Every deaf child deserves access to BSL.

We want British Sign Language in the hands of those who need it most.

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The campaign

Language opens up a world of possibilities.

Every deaf child should have the language to share their hopes, dreams, fears and ideas.

Babies start to develop language from birth. Yet access to sign language for deaf children and their families is limited, patchy and expensive.

With the right access to language, there is no limit to what a deaf child can achieve.

Explore our position statement
What needs to change

Three asks. One shared future.

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Free access for families

Government-funded access to sign language for the families of all newly identified deaf children.

The best teaching

Fluent teachers, with increasing numbers of Deaf and native signers supporting families.

Change across the UK

These changes rolled out across the UK, so every family can benefit.

Explore the change we want to see

We need Government policies to include signing in Early Years planning, reinforcing the importance of linguistic and cultural enrichment from the earliest stages of a deaf child’s life.

The Government needs to fund sign language tuition for parents and caregivers of deaf children, recognising they should not bear the financial burden of communication with their own children.

We need training and employment of Deaf professionals, including Deaf Teachers of the Deaf, to work with deaf children, their families and their caregivers, recognising the value of Deaf educators who can provide language guidance and positive role models.

Watch the change we want to see in BSL
Family stories

Real families. Real experiences.

Tilly and Katie share their experiences of raising deaf children and the barriers they have faced accessing BSL.

Parental Journeys

Tilly and Katie share their heartfelt experiences and the challenges they have faced raising deaf children.

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Navigating BSL Challenges

The barriers Tilly and Katie encountered in securing access to British Sign Language for their children.

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A young Deaf person’s perspective

It’s so part of me. I wouldn’t change it for the world. It’s so empowering when I was finally able to accept that in my life. Even now, I feel that I use my Deafness as a liberating aspect.

Young Deaf Person
People calling for change

Meet our Campaign Ambassadors

Discover why BSL matters to parents of Deaf children

Tilly Hawkes

Tilly Hawkes

  • Hearing
  • Worcestershire
  • 1 deaf daughter and 1 HOH daughter

As a parent of a BSL-using child, I know how life-changing sign language can be. I’m proud to support the BDA’s BSL In Our Hands campaign and share at its 2024 Parliament launch how “BSL has given me my baby back.” I’ll keep advocating for every deaf child’s access to sign language.

Katie LittleJohns

Katie LittleJohns

  • Hearing
  • Cornwall
  • 1 deaf son and 1 hearing son

No parent should have to fight to communicate with their child. I’m passionate about language access for deaf children and proud of my work with the BDA, the petition, and taking part in the BBC documentary Signs for Change with Rose.

John Denerley

John Denerley

  • Deaf
  • Dumfries, Scotland
  • 2 deaf children

I joined BDA Youth at 15, and BDA has been part of my journey ever since. I’m proud to champion BSL and the Deaf community, support families, and celebrate our language, culture and identity for future generations.

Watch John Denerley’s story in BSL
Sally Work

Sally Work

  • Deaf
  • Falkirk, Scotland
  • 1 HOH child and 1 deaf child

I’m lucky to be part of a Deaf family that uses BSL, but I’ve seen Deaf children struggle at school without classroom access to BSL. I want to raise awareness of the importance of BSL for Deaf children and their families.

Watch Sally Work’s story in BSL
Corrie Scott

Corrie Scott

  • Hearing
  • Manchester
  • 1 deaf and 1 hearing child

As the parent of a profoundly deaf five-year-old, I’ve seen how BSL builds identity, confidence and connection. BSL is a right, not a privilege. Every family deserves free access to BSL so deaf children can thrive.

Katie Rowley

Katie Rowley

  • Deaf
  • Leeds, West Yorkshire
  • 1 HOH son

I feel it’s important to raise awareness of BSL, improve access, and that children have early access to BSL.

Lauren Gilmour

Lauren Gilmour

  • Hearing
  • North Lanarkshire, Scotland
  • 1 deaf son

It’s an honour to have supported the BDA’s early years campaigns in Parliament twice. As a hearing mum, sign language and Deaf culture have transformed our lives. The Deaf community welcomed me as a young teen mum, and my teenage son now thrives with access to sign language.

Barry Muir

Barry Muir

  • Deaf
  • Derby
  • 1 hearing child and 1 deaf child

BSL is a wonderfully rich language that is essential for Deaf children. It should be taught and used from an early age so it becomes embedded and natural in their communication as they grow.

Tanya Andrews

Tanya Andrews

  • Hearing
  • East Yorkshire
  • 1 deaf child and 1 hearing child

My daughter was born profoundly Deaf and is now a fluent BSL user. We funded our own BSL courses and travelled long distances to learn to communicate with her. Every Deaf family deserves access to BSL, and every child deserves language access to thrive.

Saurabh Mittal

Saurabh Mittal

  • Hearing
  • St Albans
  • 1 deaf son and 1 hearing son

I’m proud to be a campaign ambassador because British Sign Language opens doors to connection, understanding, and equality. BSL isn’t just a language, it’s a celebration of identity and a bridge between communities.

Gem Fountain

Gem Fountain

  • Hearing
  • London
  • Twins, 1 deaf and 1 hearing

As a hearing mum to a profoundly deaf child, I struggled to find BSL resources. Deaf children deserve support with communication, identity and community. I’m proud to have helped shape this campaign, including its visual identity featuring my daughter’s handprint, and share its message in Parliament.

Paola Brolis

Paola Brolis

  • Hearing
  • Hertfordshire
  • 1 deaf child

I’m campaigning for BSL In Our Hands because every Deaf child has the right to BSL, culture and belonging. Every Deaf child and family deserves equal access to society.

Get involved

The future is in our hands.

Help us call for free access to British Sign Language for every deaf child and their family.

Add your voice. Email your MP.

Ask your MP to support the BSL in Our Hands campaign.

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Explore further

The detail behind the campaign.

Read our position, explore the evidence and find resources to help spread the word.

Our position statement
Why early language access matters

The critical period is a brief time window, usually between the ages of 0 and 5 years, where the brain needs good quality language input. If children do not have the opportunity to learn language within the first five years of their lives, they usually never develop fluent language skills. The critical period also applies to sign languages. Often, deaf children do not have full access to language during the critical period. This is known as ‘language deprivation’.

Dr Kate Rowley, DCAL

There are over 50,000 deaf children across the UK, over 90% of whom are born to hearing parents with no knowledge of sign language. We believe that offering access to signing and spoken language mitigates the risk of deaf children becoming language deprived.

Campaign graphics

Share your support using #BSLInOurHands.

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Let’s keep the conversation going.

Find out more about the campaign and the BDA.

bda@bda.org.uk

Campaign video