British Sign Language
A look into the lack of support and provisions for people who simply wish to be heard
Zoe's Story
Deaf artist Zoe Milner uses her artwork to highlight her struggles communicating in a mainstream school. She found learning much more enjoyable when she moved to a Deaf school that taught using BSL.
Zoe Milner is a Deaf woman studying Fine Art at Nottingham Trent University.
Her artwork describes her experiences being profoundly Deaf in a hearing World.
"I'm frustrated at the inequality the Deaf community face in everyday life."
Zoe was awarded a bursary by City Arts, a Nottingham organisation which supports young artists, which drove her to create the exhibition ‘I Talk With My Hands’.
Zoe said, “I want this exhibition to raise awareness about the realities of Deaf culture, such as communication barriers, inaccessible support service, and special-needs education."
Zoe said, "I'm frustrated at the inequality the Deaf community face in everyday life,
"I am hopeful this artwork helps people understand how to treat Deaf people with equality and respect in the future.”
Zoe originally went to a mainstream school, but moved to a Deaf school in 2008. She found learning much easier after the move.
"English Language isn't the preferred language for most Deaf people."
"Pupils and teachers communicated with BSL - it made it easier for me to work and communicate than at my mainstream school," said Zoe.
"I failed English Language three times before I finally passed. Deaf education can be hard for deaf pupils due to the differences in English grammar structure and BSL,
"English Language isn't the preferred language for most Deaf people," said Zoe.
The exhibition was inspired by a BSL rally Zoe attended in March 2022. The rally was in support of BSL being recognised as its own language.
Zoe said, "I witnessed many colourful and powerful posters there, and we all used British Sign Language to communicate expressively with each other,
“I think that every school in England should be taught the British Sign Language as a GCSE subject. It would make my life much better."
At 22 years old, Zoe is currently in the final stages of completing her final year degree showcase.
Video Credit: @cityartsnotts
Video Credit: @cityartsnotts
The British Sign Language Act
Credit: @zoevisualart
Credit: @zoevisualart
The BSL Bill is formally introduced to the House of Commons.
Credit: @zoevisualart
Credit: @zoevisualart
The Bill passes its second reading and goes through unopposed.
Credit: @zoevisualart
Credit: @zoevisualart
The UK government finaly recognise BSL as its own language.
Ezekiel's Story
For Ezekiel Chester, whose hearing is deteriorating each time his immune system is weakened by illness, sign language has become a lifeline to those he loves. He was not taught it at birth, but it may eventually become his only form of communication.
Ezekiel was born with holes in both eardrums.
He had grommets at two years old to encourage his eardrums to regrow.
This failed in his right ear but was successful in the left.
As a child he had mild hearing loss.
“It was deemed that I wasn’t deaf enough to be taught sign language, or my family to be taught sign language," said Ezekiel
"My parents asked, and tried to push for it, but were told if they wanted to learn it they would have to pay for it, and it can be quite expensive.”
Over time, his hearing has worsened. Ezekiel may one day be fully deaf.
He currently teaches foreign languages at a mainstream school in Derby.
Ezekiel said, “As my hearing loss has progressed, to having hearing aids on both sides, to losing more hearing, to learning sign language, my passion for languages is more than it was before,
"My reason for learning languages now is for communication. I want to learn as much as I can in the event that I do lose my hearing completely.”
Ezekiel and his wife Mikaela are both committed to learning sign language going forward, in the event he loses his hearing completely.
"I don't want to be left without a means to communicate."
Ezekiel’s hearing loss has also had an impact on his social life.
Ezekiel said, “I find it quite overwhelming when I'm in loud environments. It's affected the way that I interact with others, and where I prefer to meet people,
“If it's too loud, then I have to rely on lip reading more than hearing, and that can be quite tiring.”
Ezekiel says BSL should be taught in schools as a language option, to help deaf people feel less isolated from society.
"It's only within the last year that it's been approved for a BSL GCSE to be arranged, and it's probably a few years down the line from it actually happening,
"But if you think how long deaf people have been fighting for rights it has taken a very, very long time for us to get to this point," said Ezekiel.
Ezekiel is also teaching himself Filipino Sign Language, American Sign Language and German Sign Language.
Ezekiel said, "I don't want to be left without a means to communicate,
"It could just take getting the flu or a really bad cold to damage my hearing to the point where it's irreparable."
Ezekiel plans to move to the Philippines with his wife Mikaela and set up a community school for deaf people.
Ezekiel Chester explains his journey learning BSL
Ezekiel Chester explains his journey learning BSL
In England, British Sign Language is the first language of more than 21,000 people.
In comparison, there are only 908 registered sign language interpreters and trainee sign language interpreters in the UK.
