Podcasts about British Sign Language

Adam has a theory about how there can be British Sign Language in a future where the Earth doesn't exist, as Ketchup with Kim Kontinues looking at the Doctor Who episode 'The Well' starring Ncuti Gatwa and Varada Sethu. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My Music with Graham Coath - Featuring Kathy MuirIn this warm and wide-ranging conversation, Graham Coath sits down with the wonderfully candid singer-songwriter Kathy Muir. They dive deep into topics beyond music, including Kathy's inspiring commitment to accessibility in the arts, sparked by the pandemic, and how she actively incorporates British Sign Language and inclusive practices into her work.Kathy shares reflections on fitness, food, and finding freedom through strength, and they explore the role of authenticity, storytelling, and life experience in songwriting. They discuss how musicians today navigate genre expectations, the evolution of music discovery, and the importance of staying grounded and open-hearted.Full of laughter, honesty, and thought-provoking moments, this episode serves as a reminder that music, like life, is richest when we stop making assumptions, remain curious, and share our true selves. Additionally, Kathy shares personal insights into her creative process, her journey of discovering her voice, and her upcoming music releases.Tune in for an inspiring conversation that celebrates resilience, community, and the power of genuine human connection through music.Don't forget:

Suspended Labour MP, John McDonnell, talks to Access All about the distress he feels over the benefit cuts outlined in March's Spring Statement. Having had the whip removed last summer he hopes to be restored to the party he joined 50 years ago but says he is "praying" his former colleagues rethink the plans and U-turn. The benefit cuts mean there have been a lot of numbers flying about. Finance journo, Felicity Hannah, who presents BBC radio shows, Money Box and Wake Up To Money, breaks it all down for us and outlines what the changes could mean for you and your wallet, and where to go to get personalised help. Plus we hear from actress and deaf advocate Rose Ayling-Ellis and deaf series producer Camilla Arnold about their new BBC documentary, Old Hands, New Tricks, where they aim to teach residents at a retirement home how to use British Sign Language. It's available right now on BBC iPlayer. Presented by Emma Tracey Produced by Alex Collins and Beth Rose Sound recorded and mixed by Dave O'Neill Edited by Damon Rose and Beth Rose

What family game is Rose Ayling-Ellis banned from playing in her own home? Find out in the first ever podcast appearance by the actor and Strictly Come Dancing champion! Rose takes Russell through the majesty of playing Catan, eating Posh Crisps and how the pandemic had a weird side-benefit for the deaf community.  It's a great fun hour and well worth your time. In this episode there's a lot of chat about British Sign Language… if it's piqued your curiosity and you want to find out more then get your ass (and hands) down to https://www.british-sign.co.uk

In this session, Laura Wilkinson and Ben Fredericks talk about the development process for incorporating accessibility in their immersive show "Choosing Children" from the outset of the creative process, the lessons learned, and where accessibility in immersive can go from here.Choosing Children was a dramatic and interactive live spectacle for an intimate audience, which aimed to be fully accessible and inclusive. Audiences could request British Sign Language, Audio Description, and/or Captioning in every performance through an integrated Access System.This talk was recorded at the Immersive Experience Network Summit in October 2024 and is supported by Arts Council England and our industry partners Illusion Design & Construct, Mance Communications, White Light, Deterministic, Immersif, d&b audiotechnik, Scene2, Little Lion Entertainment, Entourage, and Vista Insurance.Discover more content from IEN: https://immersiveexperience.network/articles/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 3 of The Untold Stories of Pharmacy Students, we meet third-year student, Hikmat Kazeem, who's rewriting what success looks like in pharmacy education. Like many pharmacy students, Hikmat's path wasn't straightforward. After COVID-era predicted grades affected her medical school applications, she reluctantly considered pharmacy - despite a less-than-inspiring work experience placement that involved nothing but shelf cleaning. Today, she's BPSA's Western Area Coordinator and proving that sometimes the most challenging beginnings lead to the most inspiring journeys.This episode dives deep into the realities of pharmacy student life. Hikmat openly shares her experience with first-year exam failure, describing the raw emotions of staying in bed for three days and questioning her place in pharmacy. But it's what she did next that makes her story powerful - transforming that setback into motivation to ace her remaining seven exams.Beyond academics, Hikmat's story is a masterclass in building a balanced student life. As the only hijabi player on her university netball team, she's breaking barriers and showing how sports can be crucial for mental health during intense study periods. Her adventures extend globally - from a marketing internship in Hong Kong to upcoming medical volunteering in India - proving that pharmacy education can be a launch pad for diverse experiences.What sets this episode apart is Hikmat's refreshing perspective on the future. While many students feel pressured to have their entire career mapped out, she advocates for living in the present and exploring widely - whether that's earning a British Sign Language qualification or seeking international opportunities. Her message is clear: your pharmacy journey doesn't need to fit a traditional mould.JOIN MY NEWSLETTER COMMUNITY:This isn't your typical pharmacy newsletter - it's a weekly mentoring session delivered straight to your inbox, packed with actionable insights for ambitious pharmacy students. Each week, I share:Building multiple income streams while maintaining clinical practiceTime management secrets and productivity hacks I swear by ⚡Systems and strategies that keep it all running smoothly ⚙️Personal reflections on growth, failure, and resilienceBehind-the-scenes looks at podcast production and brand buildingIf you are ready to think differently about your future in pharmacy, sign up

We're talking about a big birthday for Angry Birds, a charity that aims to get kids moving and an unusual banana artwork. We're also going to be having a big debate about whether British Sign Language should be taught in all schools.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Lawrence Gunther highlights the Audio Described TVO series All Too Clear, depicting the underwater chaos invasive species are causing in the Great Lakes. And Greg David reviews BBC's TV show, Reunion, created by a member of the Deaf community, starring members of the Deaf community, and utilizing British Sign Language in its scripts.Show Highlights:Show Intro (00:34)TVO Series All Too Clear with Lawrence Gunther (00:48)Review of BBC series Reunion with Greg David (18:44)

Some important information from the NHS to help you stay well this winter. This is a British Sign Language version of the We're Here To Help You Stay Well This Winter campaign leaflet 2024. www.nhs.uk/staywell A transcript of this episode is available on our website - https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/were-here-to-help-you-stay-well-this-winter-transcript-of-audio-version/ Connect with us: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/NHSEngland/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/NHSEngland Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nhsengland

We need to learn the British Sign Language for ‘YAY!' because Ross and Sacha are officially in love!!!Can we just pretend *all* our couples are deeply in love and that no drama happened at the retreat? That was… a LOT. Thankfully, we have a real-TREAT for you today on It's Official - Friday Night Dinner superstar Tom Rosenthal joins Chloe today and he's brought some very insightful opinions with him (as well as plenty of lols) Fresh off the back of stick-or-twist-gate - our lovely bride Polly is also on the sofa! There's a lot to break down from Polly's time on the experiment so far - so we've called in the help of our wonderful, fabulous and ever-so-wise expert, Charlene! Polly tells us about the conversation that Adam had with Caspar that reignited the intimacy in her marriage, and Charlene lets us know what she thinks about the whole ‘type' issue… We also crack on with a game of ‘Polly Wants A Cracker'... to see if we can predict the fortunes of some of our couples… And can we just take a moment to discuss the preview for the next episode? We are SAT waiting for that commitment ceremony. We'll be back here next week to break it all down for you. In the meantime… anyone for a carvery? 

