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          Join our Deafblind Advisory Group The British Deaf Association (BDA) is looking for Deafblind people from across the United Kingdom to help shape… 25 June 2026
          Join our Heritage Steering Group We’re looking for members to join our Heritage Steering Group. We especially welcome Deaf community members, alongside people… 4 June 2026
          BDA’s new 2026 – 2029 Strategy Today we are proud to share our new three-year plan for 2026–2029 — and to reflect on just… 15 May 2026

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    • About us
      • BDA Manifesto
      • What we stand for
      • Our Work
      • Board
      • Strategic Vision
      • Management Team
      • What the BDA means to you
      • History
      • Annual Reviews
      • BDA Youth
    • What we do
          • SIGN LANGUAGE
            • BSL Act Now! Campaign
            • BSL & Deaf Culture
            • Research & Consultations
            • Sign Language Week
            • National BSL Day
            • International Week of Deaf People
            • BSL Poet Laureate
          • OUR PROJECTS
            • Deaf Roots & Pride
            • Family Sign in the Home
            • Signs of our times
            • Advocacy Service
            • Heritage
            • Dementia Project
            • Dementia Toolkit
            • Dementia Research
            • England Loneliness Project
          • VIDEO INFORMATION IN BSL
            • Family Sign at Home
            • Health & Wellbeing
            • Hate Crime Prevention (Scotland)
            • Derbyshire Crime Project
            • Leicestershire Deaf Forum COVID-19 Project
            • Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
            • Access to Justice
    • News & events
          • Latest news

            Join our Deafblind Advisory Group The British Deaf Association (BDA) is looking for Deafblind people from across the United Kingdom to help shape… 25 June 2026
            Join our Heritage Steering Group We’re looking for members to join our Heritage Steering Group. We especially welcome Deaf community members, alongside people… 4 June 2026
            BDA’s new 2026 – 2029 Strategy Today we are proud to share our new three-year plan for 2026–2029 — and to reflect on just… 15 May 2026

            All news →

          • OTHER
            • British Deaf News
            • World Federation of the Deaf
            • European Union of the Deaf
            • SHARE: The Deaf Visual Archive
            • Sign Language Week
            • Deaf Awareness Week
    • Get involved
          • SUPPORT US
            • Make a difference
            • Fundraise for the BDA
            • In-Memoriam Donations
            • Gifts in Wills
          • JOIN US
            • Current Job Opportunities
            • Become a Member
          • MORE FROM US
            • Newsletter
    • Training & Consultancy
    • Contact
          • GET IN TOUCH
            • Contact Form
          • SOCIAL MEDIA
            • X
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Northern Ireland: Sign Language Bill

NI-SL-Bill-update-web-feat-aug25

The Sign Language Bill is currently progressing through the Northern Ireland Assembly and is at the Committee Stage, where it is being scrutinised by the Committee for Communities.

11th July 2025

NI: Remote interpreting service established for sign language users

Department-for-Health-logo-WEB

Health Minister Robin Swann MLA has announced the establishment of a free remote interpreting service for British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL) users to access NHS111 and health and social care services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

24th April 2020

BDA Statement: NI Assembly

BDA-Statement-NI-Featured

The British Deaf Association (Northern Ireland) congratulates all parties on reaching agreement to restore the devolved Government in Northern Ireland.  We are also delighted that both British and Irish Sign Languages have a prominent place within the ‘New Decade New Approach’ proposals.

17th January 2020

Report launched on Access to Justice for Deaf

A2J-Feat

On the 11th of December, BDA NI, and leading Deaf researchers, will be releasing a groundbreaking report on the barriers Deaf people face when trying to access justice in Northern Ireland.

11th December 2019

NI Health Service – Industrial Action

UNISONfeat

You might have seen in the news UNISON Trades Unions members have decided to engage in ‘industrial action’.

3rd December 2019

DFC launches VRS Service for benefits info

dfc-vrs-bsl-isl-feat

If you live in Northern Ireland, it’s useful to know that the Department for Communities (DfC) have launched a VRS service to chat to staff about benefits information.

24th October 2019
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British Deaf Association

British Deaf Association

The national voice of Deaf people in the UK. We campaign for equality, celebrate British Sign Language and support Deaf communities to thrive.

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Registered charity - England and Wales (1031687) and Scotland (SC042409) Company No: 2881497 (England and Wales) - Copyright British Deaf Association 2026