Latest news and blogs

Press release from Hertfordshire Police: Twelve Hertfordshire Link Officers for the Deaf have been chosen to start a CACDP British Sign Language course in order to enhance their communication skills with Deaf people in the community. The police-specific course will be run at police headquarters in Hertfordshire.

Press release from North Wales Deaf Association: North Wales Deaf Association will be holding an Information Celebration Day on Wednesday, 25th February, 2009 at Venue Cymru, The Promenade, Llandudno from 10am to 4pm.

A reminder to centres that any NVQ candidates who are registered for Level 3 NVQ in BSL (units PSL3 & RSL3) or Level 4 NVQ in BSL (units RSL4, PSL4a, PSL4b) must submit their portfolios for external verification before 30 June 2009. The final date for certification for this qualification is 31 August 2009.

We are looking for people to write or sign 30 new stories for the BSL201 assessments. We need 30 stories and will pay £50 for each story we use.

We would like to know more about how we can better support learners studying towards our qualifications. We would be grateful if you would take a couple of minutes to answer a few very short questions on our current learner support materials and what you would like to see in the future.

The Blackpool Gazette recently published a story about eight-year-old Abby Hurwitch who passed her BSL Level 1 qualification. You can read more about Abby on the Gazette’s website by clicking here.

Many deaf students drop out of Further Education. There is anecdotal evidence to suggest why this may be the case, but little thorough research. So, on 22 November, in collaboration with the North West Partnership, Signature held the Bridging the Access Gap conference. This was a one-day research event to explore the barriers faced by deaf students.

Press Release by ITV: ITV has launched a major web-based initiative to improve the literacy of thousands of deaf children. www.signedstories.com, is a unique free online library of signed books and is ITV’s contribution to the 2008 National Year of Reading. Backed by eight leading UK publishers, The National Literacy Trust and a host of stage, screen, literary and sporting icons, Signed Stories will feature the best of contemporary children’s books in sign language with audio, animation and text.

Press Release by NSPCC: If you are deaf or hard of hearing and are worried about a child or need advice you can now contact the NSPCC BSL Helpline, through qualified British Sign Language interpreters. The NSPCC Helpline has become the first helpline in the UK teaming up with the Sign Video Service to enable deaf and hard of hearing members of the public to access the helpline via qualified BSL Sign Language interpreters. Using video conferencing equipment (videophones, webcams, videoconferencing units), high quality BSL interpreters are available within minutes.

CACDP, the IRP, ASLI, the Deaf Interpreters’ Network and a number of other organisations have come together with their primary aim to look into the possibility of developing better professional recognition for interpreters who do not work between standard BSL and English.