We need to learn the British Sign Language for ‘YAY!' because Ross and Sacha are officially in love!!!Can we just pretend *all* our couples are deeply in love and that no drama happened at the retreat? That was… a LOT. Thankfully, we have a real-TREAT for you today on It's Official - Friday Night Dinner superstar Tom Rosenthal joins Chloe today and he's brought some very insightful opinions with him (as well as plenty of lols) Fresh off the back of stick-or-twist-gate - our lovely bride Polly is also on the sofa! There's a lot to break down from Polly's time on the experiment so far - so we've called in the help of our wonderful, fabulous and ever-so-wise expert, Charlene! Polly tells us about the conversation that Adam had with Caspar that reignited the intimacy in her marriage, and Charlene lets us know what she thinks about the whole ‘type' issue… We also crack on with a game of ‘Polly Wants A Cracker'... to see if we can predict the fortunes of some of our couples… And can we just take a moment to discuss the preview for the next episode? We are SAT waiting for that commitment ceremony. We'll be back here next week to break it all down for you. In the meantime… anyone for a carvery? 

We need to learn the British Sign Language for ‘YAY!' because Ross and Sacha are officially in love!!!Can we just pretend *all* our couples are deeply in love and that no drama happened at the retreat? That was… a LOT. Thankfully, we have a real-TREAT for you today on It's Official - Friday Night Dinner superstar Tom Rosenthal joins Chloe today and he's brought some very insightful opinions with him (as well as plenty of lols) Fresh off the back of stick-or-twist-gate - our lovely bride Polly is also on the sofa! There's a lot to break down from Polly's time on the experiment so far - so we've called in the help of our wonderful, fabulous and ever-so-wise expert, Charlene! Polly tells us about the conversation that Adam had with Caspar that reignited the intimacy in her marriage, and Charlene lets us know what she thinks about the whole ‘type' issue… We also crack on with a game of ‘Polly Wants A Cracker'... to see if we can predict the fortunes of some of our couples… And can we just take a moment to discuss the preview for the next episode? We are SAT waiting for that commitment ceremony. We'll be back here next week to break it all down for you. In the meantime… anyone for a carvery? 

In this episode of the Business Awards Show, host Debbie Gilbert interviews Julie Hetherington, a TinyTalk franchisee who transitioned from a chartered accountant to running baby signing classes. Julie shares her inspiring journey, explaning how she became a TinyTalk franchisee in April 2010 in the South Birmingham Area.   She emphasizes the benefits of baby signing for early communication, teaching everyday BSL signs to families to help them communicate with their little ones before they can speak and beyond.    Julie has forged strong links with her local community and outlines how she did so and the benefits it has brought to her business.  Previous to her life as a sign teacher, Julie was a qualified Chartered Accountant and both External and Internal Auditor for a large professional firm in Birmingham. She is an expert practitioner in this field, gaining a degree in Accounting and Finance.  Through the episode, she discusses her experiences as a franchisee, her recent Lifetime Achievement Award at the Club Hub UK Awards, and her charitable contributions.   The episode highlights the significance of recognition in business. Additionally, Julie demonstrates the ability to remodel your life to align with the needs of young children if you're committed enough. And Julie's commitment to personal growth and community engagement come across loud and clear. {1:47} Julie's Journey from accountant to franchisee. {4:06} Benefits of baby signing. {6:06} Julie's class structure. {7:36} Choosing to buy a franchise. {9:00} Franchise support and longevity. {9:28} Due dilgience for potential franchisees. {13:10} Winning a Lifetime Achievement Award. {16:55} Julie's charitable work. {17:54} The joy of being recognised locally. {18:30} Forging community links to build a successful business. {20:06} Julie's growth plans. {20:31} Investing in personal development. {21:16} Learning to understand British Sign Language. {22:02} The communication differences between hearing and non-hearing communities. {24:10} Julie's words of wisdom. Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk Connect with Julie: https://www.tinytalk.co.uk/julieh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinytalk_southbrum_julieh Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TinyTalkSouthWestBirminghamandNorthWorcestershire YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwEytCppzI8&t=5s  

A Service for the feast of St Matthew.Our Church of England national online service this week is from the Chapel of St Mark with St John, designed for the Deaf community at Reading Deaf Centre.This service is conducted entirely in British Sign Language with voiceover and led by Rev Dr Hannah Lewis. It will focus on St. Matthew, reminding us that God calls each of us.

