Tim Scannell, Accessibility Consultant:

Enhancing Access for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing by Focusing on Sign Language, Digital Accessibility, and Information Access for Everyone.

A Deaf and Sign Language-Led authority is needed in sign language AI — now. As AI systems involving sign language become more visible, progress alone is no longer enough. What is increasingly missing from the conversation is linguistic authority . Sign languages are not motion systems. They are full languages , dependent on: manual dexterity spatial grammar context culture lived Deaf expertise Without Deaf-led authority, AI risks producing outputs that are technically impr

Many people think SignGPT is the same as ChatGPT , just with sign language added. This is where confusion begins. ChatGPT starts with: text or speech This makes sense because ChatGPT is built for people who write or speak first . Because of this, many people assume SignGPT should work the same way : start from text or audio Then generate sign language But this assumption creates a serious misunderstanding. For Deaf people: Sign language is the first language Meaning starts

AI and Accessibility: Bridging Communication Gaps for the Deaf Community Introduction AI has transformed accessibility, particularly through audio and video captioning . Live captions are now common across meetings, broadcasts, and digital platforms. This raises an important question: If AI can caption speech, can it also detect sign language and generate captions from BSL into English? As of 20 December 2025 , progress exists — but the answer depends on how the technology is

When we talk about AI and Sign Language, we must be clear: this is not about avatars only , and it is not about a single screen or device . AI for sign language encompasses a spectrum of technologies , which brings with it serious responsibility . I am not an AI builder or AI expert. I am here because I do not want history to repeat itself. Milan 1880, Milan banned sign language. Modern technology must never erase Deaf people again — this time through invisibility or misrepre

Artificial Intelligence is transforming communication — but for sign languages, the most important truth is this: AI cannot understand sign language without Deaf people leading its design. This is not about replacing human interpreters.It is about creating new AI careers where Deaf professionals are builders, validators, and decision-makers . 1. New Job Areas for Deaf Sign Language Users (MediaPipe-Focused) Entirely new roles are emerging as AI systems begin to work with vi

I recently watched the BBC Question Time Special (30-minute summary), and it raised important issues about Deaf education, technology, and identity. There is serious concern about the sharp decline in Teachers of the Deaf . Many Deaf schools have closed — from around 60 in the past to just 22 today . These schools now support a slightly higher number of Deaf students with additional disabilities. At the same time, more Deaf children are educated in mainstream schools . While

1. Purpose of This Report This report explores how AI accessibility systems affect Deaf people and explains why shared agreement between the Deaf community, AI providers, and organisations (including government, funders, and policy decision-makers) is essential before any AI system is used. Its purpose is to support better understanding, collaboration, and safer outcomes by identifying common challenges, highlighting areas of risk, and setting out positive conditions for et

For AI to be used responsibly in accessibility, three parties must all agree : ✔ Deaf community✔ AI provider✔ Organisation / decision-maker If any one says no , the system should not be used . This is not resistance to innovation.It is basic accessibility, safety, and accountability. Too often, AI systems affecting Deaf people are: Designed without Deaf leadership Approved without independent verification Funded without clear responsibility for harm Lived experience is not “

Recent images circulating online show multiple departure screens in a busy railway station, each with a very small BSL interpreter placed in the lower corner. At first glance, this looks like progress - visual access finally being included alongside spoken announcements. But when we look closer, it becomes clear why this approach isn’t working for many Deaf travellers. The Real-World Visibility Problem In controlled environments, a small interpreter window may seem acceptable