Take the Leap for BDA Youth: Skydive Fundraiser 2026
Members of the BDA Youth Committee, BDA staff and supporters are taking to the skies to raise funds…
31 July 2026
Why the campaign mattered
A campaign that changed the law
British Sign Language was formally recognised by the UK Government as a language in its own right in 2003. But recognition did not give BSL the legal status and protections Deaf people had been campaigning for.
On 18 March 2021, the British Deaf Association launched BSL Act Now as part of Sign Language Week. Deaf people and BSL supporters were encouraged to contact their MPs and build political support for legislation recognising BSL.
The campaign was led by the BDA and brought together organisations from across the Deaf sector, including RNID, the Royal Association for Deaf people, Signature, iBSL, SignHealth, the National Deaf Children’s Society, NRCPD and Black Deaf UK.
1,358
letters sent to MPs
572
MPs reached
88%
of UK MPs reached
2022
the BSL Act became law
From recognition to legislation
The BSL Act was the result of years of campaigning by Deaf people, organisations and supporters. These are some of the key milestones in the BSL Act Now campaign.
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18 March 2003
BSL formally recognised
The UK Government formally recognised British Sign Language as a language in its own right. Deaf campaigners continued calling for stronger legal recognition and protection.
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18 March 2021
BSL Act Now launches
The BDA launched BSL Act Now during Sign Language Week, calling on Deaf people and BSL supporters to contact MPs and build support for a UK-wide BSL Bill.
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March – May 2021
Deaf people contact Parliament
Supporters sent 1,358 BSL Bill letters to local MPs. The campaign reached 572 of the UK's 650 MPs – around 88%.
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16 June 2021
The BSL Bill enters Parliament
Labour MP Rosie Cooper introduced the British Sign Language Bill in the House of Commons as a Private Member's Bill. Rosie is a Child of Deaf Adults and considers BSL her first language.
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28 January 2022
A major Parliamentary milestone
The BSL Bill passed its second reading in the House of Commons unopposed, moving the campaign significantly closer to legislation.
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18 March 2022
Thousands gather in Trafalgar Square
Thousands of people gathered in central London for the BSL Rally as part of Sign Language Week, while the Bill completed its passage through the House of Commons unopposed.
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27–28 April 2022
The Bill becomes law
After completing its passage through the House of Lords, the Bill received Royal Assent on 28 April and became the British Sign Language Act 2022.
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28 June 2022
The BSL Act comes into force
The BSL Act 2022 came into force, legally recognising BSL as a language of England, Wales and Scotland and creating new duties around reporting and guidance.
18 March 2022 · Trafalgar Square
The BSL Rally
Deaf people, families, organisations and supporters came together in central London during Sign Language Week to show their support for the BSL Bill.
The rally had originally been planned for Parliament Square, but growing numbers meant it was moved to Trafalgar Square. The Parliamentary debate was shown on a large screen while members of the Deaf community addressed the crowd.
The event became one of the defining public moments of the campaign.
Rewatch the BSL Rally at Trafalgar Square.
Campaign achieved
We have a BSL Act
On 28 April 2022, the British Sign Language Bill received Royal Assent and became the British Sign Language Act 2022.
The Act legally recognises British Sign Language as a language of England, Wales and Scotland.
It also requires UK Government departments to report on how they promote and facilitate the use of BSL and provides for guidance on meeting the needs of people who use BSL as their first or preferred language.
28 June 2022
The BSL Act came into force.
BSL updates from the campaign
Revisit a selection of the BSL videos that documented BSL Act Now as the campaign developed, built public support and moved through Parliament.
18 March 2021
The campaign launches
BSL Act Now launched during Sign Language Week with a call for Deaf people and BSL supporters across the UK to help build support for a BSL Act.
Spring 2021
Building support across the UK
A campaign update looking back at the early mobilisation of Deaf people, BSL supporters and local communities as MPs across the UK were contacted.
6 October 2021
Working with Rosie Cooper MP
Rosie Cooper MP met representatives from across the Deaf sector to discuss the BSL Bill and how organisations could work together to build Parliamentary support.
28 January 2022
The Bill passes its second reading
The Deaf community celebrated an important milestone when the BSL Bill passed its second reading in the House of Commons unopposed.
Campaign legacy
The campaign ended. The work continues.
BSL Act Now achieved its central goal when the British Sign Language Act became law in 2022.
The campaign demonstrated what Deaf-led campaigning, community action and collaboration across the Deaf sector can achieve. The BDA continues to campaign for equality, greater access to BSL and lasting change for Deaf people.