I can scarce believe that I've made 200 episodes of this show, but here we are! To celebrate, here is a quiz about language where all the questions were set by YOU, the beautiful brainy listeners. Play along with me - there's a score sheet you can use over at theallusionist.org/200, plus the episode's transcript and links to more information about some of the topics. If you want to help me celebrate this podcast making it to 200 episodes, recommend it to someone! Word of mouth/virtual mouth is the best way for a podcast to find new listeners, especially a little independent podcast like this one with no budget for billboard advertising.  If you do want to chip in to my future billboard ad fund, go to theallusionist.org/donate and become a member of the Allusioverse. You get regular livestreams with me and my collection of reference books, inside scoops into the making of this show, watchalong parties eg the new season of Taskmaster which stars my brother Andy, and the company of your fellow Allusionauts in our delightful Discord community.  This episode was produced by me, Helen Zaltzman, with music and editorial assistance from Martin Austwick of palebirdmusic.com. Find @allusionistshow on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, TikTok, YouTube etc. Our ad partner is Multitude. If you want me to talk about your product or thing on the show, sponsor an episode: contact Multitude at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by: • Constant Wonder, the podcast that helps you find the wonder in nature (inc human). Listen in the usual places you find podcasts.• Rocket Money, the personal finance app that helps find and cancel your unwanted subscriptions and monitors your spending. Go to rocketmoney.com/allusionist to save money and lower your outgoings.• Home Chef, meal kits that fit your needs. For a limited time, Home Chef is offering Allusionist listeners eighteen free meals, plus free shipping on your first box, and free dessert for life, at HomeChef.com/allusionist.• Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running your online empire/new home for your cryptic puzzle that takes months to solve. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.Support the show: http://patreon.com/allusionistSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Glenmore Lodge, the Scottish National Outdoor Training Centre, has recently established Scotland's first hill navigation training course to be delivered in British Sign Language. One of those involved in setting it up was deaf climber and mountaineer Morag Skelton. Mark chatted to Morag for the Scotland Outdoors podcast, and we hear an excerpt where they speak about her childhood outdoors and the practicalities involved in climbing when you can't hear. For our latest Scotland Outdoors podcast, Rachel went to meet M.T O'Donnell in her garden near Glasgow. M.T is the founder of Scotland Grows magazine and the host of the Scotland Grows Show podcast. She's keen on looking after her garden in a way that's nature friendly and as she tells Rachel, that even extends to dealing with slugs. On the shores of Loch Awe near Dalmally lies the very striking St Conan's Church. Mark went for a visit to explore its remarkable architecture, both inside and out. A few weeks ago, Mark and Rachel headed across to the island of Easdale which lies 15 miles south of Oban. They got the ferry from Seil and chatted to the boatman, Alan, about who lives on Easdale and who visits. Mark also chats to Bethan Smith who owns a soap making business on the island. And Rachel catches up with Mike Mackenzie who has lived there for decades. He tells her what the community is like and how he came to live on the wee island. If you looked up to the sky earlier this week you might have been lucky to catch a glimpse of the Perseid Meteor Shower. The Perseids are one of the most dramatic things to see in the night sky and the shower will be active for another week or so. We chat live to the Astronomer Royal for Scotland, Catherine Heymans, to get her hints and tips on how to spot the meteors and what else to look out for in the night sky at this time of year. The Countryside Rangers at Mugdock Country Park in East Dunbartonshire have been taking groups out to help them learn how to identify bird species by their sound. Linda Sinclair joined a group, led by Ranger Alan MacBride at Clachan of Campsie, at dusk to listen out for our birdsong and try to identify what they could hear. Poet Matt Kinghorn decided to walk more than 200 miles from his home in Aberdeenshire to North Berwick just to offer a listening ear to anyone who needed it. Rachel met up with him at the start of his challenge to hear more about why he'd decided to do it. And to round off their trip to Easdale, the home of the world stone skimming championships, Mark and Rachel try their hands at skimming despite the rather inclement weather.

Joan Baez on her poetry collection inspired by her diagnosis of multiple personality disorder, called When You See My Mother Ask Her to Dance. Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London has a new bilingual production of Antony and Cleopatra in English and British Sign Language. Tom talks to Blanche McIntyre, the director and Charlotte Arrowsmith, actor and associate director. Charlotte Mendelson on her new novel, Wife, about a disintegrating lesbian partnership and motherhood. Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Timothy Prosser

Welcome to a new series of Changes Focus where we focus on a specific area of change and hear multiple perspectives from some of our incredible guests. In this episode the focus is on Changemakers - people who are working hard to drive meaningful, positive change in the world.In this powerful episode, Annie revisits her conversation with poet and advocate for prison reform Lady Unchained. She talks about her own experience within the criminal justice system and how this led her to work with other ex offenders. We hear from Baroness Beeban Kidron - documentary filmmaker turned member of the House of Lords - who talks about her tireless efforts to change and update the laws around child safety online. Ex right wing group leader Nigel Bromage shares his story of life after leaving the far right and how this inspired him to help others to do the same. And finally we've got actor Rose Ayling Ellis, who's memorable appearance on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 paid tribute to the deaf community and was responsible for a huge rise of interest in British Sign Language. Rose talks to us about how important being a part of this community is for her. You can find all the featured episodes in full wherever you get your podcasts. Vote for Changes at the British Podcast Awards! Voting is open until 29th August. Just click this link and search for Changes. https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/votingGET IN TOUCHContact us at changespod@gmail.com with your emails and voice notes.Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changesPlease Note: The transcript is automatically generated in case you come across any typos or misquotes during your reading. Enjoy the episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Shelley and I as we discuss home educating a child with Auditory Processing Disorder and the value of incorporating British Sign Language into your home ed journey.    This is a fascinating and sometimes emotional conversation where we talk about the pressures on ourselves as home educating parents and the balancing act of prioritising our children's needs with little state support. We delve into what APD is, the struggle to get diagnosed and also discuss BSL and its variations, along with the sheer joy of learning a new language and being able to communicate with your baby and child in an empowering way. 

A five-part series of essays that explore the dichotomy between being a deaf professional and working with music. Each essayist tells their own story from across the deaf spectrum, including a sign language performer with a passion for musicals, a violinist who switched to classical piano after a cochlear implant, and a flautist who uses visual art to describe music to deaf children. From horn players to punchy performance artists, all of the essayists consider music from a deaf perspective with illuminating results. Professional music sign language performer Paul Whittaker OBE explains how he has carved out a unique space in the classical musical world by being a pioneer in the field of sign language performance. Despite initial scepticism, he pursued a career in music starting with a degree from Oxford, before founding 'Music and the Deaf' to promote musical accessibility. With meticulous preparation and passion, Paul talks us through how he translates complex musical pieces into expressive sign language, capturing the essence of each composition. He details how he makes his sign language performance ‘sing' in genres stretching from iconic musicals to Handel's Messiah and how he hopes his interpretations enhance the audience's understanding and enjoyment, bridging the gap between deaf and hearing communities.A Different Way to Listen is produced by Sophie Allen and Emma Glassar with Mark Rickards as Executive Producer. It is a Flashing Lights Media production for BBC Radio 3. A British Sign Language version was filmed, edited and subtitled by Fifi Garfield.

A five-part series of essays that explore the dichotomy between being a deaf professional and working with music. Each essayist tells their own story from across the deaf spectrum, including a sign language performer with a passion for music, a violinist who switched to classical piano after a cochlear implant, and a flautist who uses visual art to describe music to deaf children. From horn players to punchy performance artists, all of the essayists consider music from a deaf perspective with illuminating results. Ruth Montgomery is a profoundly deaf professional flautist and flute teacher who grew up the only deaf person at home. In her essay she details the challenges of her early years, and how being introduced to the flute at her secondary school; a school for deaf children, led to her becoming a professional musician and music educator. She describes the hurdles she faced to be taken seriously, and the dedication that this fostered in her to help other deaf children gain musical appreciation and skills as a vital part of life. Ultimately Ruth has created her own musical education programme, as a way of inspiring deaf children, blending art and music as a way to address the huge gaps she discovered in this field. A Different Way to Listen is produced by Sophie Allen and Emma Glassar with Mark Rickards as Executive Producer. It is a Flashing Lights Media production for BBC Radio 3. A British Sign Language version was filmed, edited and subtitled by Fifi Garfield.

