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 false mental model has formed around “AI sign language translation.” Many people now believe that public systems (such as station screens) provide real-time sign language translation. But this belief does not match how most of these systems actually work. This false mental model has formed because: The word “real-time” is used The label “AI” is applied Signed output appears instantly and looks like language An infographic contrasting the false belief that AI provides live

Sign-language AI is often discussed as a single capability, but in practice, it encompasses  very different types of tools , each with distinct levels of maturity, risk, and impact. Before funding or adopting any solution, it’s important to be clear about: What type of system is actually being proposed whether it supports  one-way translation  (e.g. text or speech → signed output) or claims  bi-directional translation (signed input ↔ text or speech) What remains human-led ver

I reviewed current sign-language AI tools to understand what they can really do, what they cannot do, and where risks are being created for Deaf users and organisations. The main issue Many very different AI tools are being described as “sign-language translation” , even though they do very different things. This creates confusion, unrealistic expectations, and poor accessibility decisions. Three types of sign-language AI tools Across products, demos, and research projects,

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

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