why am i learning bsl. well.....

[MakingKim]

Hey, my name is Kim, i run a community interest company called My Mental Wellness UK cic. I have always cared for somebody, my ex, for 20 years, with mental health issues and epilepsy. now, i care for 2 people with mental health issues. all this time, there appeared to be little support. but thats not true. if you ask the right question to the right person at the right time, you find out about a host of different services which could help is lots of ways, so i wrote a website listing all the services which are hidden unless you hunt hard.

about 15 years ago, i started learning BSL but life got in the way and i stopped (a friend ran a course teaching via videos), and during a Arts and Crafts session we host, one of the attendees said they were going to learn in Jan (this year) so i thought, why not. 

it would mean being fully inclusive for as many communities, meaning anybody could come and use our service, with out accessibility issues.  So I wrote another website and any deaf pub i hear about, i list it on deaf.mymentalwellness.uk which led on to another website im currently developing, this site, the idea is to match people to other people who sign for example, it lists you and Native BSL Signer by distance, enabling you to meet in a public place giving you practice, and the Native Signer the opportunity to socialize. 

the Deaf Pub and resources site is free to use and add further pubs and resources, the BSL Practice Partners site is going to be subscription, but no more than the cost of a cup of coffee (My accountant said i cant keep doing stuff for free, so this keeps them happy), notice I say going to be which means at some point but not now..

I just want to give as many communities the opportunity to attend our service if they wish, learning BSL removes a barrier.