The visit was in response to the government’s recognition of BSL as an official language and the formation of the BSL Advisory Board to advise on its implementation. As the school is a trailblazer in the education of deaf children, staff and pupils were able to share their experiences and give insight into how the Act can help reduce barriers for deaf people.
Derby has the second largest deaf population in the UK, and the Royal School for the Deaf Derby has played a crucial role in shaping the new Act. The recognition of BSL as an official language means that Government departments must promote and facilitate the use of BSL, meeting the needs of people who use sign language as their first or preferred language.
Head teacher Paul Burrows emphasised the importance of promoting both English and BSL to ensure students are prepared for both the deaf and hearing worlds. He stated that they aim to be a bilingual school and encouraged the city to follow suit.
As the government pushes for greater use and understanding of BSL, individuals can support the cause by taking the LearnBSL online course to learn basic sign language and become allies to the deaf community.