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New RNID research has revealed a widespread lack of knowledge from members of the public when it comes to communicating with deaf British Sign Language (BSL) users, contributing to the significant barriers faced by this community in every-day life.
The findings paint a picture of the range of challenges and misconceptions faced by people who identify as deaf and use BSL, which shows an urgent need for change within society.
According to our survey – when asked about their ability to communicate with deaf BSL users, the public revealed a concerning lack of knowledge. Less than a quarter of respondents said they could confidently sign simple every-day phrases, including:
- “Hello, my name is …” (23%)
- “How are you?” (23%)
- “What is your name?” (22%)
- Fingerspelling the alphabet (23%)
The survey also showed that more than half (55%) of the public agreed that deaf BSL users face discrimination in their daily lives, whilst 71% acknowledged that deaf BSL users encounter barriers to full participation in society.
Michael Quinlan, a deaf BSL user and Advocacy Manager at RNID explained how the public’s lack of knowledge and awareness impacts his daily life.
“In my own experience as a Deaf person living in the UK, the results from the survey are sadly not a surprise and like many in our community – I frequently come across challenges in daily life. Activities that most people take for granted, like taking public transport or visiting the shops, can take a lot of extra energy and effort to navigate. It can make you think twice before going somewhere and make certain activities that should be simple, feel quite daunting.
“Often, interactions with members of the public or staff in certain settings can be tricky, simply because people may lack the training or awareness to communicate effectively with someone who is deaf. We know that many members of the public lack confidence because they don’t want to appear rude or cause offence. My hope is that more people will be motivated to make a change in their behaviours so deaf BSL users like me are fully included in the society in which we live.”
Experience of negative attitudes
Our previous survey of deaf BSL users showed that people who identify as deaf and use BSL find interactions with the public more negative than people with hearing loss.
A staggering 90% of respondents said they had experienced negative attitudes or behaviours in the past 12 months, with 81% saying they had experienced negative attitudes or behaviours from retail staff, and 77% from hospitality staff.
Alarmingly, the same research showed that 71% of deaf BSL users feel most people think deaf individuals are less intelligent than their hearing peers, and furthermore:
- 82% agree there is still stigma towards deaf people and those with hearing loss.
- 71% believe most people hold negative attitudes towards deaf people and people with hearing loss.
Teri Devine, Director of Inclusion at RNID, said: “These findings are a stark reminder of the persistent stigma and barriers faced by deaf people and BSL users. Sadly, deaf BSL users are faced with communication challenges and negative attitudes and behaviours every single day, whether it’s taking public transport, at the doctor’s or visiting shops.
“People who are deaf or who use BSL to communicate deserve all the same opportunities as everyone else, but it’s clear that there’s is still a long way to go before we can say we are a fully inclusive society.”
There are reasons to be hopeful
The majority of the public surveyed expressed a willingness to learn BSL and agreed it is important to deaf BSL users that the public learn a few simple BSL phrases.