A five-part series of essays that explore the dichotomy between being a deaf professional and working with music. Each essayist tells their own story from across the deaf spectrum, including a sign language performer with a passion for musicals, a violinist who switched to classical piano after a cochlear implant, and a flautist who uses visual art to describe music to deaf children. From horn players to punchy performance artists, all of the essayists consider music from a deaf perspective with illuminating results. Horn and Wagner tuba player Nigel Braithwaite looks back at his musical life and gives a humorous take on his time as a semi-professional musician. How did he continue to play in the face of mitochondrial disease which robbed him of his ability to hear the very low notes in which he specialised as a player? How did traumatic brain injury affect his ability to find his place in an orchestral setting? What else could possibly go wrong? A semi-professional musician throughout his whole life, he tackles his travails with honesty and humour, musing on what it takes to get through life's challenges and how key musical tracks along with his family and friends have got him safely through. A Different Way to Listen is produced by Sophie Allen and Emma Glassar with Mark Rickards as Executive Producer. It is a Flashing Lights Media production for BBC Radio 3. A British Sign Language version was filmed, edited and subtitled by Fifi Garfield.

A five-part series of essays that explore the dichotomy between being a deaf professional and working with music. Each essayist tells their own story from across the deaf spectrum, including a sign language performer with a passion for musicals, a violinist who switched to classical piano after a cochlear implant, and a flautist who uses visual art to describe music to deaf children. From horn players to punchy performance artists, all of the essayists consider music from a deaf perspective with illuminating results. Chisato Minamimura shares her journey of exploring sound and music. Growing up in Japan before later moving to the UK, Chisato lost her hearing at seven months, yet despite this she learned the piano - becoming the star pupil. Inspired by artists like John Cage and Tōru Takemitsu, Chisato delves into the concept of sound and music from a deaf perspective. She details how she began creating visual scores based on mathematical algorithms, turning dancers into her instruments. And she explains how she innovates new ways to interact with sound, such as feeling vibrations with her teeth or using Woojer strap to create multi-sensory experiences. Throughout her work, she invites audiences to explore the rich tapestry of sound and music through a deaf lens, opening up new possibilities for artistic expression. Dreaming of experiencing phenomena like whale songs first hand, Chisato imagines translating these experiences into tactile vibrations, further expanding her exploration of sound. A Different Way to Listen is produced by Sophie Allen and Emma Glassar with Mark Rickards as Executive Producer. It is a Flashing Lights Media production for BBC Radio 3. A British Sign Language version was filmed, edited and subtitled by Fifi Garfield.

A five-part series of essays that explore the dichotomy between being a deaf professional and working with music. Each essayist tells their own story from across the deaf spectrum, including a sign language performer with a passion for music, a violinist who switched to classical piano after a cochlear implant, and a flautist who uses visual art to describe music to deaf children. From horn players to punchy performance artists, all of the essayists consider music from a deaf perspective with illuminating results. From her childhood immersed in music to her early career as a professional violinist, Elizabeth Elliott's passion for classical music endured even as she became deaf. Despite the shock of losing her hearing, she muses on how she found solace in teaching and performing in smaller groups, before concentrating on bringing up her young family.In middle age, she had a cochlear implant fitted, and she describes how this felt - reclaiming her ability to hear note by musical note. Filling us all in with a very different way to listen, Elizabeth details how through careful trial and error she pieces together a piano piece and drills herself to perform it to a high standard. She shares with us how it felt to once again be able to perform music publicly, through dedication and technology.A Different Way to Listen is produced by Sophie Allen and Emma Glassar with Mark Rickards as Executive Producer. It is a Flashing Lights Media production for BBC Radio 3. A British Sign Language version was filmed, edited and subtitled by Fifi Garfield.

Navigating the workplace as a deaf individual comes with unique challenges that can often go unnoticed. In this episode of HR Coffee Time, we delve into practical strategies to foster an inclusive and empowering environment for deaf colleagues.Host Fay Wallis is joined by Victoria Williams, founder and CEO of terptree, an organisation dedicated to transforming the experiences of deaf employees and customers.Key Points From This Episode[00:00] Introduction and overview[00:59] Introducing Victoria Williams[02:50] The story behind terptree[07:04] The power of 1% changes[07:41] Make sure website content is written in plain English and is well laid out[07:55] Ensure you provide an email address not just a phone number in your website's contact details[10:09] Deafness is a hidden disability[10:36] Hearing loss can be acquired over time[10:51] People don't always realise they are experiencing hearing loss[11:28] Misconceptions about hearing aids[12:27] Deaf employees may miss out on incidental learning[15:31] Practical tips for inclusivity – environment, communication, team integration[16:18] Involving the deaf person in making adjustments[16:53] Larger organisations can engage with internal employee focus groups[17:02] The Access to Work scheme[18:43] Health and safety – ensuring the fire alarm system is effective[19:41] Disability disclose is a moving thing[20:11] The importance of being open and building trust and empathy[20:38] The social side of work is important[21:09] Using an interpreter for British Sign Language users[21:25] Deaf awareness training ‘is a must'[22:35] Attracting Deaf Talent[22:59] The Disability Confident Employer scheme[28:11] How to contact Victoria and learn more about her workUseful LinksConnect with Fay on LinkedInFay's website: Bright Sky Career CoachingConnect with Victoria on LinkedInVictoria's website: terptreeAccess to Work SchemeDisability Confident employer schemeDeaf UK JobsBuy the Book Recommendation(Disclosure: the book links are affiliate links which means that Fay will receive a small commission from Amazon if you make a purchase through them)Don't Silence Your Talent: Unleash the value of your deaf employees, by Victoria Williams Other Relevant HR Coffee Time EpisodesSpotify playlist: HR Coffee Time – create an equitable, diverse & inclusive workplaceLooking For the Transcript?You can find the transcript on this page of the Bright Sky Career Coaching website.Rate and Review the PodcastIf you found this episode of HR Coffee Time helpful, please

