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Join our Deafblind Advisory Group

British Deaf Association 1 min read

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

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

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

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

Overview

The British Deaf Association (BDA) is committed to ensuring that Deafblind people 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 people have historically faced barriers to language access, participation, leadership and representation. We also recognise the significant contribution Deafblind people make to our language, culture and communities.

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

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

Vision

To empower Deafblind people as leaders, advocates and custodians of their language, culture and community.

Principles

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

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

Role of the Advisory Group

The Deafblind Advisory Group will:

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

Participation

Participants must:

  • Be a current member of the British Deaf Association.
  • Identify as Deafblind person and have an interest in Deafblind leadership, representation and participation .
  • Be aged 18 or over.
  • Be willing to participate in discussions and meetings.

The BDA welcomes applications from Deafblind people 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 people 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 person and a current member of the British Deaf Association, we would love to hear from you.

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

Ahmed Mudawi at: bda@bda.org.uk

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

We welcome applications from Deafblind people 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

Terminology

*For the purposes of this document, we use the terms ‘Deafblind people’, ‘Deafblind’ and ‘a Deafblind person’ as inclusive terms recognising the diversity of Deafblind experiences. We acknowledge that people may describe themselves in different ways and that there is no single preferred terminology. In the context of the BDA's work, these terms reflect the importance of sign language, identity, culture and community to many Deafblind people

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