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The recent posts here are making me think of a few instances that came up in a drama I watch in which many characters are Deaf. One instance shown in how hearing people being able to sign would be incredibly useful is in hospitals. In the show a couple of Deaf people get into an accident and no one at the hospital tells them anything. They get patched up, but no one will tell either of them where the other is, nor any information on what has actually happened to them. They can obviously work out if their arm is broken due to whether they've had a cast put on etc., but they haven't been told about it. You could say that the NHS should provide keyboards for Deaf patients, but the NHS doesn't have enough money as it is and the computers can be incredibly slow anyway. You could say that BSL should be part of the training to become a nurse, doctor or NHS receptionist, but as you've said learning a language from a young age works best... like learning it in schools. There are many jobs where it at least could come in handy to know it. Teacher, lawyer, policeman, fire-fighter, barista, shop clerk, tailor... the list goes on. Knowing BSL helps let Deaf people know that the hearing world still considers them as part of the country and that we still believe they matter. Also in the show I mentioned before a Deaf character was deeply struggling with an essay. He understood everything about it but his grammar was terrible. He pointed out how in English there are so many versions of a word; see; saw; have seen; will see; while in sign language it's just one sign. Sometimes it's still easy enough to work out what the person means when (s)he says something like "I saw what you mean", but there have been times when even hearing people, whose native language is English, have messaged me something that I couldn't understand in the slightest. If people who have known it their whole lives can't always make sense with it, how can you expect every person in a group who likely have it as their second language to make sense with it? Also if by the interpreters dominating the court case you meant it was taking so much longer there are two things I wish to say on that subject. 1) giving them all keyboards could easily take longer even if everyone involved is 100% fluent in written English - have you seen how slow some people type? 2) it could have been solved by everyone involved knowing BSL.

Thanks for getting back to news. I'll wait for your reply next week or so. But it still baffles me... Did you, or do you, know these deaf individuals? Do you know with all certainty that they could cope in a court using a keyboard? Do you know with all certainty they didn't need the interpreters? We are all worthy of having full understanding in every given situation. And in a legal situation, then I feel it's even more vital they have that support. And though you may feel it was dominated with the interpreters, I think you'll find the deaf didn't agree with you on that either. Also, it's likely those 2 deaf individuals had family or friends with them who would also want to follow the proceedings. It's not as simple as I feel your implying? As I've said previously, the written word is totally different from British Sign Language. And unless you're deaf yourself, then you can't really say what you're saying and know you're right. You're convinced your thoughts are correct. I'm merely saying, well, you need to walk our walk to know what it's like. Only then will you truly understand. Unless you are deaf, and you still believe what you're saying is correct? Even if that's the case, I'll still have to disagree. 😱 1 on 1 you say, BSL is OK for one on one... But not for multi... I disagree... Again, just my humble opinion. Catch you again in sure.

I have to come back to your comment as to BSL being, basically it's for the deaf only and not the hearing. I actually had to read that twice because I thought I'd misread it... But I haven't. So... I totally disagree with you. BSL isn't just for the deaf, and there IS a need for hearing people to learn it. If the hearing didn't understand BSL, how do you think they'd be able to have a conversation with a deaf person? How do you think the hearing would be able help the Deaf in situations where they they'll struggle to get over to a hearing person what they want, eg, in a store? I decided aged 16 to learn sign language. I believe it should be taught in all schools! Because I learnt BSL, it allowed me to mix with the deaf community. And in doing so, meet new friends. I like to think I helped out in many ways. Voluntary for years, and I did many things. Had I not known BSL, I couldn't have helped anyone like I did. Later I became an Interpreter and I definitely helped many deaf people to gain certificates in college on their chosen subjects. And as time passed, I actually became deaf myself. I'm now severely deaf and wear 2 hearing aids. It's not a struggle for me, because I sign. And because I've taught all my hearing friends BSL, they can communicate with me. I can justify why the hearing should use BSL, I can testify to the fact my sign helped others. And now it helps me. I wonder how you can justify your comments on the fact hearing people shouldn't use BSL? I'm not being in any way pedantic here, it's just my opinion. Something I feel very strongly about. Catherine

Speaking from my own experience in American deaf culture here. I do not mean to come across disrespectful nor do I have preconceived ideas of how British deaf culture is. Someone, educate me. I live in America and from generally, everyone wants ASL to be taught in elementary school through high school. Unfortunately though, the catch 22 is 1) Native deaf signers are less likely to be hired to teach ASL in elementary-high school due to misconceptions of deaf people's abilities and 2) by what I gather of the opinions of the deaf community, hearing teachers don't often have the training necessary to teach ASL. (that said some hearing, non native ASL teachers are accepted by the deaf community) Bottom line: Should ASL be taught in mainstream schools? YES! How do we go about it that is fair? ??? I am curious about British deaf culture. How does the deaf community as a whole feel about BSL being taught in schools by the deaf, hard of hearing, hearing, whomever? Is BSL more widely available in university than in [primary and secondary school(?)]?

I’m attempting to set up a BSL club in the school that I teach, to try and encourage students to learn BSL. I teach Health and Social Care and have been a doing a BSL word of the week for 2 years now. I have really struggled to find any resources to help me set up the club though.

Hello Pippa – This might be good for you – http://www.british-sign.co.uk/lesson-plan-dont-talk/