Have you forgotten an anniversary?! We haven't.University of Wolverhampton, UK, is celebrating the 30th anniversary of their BA (hons) Interpreting BSL/English program. My guests are Prof Megan Lawton, Sen Lecturer Sarah Bown, and former Sen Lecturer Rebecca Fenton-Ree. We follow their stories, we learn a part of the history of our sign language interpreting profession.Live Conference: Deaf Studies and Interpreting Conference Tickets, Thu, May 23, 2024 at 9:30 AM | Eventbrite Here are short biographies of my guests.Megan Lawton, Professor of Learning and Teaching in Academic Practice became a National Teaching Fellow (NTF) and Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA) in 2017. In 1991 Megan Founded the Visual Language Centre (VLC) at the University of Wolverhampton, recognising British Sign Language as a language in its own right. The VLC supported Deaf students on degree courses and created the first BA (Hons) British Sign Language/English in Europe. Sarah Bown is a Senior Lecturer on the MA & BA (Hons) British Sign Language/English Interpreting programmes, at the University of Wolverhampton. She is a Registered Sign Language Interpreter, Senior Fellow & Academic Associate of the Higher Education Academy. For over three decades, she has worked extensively with external professional accreditation bodies, course design & standards setting. From 1999 across two decades, she led the programme as course leader.Her career profile: Sarah Bown - University of Wolverhampton (wlv.ac.uk) Rebecca Fenton-Ree was a Senior Lecturer at the University of Wolverhampton from 2000-2011. Becky has been involved in the Deaf community since 1990 and is a qualified and registered Sign Language Interpreter via the Post Graduate Route.  She currently works part time as a community interpreter in Lincolnshire, UK and as a Teacher of the Deaf at Oak lodge 2019- present in English, PSHE and Communication.Mentioned often by others:Kristiaan Dekesel has worked within the University of Wolverhampton since 1994. Arriving at the University initially as a Sign Linguist having come from studying at Durham University. Kristiaan has served in various University faculty positions including; Head of Undergraduate recruitment, Department head for Media, Film, Deaf Studies & Interpreting; Department Head for World & Sign Languages.Support the Show.Don't forget to tell a friend or colleague! Click below! Listen & follow on SPOTIFY. (https://interpretersworkshop.com/SPOTIFY) Listen & follow on APPLE PODCASTS. (https://interpretersworkshop.com/applepodcasts) Listen & follow on many other platforms. (https://interpretersworkshop.com/Share-FollowPodcast) Send me a voicemail! Share the PODCAST. Buy Me a Coffee. [TRANSCRIPTS ARE HERE] Thanks for listening. I'll see you next week.Take care now.

It's Access All's 100th edition! To mark the occasion we've provided a bumper episode – including an interview with Rose Ayling-Ellis talking about how she is changing the conversation around British Sign Language.Also on the show: A glimpse behind the scenes – what really goes on when making Access All. Plus celebs give their advice on how to live your best disabled life.Presenter Emma Tracey. The episode was made by Drew Hyndman, Niamh Hughes and Alex Collins Recorded and mixed by Dave O'Neill The editors were Damon Rose and Alex Lewis. To get in touch with the team email accessall@bbc.co.uk or find us on X, @bbcaccessall. Don't forget to subscribe by finding us on BBC Sounds.

Fiona Smith is British born with Jamaican roots and is a modern-day renaissance creator who focuses on projects that bring unique stories out of obscurity.Fiona was the TV host for “Road to Zion,” a documentary on early pioneers in Great Britain who immigrated to the United States. In England, she earned a Bachelor of Law Degree, and in America, graduated with a Master's Degree in Theatre and Media Arts from Brigham Young University. Her thesis focused on Black American pioneers and included her role as Jane Manning James in the “Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration” movie. As a singer, Fiona has a cameo in The Singles Ward movie, sang alto in The Tabernacle Choir, and created a band to perform her songs at the 2002 Olympics Salt Lake Downtown Festival in Utah. Fiona also enjoys communicating in British Sign Language and German.https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0808203https://mormonarts.lib.byu.edu/works/road-to-zion-3

Jenny Sealey has been the artistic director of Graeae Theatre Company since 1997: Graeae is a deaf and disabled-led company and a leader and innovator in accessible theatre. Jenny has directed opera as well as plays, and was the co-director of the 2012 Paralympic opening ceremony. Jenny was born in Nottingham in 1963, the eldest of four sisters. She lost her hearing at the age of seven following a fall at school in which she banged her head. At that time, deaf children were not encouraged to use British Sign Language, and so she taught herself to lip read, and stayed in a mainstream school, although she often found it challenging. She also continued to take ballet lessons, helped by an inspirational teacher who encouraged her to follow the form and movements of the dancer in front of her. She went on to study dance and choreography at Middlesex Polytechnic.After graduation, Jenny worked as an actor before becoming the artistic director of Graeae. In 2022 she was awarded an OBE for services to disability arts. Most recently she returned to acting and toured the UK with Self Raising, her one-woman autobiographical play. Jenny lives in London with her son and partner. DISC ONE: Handel: Messiah, HWV 56, Pt. 2: No. 44, Chorus. Hallelujah, for the Lord God Omnipotent Reigneth. Composed by George Frideric Handel and performed by The Sixteen Choir, conducted by Harry Christophers DISC TWO: Yesterday - The Beatles DISC THREE: Teenage Kicks - The Undertones DISC FOUR: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack DISC FIVE: Because The Night - Patti Smith Group DISC SIX: Spasticus Autisticus – John Kelly and the cast of Reasons to be Cheerful DISC SEVEN: If It Can't Be Right Then It Must Be Wrong – John Kelly and the cast of Graeae's stage production of Reasons To Be Cheerful DISC EIGHT: Days – Kirsty MacCollBOOK CHOICE: The Complete Works of Armistead Maupin LUXURY ITEM: A photography kit CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Handel: Messiah, HWV 56, Pt. 2: No. 44, Chorus. Hallelujah, for the Lord God Omnipotent Reigneth. Composed by George Frideric Handel and performed by The Sixteen Choir, conducted by Harry Christophers Presenter Lauren Laverne Producer Sarah Taylor

