The British Deaf Association (BDA) welcomes the latest results from the GP Patient Survey, which confirms that there are just over 100,000 adult Deaf British Sign Language (BSL) users in England.
At last a clear question has been included in a national survey which makes the important link between being Deaf and using BSL. This provides confirmation of what the BDA has long believed; that the number of Deaf people who use BSL in England is significantly higher than previous estimates.
This survey, conducted by Ipsos MORI and commissioned by the Department of Health, is the largest of its kind of the population other than the national Census carried out every 10 years. The survey included the question ‘Are you Deaf and use Sign Language?' The BDA is very pleased that the Department of Health included this question and the option of completing the questionnaire online in BSL.
It is now confirmed that there are approximately 3 Deaf BSL users in every 1,000 of the population. The density of the deaf population varies regionally with the highest density in London (5 Deaf BSL users in every 1,000). As the survey only focuses on adults, we know that this figure will be even higher when children are taken into account. For the full results see: http://results.gp-patient.co.uk/report/main.aspx
These figures, which also provide statistics based on gender, geographical area, religion, employment status and health, will be used by the BDA to help support the Deaf community in a more targeted approach. They will prove extremely beneficial in lobbying the government, pushing for changes to legislation in education and for future BDA campaigning. All this will assist the BDA in campaigning for full and equal access to information and services, including education, health and employment, and a society where Sign Language users have the same rights, responsibilities, opportunities and quality of life as everyone else.
Shockingly, as a group of people, the Deaf Community is one of the most deprived in the country. The demographic profile of the adult Deaf Community in England gives a clear picture of deprivation and discrimination.
Terry Riley, Chair of the BDA, stated: "While we welcome confirmation of these latest figures of the size of the Deaf Community in England, it is clear that we need to address this appalling evidence of the deprivation and discrimination that the Sign Language community in our country experiences.
"The BDA will continue to be the voice of the Deaf community and will carry on fighting for equal access by using these statistics for the benefit of all Deaf BSL users."
