28th April 2022 – The British Sign Language Act 2022 recognises BSL as an official language of England, Scotland and Wales – the same status afforded to Welsh and Scots Gaelic.
Under the new law, the government must promote BSL and make it easier for people to use it in their dealings with government agencies. Like any other language, BSL has its own grammar structures and regional dialects.
The BSL Act is the result of 19 years of campaigning and was introduced as a private member’s bill last year by the MP Rosie Cooper, whose parents were deaf.
This is a momentous achievement for the Deaf community. After many years and overcoming many barriers, this Act is a vital step forward toward improving the lives of many Deaf people.
To learn more about BSL Act: https://bda.org.uk/bsl-act-now/
