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Tim Scannell Accessibility Consultant
Welcome to our blog, where we explore various news about barriers, solutions, and challenges. Here, you'll find insightful articles that delve into pressing issues and innovative approaches to overcoming them. Join us as we navigate the complexities of today's world and share stories of resilience and progress. Stay informed and inspired!
BSL is not for sale:A Deaf-led approach to AI procurement
BSL is not for sale. This Deaf-led report advocates for ethical AI procurement that prioritises the protection of British Sign Language,...
Tim Scannell
Oct 31 min read
🖐 AI & Sign Languages: Why Deaf-Led Safeguards Matter
2025 is shaping up to be a turning point in how AI intersects with sign languages. Recent publications highlight a common theme: Irish...
Tim Scannell
Aug 131 min read
🧏♀️🌍 AI is changing search – but will it help Deaf people learn sign languages too?
This month, a major tech company launched a new ‘AI mode’ for search in the UK. It gives you fast answers in a friendly, chat-like way —...
Tim Scannell
Jul 291 min read
🚆 Planning for BSL Accessibility Awareness This Week! 🤟
This week, I’m raising awareness about the real challenges Deaf people face when trying to give feedback or get help at train stations...
Tim Scannell
Jul 192 min read
🤖💥 AI is racing forward… but can it truly understand ASL?
I recently watched a powerful video by the CODA brothers signing in ASL. I can’t share the video directly, but it left me thinking deeply...
Tim Scannell
Jul 182 min read
🗞️ Deaf Community Update: From Norwich Airport to AI and Education
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been actively engaged in critical conversations on accessibility , Deaf leadership , and the role of...
Tim Scannell
Jul 83 min read
🌍 AI, Accessibility & Sign Language: Let’s Lead with Inclusion
As AI tools develop rapidly across Europe and beyond, there’s one group we must not leave behind : the Deaf community and sign language...
Tim Scannell
Jul 12 min read
🆘 Seeking Advice & InformationSupport for Deaf Asylum Seekers in the UK 🆘
I’ve noticed a significant gap between the support available for Deaf Refugees and Deaf Asylum Seekers , and I’m reaching out for...
Tim Scannell
Jun 291 min read
BSL Representation: It’s Not Just About Signs – It’s About Accuracy
👋 It’s encouraging to see British Sign Language (BSL) gaining visibility on platforms like Giphy, especially around everyday topics...
Tim Scannell
Jun 291 min read
🚆 AI and BSL Accessibility in UK Train Stations
What’s happening now—and the road ahead 🎥🤟 As a Deaf BSL user, advocate, and researcher, I’ve been exploring the rollout of...
Tim Scannell
Jun 291 min read
📢 When Branding Doesn’t Match Reality: Why Transparency Matters in AI Accessibility
There’s a troubling trend in sign language accessibility: 🚩 Companies release videos claiming “AI-driven BSL translation was seamlessly...
Tim Scannell
Jun 291 min read
If AI Claims to Understand Sign Language, It Must Be Held to Human Standards
🧭 Guiding Premise If AI tools claim to understand, translate, or mediate sign language communication, then they must meet human-level...
Tim Scannell
Jun 292 min read
Bi-directional? Multi-directional? Why Inclusive Tech Can’t Be One-Way. 🔁
We often talk about tools like “Sign to Audio” or “Text to Sign” as if they’re standalone solutions. But in real life, especially in...
Tim Scannell
Jun 11 min read
🔊 Sign to Audio or Text to Sign - Where Do We Begin? 🤔
As we push forward in developing inclusive communication technologies , this question keeps coming up: 👉 Should we prioritise “Sign to...
Tim Scannell
Jun 11 min read
Deaf Voices Matter in AI Development 🧏♀️🤖Last week, I shared: “Deaf Voices Matter in AI Development” — and it’s now received over 5,000 reactions in just one week.
That shows how deeply this message resonates. 💬 Recently, members of the Deaf community, including native BSL users , gave feedback to a...
Tim Scannell
Jun 12 min read
Deaf Voices Matter in AI Development 🧏♀️🤖
Over the past few weeks, members of the Deaf community, including native BSL users, have tried to share feedback with an AI company...
Tim Scannell
May 161 min read
🌍 Time for Change: Fair Exam Options for Deaf Students in the UK 🤟
As a Deaf student, I’ve personally faced the challenges of being tested in written English, despite British Sign Language (BSL) being my...
Tim Scannell
May 162 min read
Feel the Sound: Haptic Tech for an Inclusive Future! 🎶⚽🏆
What if everyone, including deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, could fully experience the thrill of sports, music, and entertainment?...
Tim Scannell
May 161 min read
Sign Language Accessibility in Tech & Gaming: Microsoft and Sony's Progress
The Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities are larger than many realise, and inclusivity is crucial to ensuring everyone has equal access...
Tim Scannell
Apr 112 min read
🩺 Inclusive Pharmacy Packaging: Are We Forgetting Deaf Individuals?
Pharmacy products already feature Braille to help blind users identify medications. Since they rely on touch and hearing 🎧, this...
Tim Scannell
Apr 111 min read
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