Sign language

Thousands of British people use BSL, but it isn't always easy to communicate with people who don't sign.

BSL users often use interpreters - people who translate other people's words into sign language and then translate a deaf person's BSL into spoken English. 

BSL users might use an interpreter in lots of situations, like: 

• at school, college or uni
• at work
• at job interviews
• at the doctors
• at the theatre or a concert

School, college and uni

As a BSL user, you have the right to an education just like your hearing classmates. 

Some children or young people who use BSL go to specialist schools or colleges that teach in sign language. However, many go to mainstream schools or colleges with hearing teachers and classmates.

These children will often have a Communication Support Worker (CSW). This is a teaching assistant who can sign and will translate lessons for you, as well as helping you communicate with your hearing friends. They can also help your teacher make sure the lesson is deaf friendly.

At college and uni, you can have an interpreter. They won't help you with your work, but they will translate what your tutor says so you can follow the session. They will also help you communicate with the tutor so you can ask questions. 

You may need to apply for Disabled Students Allowance to pay for your interpreters. This can also be used to pay other other support you might find useful, such as notetakers. 

Work and job interviews

Being a BSL user should not stop you pursuing your career. If you need an interpreter at work, funding is available. You can apply for Access to Work to help pay for interpreters, who can help you communicate in meetings and chat to your colleagues.

Access to Work can also be used to pay for interpreters for job interviews.

Doctors appointments

Booking a medical appointment can sometimes be hard when your deaf. A lot of doctors and dentists only let you book over the phone. 

If you want to book using BSL, you can use a video relay service like SignVideo. This works with your computer, smartphone or tablet. An interpreter will call the doctors' surgery and then translate what the receptionist says into BSL for you. You can reply by signing and they will translate your words into English for the receptionist. 

If you want an interpreter at your appointment, you should request this when you book. The interpreter might come to your appointment in person, or they might be on a screen.

Seeing a show

These days, more and more venues are offering signed shows. This means you can enjoy a play, musical, concert or other performance with a BSL interpreter.

Usually the BSL interpreter will stand on stage, in a theatre box, or somewhere else in the venue where you can clearly see them. They will interpret everything said (or sang) on stage, as well as sound effects and music. 

If a performance will be signed, it should be clearly advertised on the venue's website. Make sure you let the venue know you are a BSL user when you book - some venues will have seats reserved so BSL users can clearly see the interpreter. 

If you want to see a show, but there aren't any signed performances, don't worry! Why not contact the venue and ask about arranging an interpreter? Organisations like Performance Interpreting can also help you work with the venue. 

Using an interpreter at other times

There may be other times you want to use an interpreter, such as booking appointments or chatting with family or friends. Video services such as SignVideo can be really useful for this.

In an emergency, you can also use 999 BSL. This connects you directly to the emergency services via an interpreter. You can report your emergency in BSL using your smartphone, computer or tablet, and quickly get help from the police, fire service, ambulance service and coastguard.

If you are being treated badly because you use BSL, that is wrong and it should never happen. It can be upsetting and stressful, but don't worry! There are things you can do to stop it.

Bullying

Bullying can happen at school, college, uni, work - anywhere! No matter where it happens, it is wrong and it is never your fault. 

If you are being bullied at school or college, talk to someone you trust. This could be your parents, a teacher or your Teacher of the Deaf.

If you're at uni, you can speak to people such as your personal tutor, a university counsellor, your accommodation tutor or your Students' Union. You can also make a formal complaint about the bullying if it gets worse.

Your school, college or uni has a duty to protect you and they should work with you to stop the bullying.

For bullying at work, you should speak to your manager and your Human Resources (HR) department.

For more information on bullying, click here.

My teacher or tutor isn't helping me properly

Sometimes, teachers or tutors may not be very deaf aware. They might not fully understand how to work with someone who uses BSL. 

But this is not an excuse for them not teaching you properly. You have the right to an education, just like your hearing classmates. It is not ok for your teacher's behaviour to negatively affect your education, or your experience at school, college or uni. 

So what can you do?

The first thing to do is speak to your teacher or tutor. This can be scary, but it can really help. Calmly explain the problem and what your teacher can do to solve it. Your teacher might not have realised they were doing something wrong and will hopefully be keen to work with you to improve things.

Most of the time, this will be enough to make things better. But sometimes, but if your teacher doesn't listen to you, or things don't improve, you may need to take things further. 

If you are at school, you and your parents can talk to:

• your Teacher of the Deaf
• your school's SENCo (a member of staff who makes sure students with disabilities or other needs are treated fairly and supported)
• your school's headteacher
• the local authority

If you are at college or uni, you could talk to:

• your college's SENCo
• the head of department
• the uni disability support team
• the Students' Union

If things do not change, you can make a formal complaint. Contact our Helpline for support with complaints.

Lots of deaf people have English as their first language, but choose to learn to sign later.

Some people find it helps them explore their deaf identity and get more involved in the deaf community.

One of the best ways to learn is by taking classes. This should be run by a qualified tutor, who is deaf and uses BSL themselves. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find classes and they can be expensive. Sometimes local colleges or deaf clubs might offer more affordable courses. 

We're really excited that the brand new BSL GCSE is planned to launch in September 2025. If you will be taking GCSEs at that time, why not ask your teachers if your school will offer it?

Alternatively, you could start learning using the internet. There are lots of apps and videos online to help you begin signing. Just make sure that the app or site you choose is teaching BSL, rather than other sign languages such as American Sign Language (ASL) or a sign system like Makaton.