18 - 24 March 2024
Sign Language Week
SLW is a flagship awareness week for British Sign Language and Irish Sign Language, celebrated every year in March to commemorate the first time BSL was acknowledged as a language in its own right by the UK Government on 18 March 2003.
The week is organised by the British Deaf Association, which has chosen the theme of ‘Promoting BSL and ISL as indigenous languages of the UK’.
The campaign aims to celebrate and educate about BSL and ISL, to encourage more people to start learning it and preserve BSL and ISL for future generations.
BSL was legally recognised in law by the UK Government on 28th April 2022.
28 April will now be known annually as ‘National BSL Day’.
# Protect Promote Preserve BSL
BSL will be available soon
We're still making preparations for this year's Sign Language Week and will update the website regularly in the run-up to March. Thank you for your patience.
# PROTECT PRESERVE PROMOTE
BRITISH
SIGN
LANGUAGE
BE PART OF #SLWEEK2023
SCHOOLS - SIGN UP TO TAKE PART IN A FREE BSL LESSON!
We are working with the awarding body Signature to deliver the UK’s largest British Sign Language lesson online, with primary schools across the UK all learning BSL at the same time!
The lesson will give children the opportunity to learn BSL from a native Deaf teacher, BSL See Hear presenter Yvonne Cobb, and find out more about the British Deaf community.
If you are a primary school and would like to sign up to take part in the lesson, please complete an application form and we will send you more information.
# PROTECT PRESERVE PROMOTE
SLW 2024 Theme
This year's theme colour is turquoise, inspired by the Deaf flag.
This summer, members of the World Federation of the Deaf, including the BDA and other National Associations of the Deaf, approved the Deaf flag. The Deaf flag is a powerful symbol for Deaf communities around the world.
Turquoise Blue represents the deaf community and Sign Language, pride and unity.
Yellow represents the colour of light, an enlightened spirit, life and "thriving in unison".
Dark Blue represents the earth, humanity and living in accordance with the planet. Dark Blue also indicates Deafhood, an individual and collective journey to combat audism and embrace Deaf gain. The concept of Deafhood was introduced by Dr. Paddy Ladd who also established the Blue Ribbon ceremony to commemorate the experiences of Deaf people around the globe. Dark blue is also the colour used by the World Federation of the Deaf.
Together, we can break down language barriers
We want to show people across social media how easy it is to introduce themselves in BSL, and to build a movement of BSL allies who appreciate our beautiful, unique language and will help us break down barriers and end language deprivation for Deaf people.
Whether it's your first time learning to sign, or you know some already, we want you to raise your hands and introduce yourself as a #BSLally in BSL today. Nominate 5 other people to do the same and share!
Follow for handy tutorials to help you get the conversation started:
GETTING INVOLVED
WHAT IS BSL: UNDERSTANDING OUR LANGUAGE
GETTING INVOLVED
WHAT IS BSL: UNDERSTANDING OUR LANGUAGE
Setting the standard for a bsl gcse
BRITISH DEAF ASSOCIATION
Join Our Newsletter
Join Our Newsletter
OUR Ambassadors
SIGN LANGUAGE WEEK 2024
ABOUT
Sign Language Week holds immense significance for the BDA, particularly this year as we launch our #TakingBSLForward civil rights movement. The week serves as a crucial opportunity to garner support for our mission and act as a platform to launch our 'Early Years’ position statement.
As the 'National Representative Organisation of British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL) in the UK,' our responsibility is to 'Promote, Preserve and Protect' BSL and ISL. Our national sign languages have faced marginalisation for over a century at the hands of the hearing majority—teachers, doctors, politicians—who relentlessly promoted oralism, denying Deaf children access to sign language and resulting in damaging language deprivation.
BSL stands as the fourth most widely used indigenous language in the UK, with an estimated 151,000 individuals utilising the language.
BSL will be available soon
We're still making preparations for this year's Sign Language Week and will update the website regularly in the run-up to March. Thank you for your patience.