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.

When most hearing people think about deafness, they usually think about hearing. That makes sense. After all, the word deaf sounds like it describes a problem with ears. But after more than 40 years as a British Sign Language user, educator and accessibility advocate, I've come to believe something different. The real crisis isn't hearing. The real crisis is communication. A crisis that most people never see The biggest challenges many Deaf people face don't begin with hearin

The recent consultation by the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has prompted an important question that deserves attention here in the United Kingdom. Should Deaf people one day have the option of communicating directly in British Sign Language (BSL) with emergency services, without relying on a relay interpreter? British Sign Language users can now access emergency services via direct video call to 999, ensuring instant, inclusive, and essential communic

A Foundation for Responsible Innovation Sign Language AI: A Framework for Trust and Inclusion in 2026. Built with Deaf leadership and guided by transparency, accountability, and evidence, this initiative prioritises safeguarding privacy, ensuring every signer feels included, and preserving the rich legacy of sign language for the future. In my previous article, I argued that the conversation around sign language AI is changing. For several years, the focus has been on what AI

Why the Future Is About More Than Technology Promoting the protection of sign languages as a vital element of diversity, culture, and community, with a focus on respect, inclusion, empowerment, and continuous support. Artificial intelligence is developing at an extraordinary pace. Every month brings new research, new demonstrations and new possibilities for sign language technology. Many of these developments have the potential to improve accessibility, increase communication