes will be IT resources including laptops, software and equipment and are subject to change.