Chuck Rinker, CEO of PRSONAS, sees the next-generation workforce of digital healthcare components as digital personalities and avatars that will act as patient advocates and improve the communications between patients and clinicians. With an emphasis on building trust and showing empathy, these digital tools help gather accurate information and break down language and cultural barriers. Avatars can be customized for locations like hospital lobbies and purposes like clinical trial recruitment. With a background in game programming, Chuck brings a deep knowledge of how the emotional bond between gamers and avatars can be applied to building more robust patient engagement. Chuck explains, "Since technology has been predominant in the healthcare space, we've always had to teach people how to use technology, and the barrier is communication. So, we've said, well, let's just take a different approach. We're not trying to recreate humans, and we're not trying to replace humans. We're just trying to teach all this technology, this scalable healthcare, this improvement in healthcare technology that we have, and make it so that it can communicate to us as humans. We naturally communicate as humans. We don't naturally communicate as an IT specialist, so we're trying to flip it on its head and work it the other way around." "That was a concept we started way back in 2013. We originally built a few of these as product specialists in the pharmaceutical drug launch space. I think Genentech and Pfizer were probably the first ones to use it. It was meant to support the healthcare professionals. Okay, what's all the information you have, from prescribing information to all the complexities of a mechanism of disease and all that you have to relay over and over and over during a multiphase pharmaceutical launch? So, we built these repeatable humans to be those domain experts." "We've learned along the way that it was a great, wonderful piece but that the patients themselves are the ones who are getting "lost in the mix." So, our units are trained to speak whatever language is used by the patient population you're targeting. They can be culturally diverse. We do Sign Language - American Sign Language and British Sign Language. So it's really about creating that advocate, breaking down that communication barrier so that every patient feels represented and welcomed and has their own patient advocate to help them through that healthcare journey."  #PRSONAS #Avatars #DigitalPersonalities #DigitalHealth #AI #PatientAdvocate #PatientEngagement #ClinicalTrials  PRSONAS.com Download the transcript here   

Chuck Rinker, CEO of PRSONAS, sees the next-generation workforce of digital healthcare components as digital personalities and avatars that will act as patient advocates and improve the communications between patients and clinicians. With an emphasis on building trust and showing empathy, these digital tools help gather accurate information and break down language and cultural barriers. Avatars can be customized for locations like hospital lobbies and purposes like clinical trial recruitment. With a background in game programming, Chuck brings a deep knowledge of how the emotional bond between gamers and avatars can be applied to building more robust patient engagement. Chuck explains, "Since technology has been predominant in the healthcare space, we've always had to teach people how to use technology, and the barrier is communication. So, we've said, well, let's just take a different approach. We're not trying to recreate humans, and we're not trying to replace humans. We're just trying to teach all this technology, this scalable healthcare, this improvement in healthcare technology that we have, and make it so that it can communicate to us as humans. We naturally communicate as humans. We don't naturally communicate as an IT specialist, so we're trying to flip it on its head and work it the other way around." "That was a concept we started way back in 2013. We originally built a few of these as product specialists in the pharmaceutical drug launch space. I think Genentech and Pfizer were probably the first ones to use it. It was meant to support the healthcare professionals. Okay, what's all the information you have, from prescribing information to all the complexities of a mechanism of disease and all that you have to relay over and over and over during a multiphase pharmaceutical launch? So, we built these repeatable humans to be those domain experts." "We've learned along the way that it was a great, wonderful piece but that the patients themselves are the ones who are getting "lost in the mix." So, our units are trained to speak whatever language is used by the patient population you're targeting. They can be culturally diverse. We do Sign Language - American Sign Language and British Sign Language. So it's really about creating that advocate, breaking down that communication barrier so that every patient feels represented and welcomed and has their own patient advocate to help them through that healthcare journey."  #PRSONAS #Avatars #DigitalPersonalities #DigitalHealth #AI #PatientAdvocate #PatientEngagement #ClinicalTrials  PRSONAS.com Listen to the podcast here   

The game is on for Laura and I as we talk all about the modern take on this world famous detective as we investigate all four seasons of BBC's Sherlock. From our favorite seasons and episodes, to Those Darn Holmes Kids, the power of Mrs. Hudson and the one word I know in British Sign Language we cover it all.  Plus, Laura shares a controversial confession, we play the 6 Degrees of Nicolas Cage, and my pitch for an animated show based on the book series, Villains, by Serena Valentino. Thanks for listening and Keep Streaming!

Graeae artistic director Jenny Sealey MBE is touring with her autobiographical theatre production. All performances are relaxed and creatively integrate British Sign Language, Audio Description and Captions. There will be an Access Table available at every venue, providing additional access resources about the show. Amelia talked to Jenny to learn more... The performance is touring to: 6 – 17 February Soho Theatre, London 20 – 21 February Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough 22 – 23 February, Liverpool Everyman 29 February – 1 March, Derby Theatre 4 – 5 March Live Theatre, Newcastle 7 – 9 March Mercury Theatre, Colchester 12 – 13 March Warwick Arts Centre  14 March, Nottingham Playhouse 19 – 20 March Tobacco Factory Theatres, Bristol 22 – 23 March, Leeds Playhouse Image: Jenny Sealey stands on stage wearing a light blue dress, a silver curly-whirly necklace and pink sunglasses on her head. She has a surprised but excited expression on her face, with her head turned to the right, holding a bag of flour with both hands. Behind is a projector screen and an image hanging above three blue cupboards 

The Magi. The story of Christmas is universal, transcending languages and borders.A service for the Second of Sunday of Advent is brought to life through British Sign Language.Our service is led in BSL by Deaf Christians, Helen Cottingham, Tony Hawkins, Fatimo O Olubakin, Mary-Jayne Russell de Clifford, Veronica Stewart-Holmes, and Janice Silo.

A Service for Bible Sunday, conducted entirely in British Sign Language.Rev Canon Gill Behenna and Rev Dr Hannah Lewis lead our latest online service to mark Bible Sunday, a celebration of the Word of God, from St Barnabas Church in Swindon.

Details have emerged of how a 12 year-old girl died after collapsing at school in Medway.Pearl Unu-Arubi was flown to a London hospital after struggling to breathe at Rochester Grammar School in March.Also in today's episode, a Maidstone mum who was told not to learn British Sign Language when she went deaf at the age of nine is now teaching others on TikTok.Claire Killacky lost her hearing after having meningitis and stayed in a mainstream school by lip reading.A dad who set up a group to help other men discuss the burdens of fatherhood says it has been such a success they're expanding across the county.Denver King says Dadspace has helped people open up about their struggles, especially during the cost of living crisis.KentOnline has been hearing how philanthropists are helping to prop up the charity sector in Kent as the cost of living hits donations.Most of us are not able to give as much as we used to and funding from government and councils has reduced.And in football, the interim Gillingham manager has been reacting to their 2-1 defeat to Notts County on Saturday.The result has left the Gills ninth in the league two table.

