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 welcome step from WFD This morning, I welcomed the WFD (World Federation of the Deaf) LinkedIn post about its Ad Hoc Group on Artificial Intelligence . I praise WFD for recognising that AI must be approached through human rights, accessibility, inclusion, and sign language perspectives . That is an important step forward. I hope this leads to trusted global leadership and real protection for Deaf communities as AI continues to develop at speed. Looking for country-level act

Artificial intelligence is developing fast, but live interpreting shows exactly where its limits still are. For prepared speeches, AI-generated sign language can look impressive. It performs best when the language is structured, the content is predictable, and the system operates on clean input. But conferences are rarely that simple. Live panels are unpredictable. Speakers interrupt each other. They react in the moment. They change direction. They overlap. They leave thought

On Sunday , 16 February , I published a blog post on “blurring the handshape.” The central point was simple: When the handshape is blurred, the meaning is blurred. This is not a minor technical issue. It is: a language integrity issue, an accessibility issue, and a Deaf rights issue. AI-generated signing is increasingly being presented as “accessibility.” However, sign language access is not merely visual output on a screen. Sign language access is a conversation. It dep

Happy New Year.2025 was the year I kept asking one question: If AI claims to understand sign language, who is accountable when it fails? I am  not  an AI developer or engineer. My role is to evaluate whether accessibility  actually works  for Deaf and BSL users, especially when AI is introduced into high-risk settings. This year, I saw real progress. I also saw serious gaps. Key moments in 2025: Started as  Accessibility Consultant at PN Inclusion  (July 2025) Achieved  AI