Top of page
Accessibility

Thousands sign petition for all schools in UK to teach sign language

Smiling deaf woman learning sign language

A petition calling for all schools to teach basic sign language has been signed by nearly 100,000 people, UNILAD reports.

Jade Kilduff, 18, launched the campaign approximately one month ago after witnessing sign language transform her younger brother’s life,UNILAD reports.

Christian, four, has brain damage, cerebral palsy, and visual impairment after problems at birth meant he took his first breath 24 minutes after he was born. His family were told he would never be able to communicate. However, Jade didn’t want to give up on him and so started teaching him sign language in the hope they would be able to communicate that way and it worked,Her petition, which at the time of writing has 96,508 signatures, could help the hundreds of thousands of children in the UK alone who use sign language or signing systems to aid communication.

Very few mainstream schools teach British sign language, something Jade says needs to change urgently because ‘nobody should be socially isolated due to communication barriers’.

Lyndhurst Primary School in Oldham introduced signing five months ago, incorporating sign language into lessons, assemblies and conversation each day. While it was initially introduced to help three pupils with hearing impairments, the school has seen the positive impact it’s had on other children too. A Department for Education spokesperson responded to the petition, saying they are ‘firmly committed to ensuring that children with SEND (special educational needs and disability), including hearing disabilities, receive the support they need in early years, at school and at college’.

You might also like

Empowering deaf people in Bangladesh with mental wellbeing sign language

A first ever sign bank to express mental health-related words…

employee with Down syndrome standing in a supermarket employee with Down syndrome standing in a supermarket

UK bolsters employment support to unlock work for sick and disabled people

Work will be unlocked for thousands of sick and disabled…

Deaf woman talking using sign language on the smartphone's cam Deaf woman talking using sign language on the smartphone's cam

New method improves AI translation of sign language

Sign languages have been developed by nations around the world…

Disabled child in a wheelchair on a city street with family Disabled child in a wheelchair on a city street with family

UK government to reform disability benefits system

Plans to make the disability benefits system fit for the…