Today we are proud to share our new three-year plan for 2026–2029 — and to reflect on just how far we have come together over the past three years.
Since 2022, the Deaf community has reached a historic turning point. Together, we secured legal recognition of British Sign Language through the BSL Act — the result of decades of campaigning and a defining moment for Deaf rights in the UK.
But we have always been clear: recognition is only the beginning.
Over the past three years, we have worked with you — our members, partners and allies — to turn that moment into real change. Together, we have:
- Established the first ever All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on BSL, strengthening Deaf-led influence in Parliament
- Held two major Parliamentary receptions — launching our BSL in Our Hands campaign and, more recently, the RAND report on the Economics of BSL, providing the evidence government asked for on the return on investment of funding free BSL
- Led influencing across all four nations — working with governments in Wales and Northern Ireland to progress sign language legislation and recognition
- Strengthened Deaf communities across the UK — supporting local leadership, engagement and access in BSL/ISL
- Created and grown the BSL Alliance, bringing organisations together to drive Deaf-led change and implementation of the BSL Act
- Significantly increased our national profile — including the expansion of our flagship Sign Language Week, building a growing movement of BSL allies across the UK
- Celebrated the BDA’s 135th anniversary with a major national conference in Leeds, our birthplace — bringing the community together to reflect, celebrate and look ahead
- Invested in our organisation — strengthening our systems, governance and team to build a more effective, sustainable and impactful BDA
We have also listened — through consultations, campaigns and conversations with Deaf people across the UK — ensuring that our work is shaped by lived experience and community priorities.
We are proud of what we have achieved together as a Deaf-led organisation.
But we also know that many Deaf people still face barriers to language, access and opportunity. Too many decisions are still made without Deaf voices. Too many systems still do not work for us.
That is why we are stepping up.
Our new three-year plan sets out how we will build on this progress — going further to strengthen Deaf communities, drive systemic change, and ensure BSL/ISL is recognised, respected and used across society.
To find out more about what this means in practice, we invite you to come and see us at Deaf Expo, where we will be sharing more about our plans and how you can get involved.
Thank you for everything you have done — and continue to do — to support Deaf communities and drive change.
This is only the beginning.