British Sign Language is the first, or preferred, language for over 87,000 people in the United Kingdom and is one of the most valuable tools an individual can possess in the movement towards a more accessible and inclusive future. But BSL is, of course, an entire language that requires every bit as much study, practise and time commitment to learn.
An incredibly important facet of our work in accessibility, beyond those that are perhaps more obvious, are the steps we take to try and lower the social and financial barriers some people can face between themselves and opportunities that would improve their lives and the lives of everyone in their community.
As incredible as the progress we have made in the growth and recognition of BSL, it is undeniable that a great many people interested in seriously learning this language will have been discouraged at the first hurdle by the time and money required by a great many BSL courses.
This is why good friend of Kakou, Joanne Woodhouse-Roberts, a deaf sign language instructor who has taught BSL in Further Education and the National Deaf Children’s Society over the last 30 years, has decided to launch a series of classes that will make access to high-level BSL education even more accessible to even complete beginners.
Beginning this September, Joanne will begin weekly classes without the commitment of course-end examinations for only £1 a session, after your first six FREE weeks. Joanne’s knowledge and understanding of BSL and how to effectively teach it is invaluable to anyone interested in learning this skill that will directly open the world even further for deaf, hard-of-hearing or non-verbal people.
Stay tuned to our social media platforms and future editions of this newsletter as we approach the beginning of these innovative and robust classes.
