The Inductees

Ahmed Mudawi

Ahmed is being inducted as a Deaf TV presenter. He is an inspirational role model and campaigner working for BSL Zone, he works to improve inclusion, he explores and shares his experiences of what it means to be a black deaf person in the UK. Ahmed is also a Sign Language interpreter.

Charlie Swinbourne

Charlie is being inducted as a founder of Limping Chicken, one of the largest independent deaf news sources. Charlie is an award-winning screenwriter, director and journalist who makes ground-breaking dramas, comedies and documentaries, often with Deaf people and sign language at their heart.

Clark Denmark

Clark Denmark is being inducted as a British activist, lecturer and interpreter. He is widely recognised within the Deaf community for his role in advancing the recognition and wider understanding of BSL.

David Buxton

David Buxton is being inducted as Chief Executive of Action on Disability and former Chair of the British Deaf Association. Whilst David was Chair of BDA he led the BSL Act Now campaign, which resulted in BSL being recognised as a language of England, Wales and Scotland.

Performance Interpreting

Performance Interpreting are recognised for their role in opening doors to BSL access across the UK’s live music and entertainment industries. They ensure deaf customers have equitable access and the same magical experiences as everyone else. Performance Interpreting provide deaf performers, deaf and hearing interpreters, deaf access consultants and offer specialist training to ensure a high quality of skilled access provision.

Deaf Village North West

Deaf Village North West provide holistic communication support packages for our Deaf community. They have created a hub that provides specialist services to deaf people comprising of The Deaf Village, a Deaf Hub and The White House.

Chief Inspector Emma Gilbert

Chief Inspector Emma Gilbert of Greater Manchester Police has campaigned for accessibility rights to policing for deaf people, helping to develop the national strategy. Internationally, Emma has voluntarily worked on safeguarding deaf children in low resource and humanitarian crisis settings, through her work as criminal justice and safeguarding advisor, and trustee for Deaf Kidz International.

City Lit

City Lit have made their name as a British Sign Language teaching centre for many years, but have also made major contributions to deaf people with their annual Deaf Day, as well as other deaf activities and events that they organise and host.

Leeds City Council (DAHIT)

DAHIT are known as one of the founding members of the Sign Bilingual Consortium. They have been involved in establishing British Sign Language courses on various levels for many years.

Lipspeaker UK and Lesley Weatherson

Lesley is the founder of Lipspeaker UK, who, for over 20 years, have innovated growth of lipspeaking in the UK. Lipspeaker UK is Britain’s only specialist provider of Lipspeakers.

Rose Ayling-Ellis

Rose won the Stewart Simpson Award because of the hard work and dedication in bringing British Sign Language to the world stage, giving voice to the Deaf community through her spectacular appearance on Strictly Come Dancing and work campaigning for BSL