British Deaf Association

Message from BDA supporting the protests in London and Northern Ireland about Italian Sign Language legislation

24th May 2011
To all you who are marching today,

The British Deaf Association is appalled, at the proposed new change in the wording of the legislation being discussed by the Italian Parliament today. It is not only an insult to sign language but to the Deaf people throughout the world who have fought many battles to get our indigenous sign languages recognised by governments.

The European Parliament has officially stated and this was reaffirmed only last November in Brussels, and has long since been proven and recognised worldwide, that sign language is a language the same as spoken languages. And just as any spoken language, it has its own structure - syntax, linguistics, synonyms and morphisms. It’s a rich and living language. To call it anything otherwise is a travesty and a dishonour to all those that use sign languages as their first or preferred language.

To all those on the March, my sincere thanks and appreciation, my only regret is I am unable to join you as I am attending the EUD GA in Budapest, but my heart, mind and soul is with you all.

Terry Riley
Chair
British Deaf Association

Visit this link to find out more: http://www.sign-tube.com/media/2321/Vigil_Italian_Embassy/
Sign the petition and find out more: http://www.change.org/petitions/no-lmg-forza-lis