An exciting theatre show called High Times And Dirty monsters combines multiple performance styles to explore the lives of young disabled people. It's a co-production between between 20 Stories High, Graeae, Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse and LEEDS 2023 and integrates Audio Description and British Sign Language into the performance. Amelia talked to producer Leanne Jones and to cast member Billy Pearson to learn more. Learn more about the production and 20 Stories High by visiting www.20storieshigh.org.uk/show/high-times-and-dirty-monsters/ Image: RNIB Connect Radio Bright Green 20th Anniversary Logo

After decades of exploitation, time is running out for the Amazon rainforest. Eight South American nations came together this week for the first time in 14 years in an attempt to draw up a plan for a more sustainable future. The BBC's South America correspondent Katy Watson sends us an update on the summit from Belém, Brazil. We also hear from Brazilian scientist Joice Ferreira who tells us why the Amazon is so important for the entire planet. Next up Victoria Gill finds out more about how British Sign Language is adding key scientific concepts to its dictionary in order to open up science communication to a broader community of people. There are still many words and phrases that have not yet been ‘signed'. Now did you know that the inhalers used by asthmatics emit a tiny amount of greenhouse gas with every puff? Victoria speaks to Dr Veena Aggarwal, a GP registrar and former member of Greener NHS, about whether the government's new plan for environmentally friendly inhalers will help. Finally Victoria catches up with palaeoanthropologist Lee Berger. He's written a book that tells a harrowing tale about his trip into a labyrinth of underground tunnels to find out more about an ancient human-like creature called Homo naledi. Presenter: Victoria Gill Producers: Hannah Robins and Harrison Lewis Content producer: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell Research: Patrick Hughes Editor: Richard Collings

Author Louise Doughty talks to Samira Ahmed about her new novel, A Bird in Winter. A fast-paced thriller set in the world of espionage, it follows a woman on the run who must work out who is on her trail. This summer for the first time British Sign Language interpretations were streamed live for all acts on the Glastonbury Pyramid Stage. Samira speaks to professional BSL music performance interpreters Stephanie Raper - who has signed for Stormzy and Eminem - and @Fletch, who is deaf and has signed for Ed Sheeran and P!nk. We also hear from deaf music lover William Ogden, who pushes for more interpretation at music events. New BBC Sounds podcast The Missing Madonna features the daughter of a Liverpool publican who played a key role in recovering a stolen Da Vinci masterpiece – and the Dutch “art detective” Arthur Brand who traces stolen art for a living. Presenter: Samira Ahmed Producer: Paula McGrath

This week we talk with Adrian Pickering from Robotica. Robotica's main goal is to make all of the world's information and entertainment available in sign languages, starting with British Sign Language. Adrian explains the challenges of translating sign languages due to the chronic shortage of interpreters and translators. Robotica uses AI to create avatars that perform queued speech, a simpler form of sign language, to bridge the communication gap. They are also working on creating avatars for British Sign Language, using motion capture and AI to break down individual component parts for better understanding. The ultimate goal is to provide sign language translations for various aspects of life, such as public transport, healthcare, and utility bills, to empower sign language users and ensure inclusivity. Robotica aims to create deaf jobs, not take them, and make translations available everywhere through responsible and respectful AI. Check out Robotica to learn more about their groundbreaking work in sign language accessibility.Support the showFollow axschat on social mediaTwitterhttps://twitter.com/AkwyZhttps://twitter.com/axschatLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/antoniovieirasantos/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/axschat/Vimeohttps://vimeo.com/akwyz

Changes to how families of disabled children can access UK government-backed trust funds have been announced. Currently, parents and carers of 18-year-olds who lack mental capacity have to apply to the Court of Protection to access the money. The Ministry of Justice says claims will now be dealt with in eight weeks - rather than six months. We'll hear from Mike Freer the Minister for Courts and Legal Services and from a campaigner who says the changes don't go far enough. Hundreds of thousands of people have had their personal information stolen by hackers. We'll ask what you can do now to stay safe. We'll discuss a new report calling for banks and other financial institutions to do more to improve services for people with hearing difficulties. The report is from the Lending Standards Board which is calling for greater inclusion. UK Finance, which represents the banking and finance sectors, told us it's committed to supporting customers and do offer extra support including British Sign Language translations in branches, longer appointments and quiet rooms. Help To Save, a savings scheme for people on low incomes, has been extended. We've got the details. Presenter: Felicity Hannah Team: Dan Whitworth, Sandra Hardial, Jo Krasner Editor: Jess Quayle (First broadcast 12pm, Saturday 10th June, 2023)

We talk to Siobhan Dodd, one of the best hosts you are likely get on the London comedy circuit. Here is an overview of what we discussed:[[06:10]] How I became a sign language interpreter [[35:00]] How to accept your weaknesses and attack your weaknesses[[37:45]] Finding your first grey hair [[40:31]] Do kids change you[[52:07]] Being a lover of people[[60:00]]Being a parent and the biggest lesson I have learnt in life[[65:05]] The maddest end to a comedy podcastIf you would like to know more on Siobhan Dodd, you can reach her on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at unclesiobhan. If you would like to know more on Marvin, you can follow him through his Linktree at https://linktr.ee/theflopmaster.

In this final episode of Season four Karen Arthur chats with star of stage, screen and radio, actress and Assistant Director Suzette Llewellyn. Suzette, founder of the BiBi crew - the first British comedy troupe to consist entirely of Black actresses. Suzette starred in Eastenders from 2019 to 2021. Having trained at LAMDA she went into television and films. Suzette is a proud West Londoner raised by Jamaican parents. She learned British Sign Language and now advocates for greater accessibility for Deaf particularly in the Theatre. Suzette talks about first feeling disconnected with the world and its noisiness that eventually led to a good friend mentioning peri-menopause. Suzettes openness and awareness of her own body plus a close group of friends sharing their menopause tales helped her to understand more about care specific to her evolving needs. Notes:  Book  100 Black Voices On Racism – Suzette Llewellyn and Suzanne Packer Learn British sign Language   Socials: Instagram @suzettellewellyn We hope you find something that resonates. Remember to consult a qualified health professional before trying any of the steps mentioned within this episode. Opinions are speakers own. Join the wait list for The Joy Retreat Barbados in May 2024. for Black women experiencing any stage of menopause. Email thekarenarthur@mail.com  Edits: Beyongolia Artwork: Martine Mbala Music: Audiobinger Follow @Menopausewhilstblack on socials . Dance to our Spotify playlist featuring guests fave tunes. Email thekarenarthur@mail.com  to say hi or if you'd like to find out more on how to sponsor an episode or season. And don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us where you can so that we can reach all the people who need to hear us. Be gentle with yourself ok? x

