I just got the news that BSL is officially coming to the curriculum and I am honestly shaking right now because it finally happened. It feels like such a huge weight is off my chest knowing Alfie and so many other kids wont have to face that same awkward silence …
April 20, 2015
Final supporters
I started a deaf awareness campaign called handsonears, in may 2014 which got lots of people involved and had a lot of positive feedback.
The whole reason I started the handsonears campaign was to spread deaf awareness and hopefully get people talking about deafness so it is not such a "taboo" subject.
My youngest son Alfie who is 4 years old, was diagnosed with bilateral profound deafness in November 2012 as he lost his hearing due to a virus.
When I would take Alfie out sometimes the reactions I would get from people would be quite odd, because he refuses to wear hearing aids people didn't know he was deaf, if I was out shopping and someone would approach us, because Alfie is a twin, he and his brother George would attract attention, people would say hello and they would wait for a response and when I said he is deaf they would look away and they wouldn't know what to say, I hope that when Alfie is older, signs will be taught in schools so that everyone would have some knowledge and no deaf child would feel isolated.
The handsonears campaign has got me in touch with some wonderful people who feel the same, I even know some adults who have lost their hearing, but have been told they will have to pay to have sign lessons, I think this is terrible!
Signing is a life skill which everyone should be able to learn freely
So together let's break the silence!
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
February 5, 2015
February 4, 2015
I was looking at the total just now and noticed we are inching toward that one thousand mark which honestly makes my heart race because Alfie deserves this and so do all the other kids waiting for a change. Can you all just put this on your main feed right now because if we hit that milestone before the weekend it changes everything about how the board looks at us.
January 19, 2015
I just spent the morning reading through the stories people are posting and it is honestly overwhelming to see how many families have dealt with this exact feeling of isolation. It feels like the world moves on without pausing to think about accessibility and I am trying to draft a letter to the local council because we cannot just let this fade into the background.
January 3, 2015
I just saw we hit one hundred signatures and honestly I am stunned because I did not expect this to move so fast. It makes me think about those awkward moments I had with Alfie at the shops and how that silence could actually change if people just learned the basics. Thank you for caring about this as much as I do.
Reached 100 supporters
January 2, 2015
873 Comments
my daughter is profoundly deaf and has been in mainstream school since she was 4, she has constantly struggled. If her school taught sign language it would have made things a lot easier and I'm sure she would be able to make friends a lot easier
agree 100%, I have completed BSL level one, whilst teaching two deaf students in higher education and it was great to be able to communicate directly. I have also seven the benefits when using with babies, as I attended a tiny talk class.
Fantastic idea. I'm learning BSL myself and wonder how much further along I would be had I been given such a wonderful opportunity at a young age? I really hope this petition creates awareness of the need for BSL to be taught in schools.
Brilliant idea my daughter is deaf and I know the frustration she feels trying to communicate and why should they miss out in mainstream school and feel isolated it should be a second language like French is taught or Spanish in schools so should sign xx
Sign should be more accessible I would love to do a course but at ove £450 to do a level 1 it's not financially viable from me and my assistant to do this course as early years childminder I would love to be able to offer sign in my setting
100% behind this! Wish it was taught when I was at school
stop ignoring deaf people!
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Copy link or share directly
I just got the news that BSL is officially coming to the curriculum and I am honestly shaking right now because it finally happened. It feels like such a huge weight is off my chest knowing Alfie and so many other kids wont have to face that same awkward silence …
April 20, 2015
Final supporters
I started a deaf awareness campaign called handsonears, in may 2014 which got lots of people involved and had a lot of positive feedback.
The whole reason I started the handsonears campaign was to spread deaf awareness and hopefully get people talking about deafness so it is not such a "taboo" subject.
My youngest son Alfie who is 4 years old, was diagnosed with bilateral profound deafness in November 2012 as he lost his hearing due to a virus.
When I would take Alfie out sometimes the reactions I would get from people would be quite odd, because he refuses to wear hearing aids people didn't know he was deaf, if I was out shopping and someone would approach us, because Alfie is a twin, he and his brother George would attract attention, people would say hello and they would wait for a response and when I said he is deaf they would look away and they wouldn't know what to say, I hope that when Alfie is older, signs will be taught in schools so that everyone would have some knowledge and no deaf child would feel isolated.
The handsonears campaign has got me in touch with some wonderful people who feel the same, I even know some adults who have lost their hearing, but have been told they will have to pay to have sign lessons, I think this is terrible!
Signing is a life skill which everyone should be able to learn freely
So together let's break the silence!
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
February 5, 2015
February 4, 2015
I was looking at the total just now and noticed we are inching toward that one thousand mark which honestly makes my heart race because Alfie deserves this and so do all the other kids waiting for a change. Can you all just put this on your main feed right now because if we hit that milestone before the weekend it changes everything about how the board looks at us.
January 19, 2015
I just spent the morning reading through the stories people are posting and it is honestly overwhelming to see how many families have dealt with this exact feeling of isolation. It feels like the world moves on without pausing to think about accessibility and I am trying to draft a letter to the local council because we cannot just let this fade into the background.
January 3, 2015
I just saw we hit one hundred signatures and honestly I am stunned because I did not expect this to move so fast. It makes me think about those awkward moments I had with Alfie at the shops and how that silence could actually change if people just learned the basics. Thank you for caring about this as much as I do.
Reached 100 supporters
January 2, 2015
873 Comments
ive learnt level 1&2 BSL a at college I had to pay for both courses very expensive but I loved it! I've taught my daughter who is 7 a little and she loves it too. I think it would be great to get all schools primary and secondary to teach bsl!
my daughter is profoundly deaf and has been in mainstream school since she was 4, she has constantly struggled. If her school taught sign language it would have made things a lot easier and I'm sure she would be able to make friends a lot easier
agree 100%, I have completed BSL level one, whilst teaching two deaf students in higher education and it was great to be able to communicate directly. I have also seven the benefits when using with babies, as I attended a tiny talk class.
Fantastic idea. I'm learning BSL myself and wonder how much further along I would be had I been given such a wonderful opportunity at a young age? I really hope this petition creates awareness of the need for BSL to be taught in schools.
Brilliant idea my daughter is deaf and I know the frustration she feels trying to communicate and why should they miss out in mainstream school and feel isolated it should be a second language like French is taught or Spanish in schools so should sign xx
Sign should be more accessible I would love to do a course but at ove £450 to do a level 1 it's not financially viable from me and my assistant to do this course as early years childminder I would love to be able to offer sign in my setting
100% behind this! Wish it was taught when I was at school
stop ignoring deaf people!
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
ive learnt level 1&2 BSL a at college I had to pay for both courses very expensive but I loved it! I've taught my daughter who is 7 a little and she loves it too. I think it would be great to get all schools primary and secondary to teach bsl!