This shortage means members of the d/Deaf community may struggle to access certain information and services.
The amount of teachers for d/Deaf children in England has fallen to its lowest level on record this year.
As BSL is a 3D language, it’s very difficult to learn from a book, website or video.
In 2019, a petition to get BSL taught in schools gathered over 35,000 signatures.
Currently, leading BSL awareness group Signature is developing a BSL GCSE with the Department of Education.
Jennifer's Story
As a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA), Jennifer relied on BSL to bridge the communication barriers between her parents and the world.
Jennifer was born as a hearing child to Eric and Chrissie in 1968. Both of her parents are profoundly Deaf.
"As a child I didn’t really appreciate how different my experience was to my peers ."
Growing up, BSL was Jennifer's first language.
Jennifer said, "At home it was the only language we used. I didn’t appreciate that reading and speaking English was different to BSL as a kid. "
As a CODA, Jennifer's childhood often involved helping her parents organise appointments and access services.
"I remember buying furniture, a caravan, a new car. As a teenager, I talked about life insurance and pensions for dad. As a child I didn’t really appreciate how different my experience was to my peers," said Jennifer.
Jennifer said, "I had a really lovely childhood with friends, bike rides, gymnastics , brownies and guides,
"Looking back, I wonder if my parents promoted all this to ensure I had company of hearing people."
"There does not appear to be any organised activities for Deaf people like there were 30 years ago."
Although Jennifer spent her time with a lot of hearing people, she was also exposed to the Deaf community through Deaf clubs.
Jennifer said, "I spoke to my parents Deaf friends and we sometimes went on holidays or days out."
Jennifer is concerned that the closure of Deaf clubs has had a negative impact on the Deaf community.
"For Deaf people like my parents, socialising is hard. People don’t appear to want a ‘Deaf only’ environment,
"Many deaf clubs are closing or moved to cafes and pubs. There does not appear to be any organised activities for Deaf people like there were 30 years ago," said Jennifer.
Jennifer feels society would be more inclusive if more people were taught about Deafness.
"It would help if there was Deaf awareness learning in school for every year group,
"Also, if there was in vision BSL on more TV programmes as standard - for example the daily government announcements for Covid were not in BSL," said Jennifer.
Jennifer shares a house with Eric and Chrissie and still uses BSL every day.
Left to right: Jennifer, Eric and Chrissie Bateman
Left to right: Jennifer, Eric and Chrissie Bateman
Credit: Jennifer Bateman
Credit: Jennifer Bateman
Jennifer with her parents and two grandchildren
Jennifer with her parents and two grandchildren
Representation in the Media
In the past decade, BSL has also become far more prevalent in the media, with a positive shift in the amount of D/deaf representation on screen.
In 2020, Rose Ayling-Ellis was the first deaf actress to appear on the soap opera EastEnders, playing Frankie Lewis on the show. She later became the first ever deaf contestant to appear on Strictly come Dancing.
Rose Ayling-Ellis performing on Strictly Come Dancing
In March 2022, the film CODA won Best Picture at the Oscars, for its portrayal of the experiences of a Child of Deaf Adults. The two parents in the film were played by Deaf actors; Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur.
In February 2023, UK Parliament also announced that all proceedings in the House of Commons and Lords' would have live subtitling available. After Summer 2023, there will also be BSL interpretation available for all departmental questions, Ministerial Statements and Urgent Questions in the Main Chambers.
Tasha Ghouri became the first deaf Love Island contestant in 2022. Since leaving the show, Tasha has become a big advocate for deaf awareness.
Tasha describes challenges swapping from BSL to English
What we can do
At Universities across the UK, students are banding together to learn BSL and support the Deaf community.
Beth Williams is the President of Nottingham Trent University's BSL Society. She was first exposed to BSL when she joined Guides as a child.
Beth said "I saw it as a great opportunity to connect with more people and bring the community together, which was a big thing in girl guiding."
She joined the BSL Society in her first year of study at University to learn the language and meet new people.
NTU BSL Society sign 'Happy Halloween'
NTU BSL Society sign 'Happy Halloween'
"The society involves weekly lessons for beginner signs, monthly guest speakers, like d/Deaf Role models and BSL teachers, as well as some social events to raise money for BSL charities," said Beth.
Beth feels learning BSL has taught her a lot about the Deaf community.
"Speaking to d/Deaf role models and teachers has opened my horizons about the true realities that d/Deaf people have to go through every day,
"I think that just learning even a few signs like 'hello', 'how are you', 'that will be £4 please', can make the community, not only for the Deaf community, a better and more adaptable place for us all to live in," said Beth.
For anyone who wishes to try their hand at BSL, here are some links to classes you can take:
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