News

The British Deaf Association (BDA) is looking for deafblind signers from across the United Kingdom to help shape the future of deafblind leadership, representation and participation within the BDA.

We want deafblind signers to help guide our work, identify priorities and influence the future direction of the BDA's work relating to deafblind signers.

This is an opportunity to bring together deafblind signers from different backgrounds, experiences and communication methods to ensure that deafblind signers are represented, visible and empowered across all areas of BDA activity.

Overview

The British Deaf Association (BDA) is committed to ensuring that deafblind signers are represented, visible and empowered across all areas of our work.

As a membership-led organisation and the national representative body for British Sign Language (BSL), we recognise that deafblind signers have historically faced barriers to language access, participation, leadership and representation. We also recognise the significant contribution deafblind signers make to our language, culture and communities.

The BDA believes that deafblind signers should be at the heart of decisions that affect them and their communities. To support this ambition, we are establishing a Deafblind Signers Advisory Group.

The Group will bring together deafblind signers from across the United Kingdom to help shape the future direction of this work and advise the BDA on matters affecting deafblind signers.

Vision

To empower deafblind signers as leaders, advocates and custodians of their language, culture and community.

Principles

The work of the Deafblind Signers Advisory Group will be guided by the following principles:

• Deafblind Leadership
• Accessibility
• Authentic Representation
• Intersectionality
• Partnership
• Accountability

Role of the Advisory Group

The Deafblind Signers Advisory Group will:

• Provide deafblind signers with a forum to share experiences, ideas and priorities.
• Advise the BDA on matters affecting deafblind signers.
• Help shape the future direction of the BDA's work relating to deafblind signers.
• Promote Deafblind representation and participation across the BDA.

Participation

Participants must:

• Be a current member of the British Deaf Association.
• Identify as a deafblind signer.
• Be aged 18 or over.
• Be willing to participate in discussions and meetings.

The BDA welcomes applications from deafblind signers with a wide range of lived experiences, backgrounds and communication methods.

The BDA is committed to ensuring that meetings and communications are accessible to deafblind signers and will work with participants to identify and provide appropriate communication support and access requirements.

If you are not yet a member, information about joining the BDA can be found at: bda.org.uk/membership

How to Apply

If you are a deafblind signer and a current member of the British Deaf Association, we would love to hear from you.

To express your interest in joining the Deafblind Signers Advisory Group, please contact:

Ahmed Mudawi
bda@bda.org.uk

Please tell us a little about yourself, your experience as a deafblind signer and what you hope the Advisory Group could achieve.

We welcome applications from deafblind signers living in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

You can submit a BSL application via WeTransfer to bda@bda.org.uk

Application deadline: Monday 6th July 2026