The BSL Symposium
Launching a national BSL Strategy and the BSL Alliance:
After Recognition –The Way Forward
Monday 19th March 2012
Holiday Inn Bloomsbury Hotel
Coram Street
London WC1N 1HT
Register today
020 7405 0090 bslsymposium@bda.org.uk
Find out about the BSL Symposium in BSL
In 2003, the British Government recognised BSL as a language in its own right, a landmark announcement welcomed by many people. Since then the UK is now a place that is the envy of many Deaf people living in other countries – we have 3 hours of BSL every night on mainstream TV and thousands of people learn BSL every year. There is also much exciting work going on in research, in schools, and in the wider community.
However there is no room for complacency – more needs to be done. Since the BDA established the first Teaching Agency (BSLTA) 20 years ago, there are now fewer BSL teachers. There is also a belief that technology can provide all the answers while many Deaf people are denied full access to services. This symposium is a first step to ensuring that recognition becomes meaningful with enforceable rights and appropriate resources.
Purpose of Symposium
The BSL Symposium has two aims. One is to establish the BSL Alliance to which organisations interested in promoting BSL are invited to join. The second is to begin the process of working together to achieve agreed objectives set out in the national BSL Strategy “Transforming Deaf People’s Lives”.
Who can join?
Any organisation that has an interest in promoting BSL:
- mainstream school with deaf pupils
- Deaf school
- university department
- Deaf club
- Deaf group
- Deaf charity
- service provider to Deaf people
- local authority supporting our BSL Charter
- Deaf-led business teaching BSL.
Any organisation or Deaf professional that cares about BSL is welcome to join the BSL Alliance.
Conference programme
9.00 Registration and refreshments
9.30 Chair’s welcome
9.35 Opening Remarks – Speaker to be confirmed
10.05 The United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities – ensuring the inclusion of Deaf people and sign language
10.25 Transforming Deaf People’s Lives – the national BSL Strategy
10.45 Questions from the floor
11.00 Break & Networking - Exhibitions
11.30 Breakout sessions: Case Studies for information and questions
Case Study 1 | Case Study 2 | Case Study 3 | Case Study 4 | Case Study 5 |
The | Assessment of deaf children’s BSL – perspectives | Sign Languages in | Researching BSL - overview | BSL Bill – |
12.45 Lunch & Networking –Exhibitions
2.00pm Breakout sessions: Workshops to develop work-plans for achieving objectives in BSL Strategy
Workshop 1 | Workshop 2 | Workshop 3 | Workshop 4 | Workshop 5 |
Establishing the BSL | Developing a campaign for legal provisions to safeguard BSL | Developing a portfolio of BSL syllabi | Achieving bilingual and bicultural education | Access –ensuring good consistent provision with interpreters, CSWs and VRS/VRI |
3.00 Break & Networking – Exhibitions
3.30pm Breakout sessions: Workshops to develop work-plans for achieving objectives in BSL Strategy
Workshop 1 | Workshop 2 | Workshop 3 | Workshop 4 | Workshop 5 |
Establishing the BSL | Developing a campaign for legal provisions to safeguard BSL | Developing a portfolio of BSL syllabi | Achieving bilingual and bicultural education | Access –ensuring good consistent provision with interpreters, CSWs and VRS/VRI |
4.30 | Open Feedback & BSL |
4.55 | Closing remarks |
5.00 | End of Symposium |
BDA reserves the right to vary the published programme of speakers and the timing of sessions.