Body language is being studied as a way of working out new ways of learning Sign Language and if British Sign Language is to be taught as a GCSE in schools who should do the teaching? As we mark 20 years since British Sign language was acknowledged as a language in its own right (18th March 2003) and then the passing in 2022 of recognition in law that it is an indigenous language of Great Britain: Naomi Paxton talks to two researchers in the field. Doctor Kate Rowley is the Deputy Director of the Deafness Cognition and Language Research Centre at UCL, and Doctor Gerardo Ortega is a lecturer in the Department of English Language and Linguistics at the University of Birmingham. They talk to New Generation Thinker Naomi Paxton about their research into language and literacy development in deaf children, body gestures and iconicity. Kate explains how regional accents are interpreted in sign language and Gerardo tells us how he and his team have created the first gesture dictionary in the Dutch community. They also discuss the importance of deaf education and the representation of deaf people in mainstream popular culture. And Kate and Gerardo share their own favourite sign. They are also joined in the studio by BSL interpreters Kal Newby and Susan Booth and you can find a transcript of the conversation on supporting content. This conversation is a New Thinking episode of the Arts & Ideas podcast made in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council, part of UKRI. You can find more discussions about New Research collected on BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking programme website

You may remember the video that went viral in 2021 of Rose Ayling-Ellis and her Strictly Come Dancing partner Giovanni dancing in complete silence during their Couple's Choice dance. Rose is deaf and uses British Sign Language to help her communicate. They wanted to use their dance to show what it is like for the deaf community on a daily basis. She went on to win the show and won a BAFTA after the dance was voted by the public as the Must-See TV Moment that year. Now she's back on stage in Soho Place theatre's production of Shakespeare's romantic comedy As You Like It. She joins Anita Rani to talk about her West End debut in the show and the work she's doing to make theatre more accessible for deaf audiences. A new documentary about whistleblowers has just been released. 'When We Speak' follows the stories of three women, Helen Evans a former Oxfam employee who spoke out about sexual exploitation and abuse at Oxfam GB, British intelligence employee Katharine Gun who leaked a memo from GCHQ in the run up to the Iraq war and Rose McGowan who spoke out about sexual abuse in Hollywood. The documentary shares the motivations, experiences and fallout of each of their cases. Joining Anita Rani is one of these whistleblowers, Helen Evans, who until 2015 was global head of Safeguarding at Oxfam. An estimated 17,000 children are impacted by maternal imprisonment every year but their needs are rarely considered when their mum is arrested, sentenced or sent to prison. So today The Prison Reform Trust has issued an urgent call for action for better support for those who are among the most vulnerable children in society. As part of this call for action, the charity has published a new toolkit to help practitioners, who are involved with these children, ensure they are properly supported, listened to and their needs identified and met. We hear from Layla, one of six children, whose mother was first imprisoned when she was seven, and associate of the Prison Reform Trust, Sarah Beresford project lead for the toolkit. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty Starkey Interviewed Guest: Rose Ayling-Ellis Interviewed Guest: Helen Evans Interviewed Guest: Sarah Beresford

For the final essay in the series, architectural designer Christopher Laing gives a personal account of how he started Signstrokes, which introduces standardised sign language for architecture. Deaf people are not new to architecture, however they face significant barriers because the sign language vocabulary of the profession is not standardised and lacks terms to express architectural concepts uncommon in everyday language. Christopher, drawing upon his own difficult experience at university, where he suffered the consequence of few deaf people before him studying architecture anywhere. The knock-on effect was that very few British Sign Language interpreters knew architectural terms or context, having never worked in the field before. Christopher had to take on the additional responsibility, on top of his degree, of helping the university interpreters familiarise themselves with the jargon and signs to use when interpreting the lectures. Christopher collaborated with Adolfs Kristapsons to create the corpus dictionary of architect signs that everyone could use. Christopher shares with us the long, laborious process of creating new signs. Christopher asserts that not only are these signs useful for the deaf community - but actually seeing what words mean, helps everyone understand each other. Christopher hopes that Signstrokes will inspire other deaf professionals to persevere with their chosen dreams; and show how it is possible to get creative with jargon. Christopher maintains that ultimately we all want to understand the world we live in, and each other, and language shouldn't be a barrier to that. A Flashing Lights Media production for BBC Radio 3.

Dr Robert Adam is an assistant professor at Heriot-Watt University and a lecturer in Linguistics, British Sign Language and Deaf Studies. In the course of his essay, Robert asks, who are the arbiters of British Sign Language? How can its evolution be managed? Robert shares how fewer deaf children are learning British Sign Language at school, and more are now learning it later in life, as young adults. From an outsider's perspective this may seem relatively harmless, but this language deprivation and dispersal of deaf people from each other, means that deaf children do not get the chance to develop extensive peer groups, or learn to sign from a fluent or native signer. Robert goes on to explore the colonial history of British Sign Language and how there is no single country that ‘owns' the one language, and British Sign Language is certainly not owned solely by the British Deaf community. He talks wryly of the irony of deaf people in the UK continuing to struggle with equal access to information and participation in broader society and yet BSL is a colonising language. Robert talks frankly of how on various platforms we are now witnessing astonishing bastardisations of sign language, to the point that a BSL Watchdog has recently been established by a group of concerned deaf people. There are also concerns about sign language gradually being eroded as new generations of deaf children are denied access to it through what Robert sees as misguided attempts at so-called “inclusion” in education. Will so-called, ‘proper sign language' become a thing of the past? A Flashing Lights Media production for BBC Radio 3.

Deepa Shastri, an actress, sign song performer and British Sign Language consultant. Deepa explores how Deaf culture and sign language being represented in the arts is so important to the deaf community but also how the arts and sign language naturally go hand in hand - due to the visual and expressive nature of sign language. Back in the 80s, when Marlee Matlin became the first deaf Oscar winner for her performance in 'Children of a Lesser God', things were about to become very exciting for the deaf arts. Fast forward a few decades, Deepa shares how we are now entering a new era where deaf people are being represented on screen and on stage with the likes of Rose Ayling-Ellis picking up the Glitterball, Sophie Stone appearing in Dr. Who and Nadeem Islam making waves on series such as ITV's 'The Bay'. Theatre companies such as Deafinitely Theatre were and continue to be the breeding ground of deaf talent. Within the context of exploring Deafinitely Theatre's work, Deepa explores the complex process of translating Shakespeare plays to British Sign Language and how BSL has its limitations; we do not have signs for every word that exists in the English Dictionary which makes translation difficult. Still, the positives outweigh the limitations. Sign language is very poetic which bodes well for Shakespeare plays in sign language. Deepa concludes that she believes we're entering the golden age for deaf performers as sign language and deaf performers are appearing on all platforms to show the beauty of sign language and how it elevate a performance or a production. A Flashing Lights Media production for BBC Radio 3.

Kevin and Charlie discuss this week's hot topic: the ban on menthol cigarettes.