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.

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

Someone in Australia passed me an article today, and it struck a deep chord. Even now, in 2025, Deaf people are still being told their own language is a problem to be solved. Here in the UK, we do not use language like “deaf and dumb,” “deaf-mute,” or “hearing impairment.” These terms are outdated, offensive, and rooted in a long history of discrimination. Deaf people are not defective. We are not incomplete. We are a linguistic and cultural community with a recognised lang

We’ve seen major advances in virtual meeting platforms - real-time captions , gesture recognition , and even eye gaze interaction . These...

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been actively engaged in critical conversations on accessibility , Deaf leadership , and the role of...