Sign Language Week starts today!

Sign Language Week (17 to 23 March) starts today, which is a flagship awareness week for British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL).

The week is 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.

Sign Language is the heart of our living, cultural heritage. It is a place to belong and feel seen, that is rich with history, humour and activism.

More than a language: culture, community and belonging

Sign Language Week holds immense significance for the British Deaf Association (BDA), particularly this year as they launch #TakingBSLForward civil rights movement. This week serves as a crucial opportunity to garner support for their mission and act as a platform to launch their "Early Years" position statement.

As the "National Representative Organisation of BSL and ISL in the UK" their 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, including teachers, doctors and 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 utilising the language.

The aim of this years theme "More than a language: culture, community and belonging," is to encourage people of all ages across the UK to take up the challenge of learning BSL for themselves and finding out more about the language and culture of the Deaf, Deafblind, and hard of hearing British people for whom BSL is their first or preferred language.

The positive impact of BSL on thousands of Deaf and hard of hearing people are often underappreciated. The goal of the week is to make everyone realise the importance of BSL, and how awareness can make a big difference.

In April 2022, the British Sign Language Act came into force, to recognise BSL as a language of England, Wales and Scotland was passed by the UK government to require:

• the Secretary of State to report on the promotion and facilitation of the use of BSL by ministerial government departments;
• guidance to be issued in relation to BSL.

The Deaf flag

The #SLW2025 theme colour is turquoise inspired by the Deaf flag.

Last 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,
  • also indicates Deafhood, an individual and collective journey to combat audism and embrace Deaf gain.

Get involved

Together we can change the narrative on our language and the Deaf community, so that future generations inherit a stronger, more inclusive society.

There are so many ways you can get involved this Sign Language Week, including:

• download the fundraising pack and guidelines to help raise awareness and support the British Deaf Association;
• take part in a free BSL lesson during #SLW2025 by registering here.