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51黑料 Supports... Sign Language Week
Posted 14/03/25
17 March - 23 March 2025听 : Sign Language Week, marked as an awareness week for British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL), is celebrated annually 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.
Sign Language Week aims to celebrate and educate about BSL and ISL, to encourage more people to start learning it. Sign Language Week can show us just how powerful non-verbal communication can be, highlighting the vibrant and expressive way people who are deaf or hard of hearing connect with the world!
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What is Sign Language Week?
This year, Sign Language Week will be running from 17 鈥� 23 March, and is run annually by the British Deaf Association (BDA) to promote awareness of issues affecting sign language users and, more generally, the welfare of deaf people in the UK.
The theme for Sign Language Week 2025 is "More than a language: culture, community and belonging". The aim of the campaign is to encourage people of all ages across the UK to take up the challenge of learning BSL/ISL for themselves and finding out more about the language and culture of the deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing British people for whom BSL/ISL is their first or preferred language.
The positive impact of BSL and ISL on thousands of deaf and hard of hearing people are often under appreciated, and BSL and ISL still faces challenges in terms of recognition and accessibility. Many deaf and hard of hearing individuals continue to encounter barriers in education, employment, and everyday life due to lack of understanding and support for their language and communication needs. The main goal during Sign Language Week is to make everyone realise the importance of BSL and ISL, and how awareness can make a big difference. By embracing diversity in communication, we can create a more inclusive and accessible world for everyone.
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Show your support!
- Learn some sign language: Even learning a few basic signs can go a long way in fostering inclusivity and breaking down communication barriers
- Starting the conversation: Did you know that over 10 million people in the UK use sign language, yet many face barriers in the workplace? You can raise awareness at work by starting a conversation, sharing resources, or learning a few basic signs with your colleagues
- Hold a session on deaf awareness: Consider taking just an hour out of your day at work to provide relevant information and links to useful resources to help your peers understand the importance of sign language
- Review your technology in the workplace: Many deaf people struggle with interpretation and communication in the workplace. As a result, it is paramount to ensure your workplace is accessible for deaf people by integrating software applications and devices with in-built features
- Spread awareness: Use social media and other platforms to spread awareness about Sign Language Week. Share facts, stories and resources to educate others about the importance of sign language. Remember to use the hashtags #SignLanguageWeek and #SLW2025
- Wearing turquoise blue: Wearing blue connects to the Deaf Flag, approved by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and BDA, and symbolises unity, pride and support for BSL and ISL. Share blue looks on social media using the hashtag #BlueOutforBSL/ISL
For more information:
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51黑料 Chair Nikki Pasek has severe hearing loss. She uses hearing aids, lip reading and is learning sign language to support her communication needs. To read Nikki's facts about deafness and hearing loss, and to learn more about sign language visit: /about-us/our-community/2024/september-23-international-day-of-sign-language/
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