For years, people across the UK who use British Sign Language (BSL) have shared their stories about inaccessible healthcare with us. We’ve heard about services that don’t meet their needs, or the basic need to communicate in situations where communication should have been a basic right.
These experiences don’t just highlight individual frustrations. They reveal a national failure. A failure to treat communication as a right. A failure to ensure that people who use BSL could participate fully in society.
We’ve been working alongside campaigners, sector partners and supporters to drive a movement that is reshaping the legal status of BSL across all four nations of the UK.
Why we fought for change
Before the British Sign Language Act 2022 existed, there was no legal requirement for UK Government departments to consider BSL or report on how they supported its use. That meant essential services could, and often did overlook the needs of BSL users.
People told us about:
- medical appointments where no interpreter was provided,
- job interviews they couldn’t access,
- public information they couldn’t understand,
- and opportunities missed simply because systems weren’t designed with them in mind.
We listened and acted. We understand the barriers that keep people from living the lives they want to live. Our work involved taking the stories people trusted us with, the ones that revealed what wasn’t working, and turning them into proof that decision makers couldn’t ignore.
When the opportunity to legislate began in 2021, RNID stood proudly with the British Deaf Association and campaigners across the UK to push for what we knew was needed – legal recognition of BSL and accountability for how government uses it.
Together, this coalition helped drive forward the British Sign Language Act 2022, which legally recognised BSL as a language of England, Scotland and Wales, and required government departments to report on how they promote and facilitate BSL in their communications.
Scotland had already led the way years earlier and showed the UK what real commitment looks like with the BSL (Scotland) Act 2015.
The Act requires Scottish Ministers and authorities such as local councils and NHS boards, to develop and publish plans to promote and support the use of BSL. We continue to push for accountability to make sure access to services in BSL is equal across the country.
In 2024, the Senedd saw the introduction of its own British Sign Language (Wales) Bill. The Bill was introduced by Mark Isherwood MS but secured cross-party support, including from the Welsh Government. It passed through the Senedd in March 2026, supported by all 60 Members. It will officially become an Act of Welsh Parliament when it receives Royal Assent later in 2026.
The Welsh Government will lead a national drive to promote and facilitate BSL. It will create a National BSL Strategy, appoint a BSL Adviser and Advisory Panel, and issue guidance to public bodies. Public bodies will develop their own BSL plans, with Ministers and services required to report openly on their progress.
In the meantime, we have already made progress. We joined the Welsh Government’s BSL Stakeholder Group to publish a route map to tackle the urgent barriers affecting the support and promotion of BSL in Wales. These actions are short-term, and should be completed by summer 2027.
The Sign Language Bill is moving through the Northern Ireland Assembly. A huge step recognising both British Sign language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL), and a moment RNID has proudly championed.
We gave evidence to the Committee for Communities to push this Bill forward, and for the first time anywhere in the UK, sign language legislation is being driven by Government itself. This shows a powerful motion of growing momentum for real change.
Our campaigning
Across the UK, our campaigning was rooted in the same principles that guide all our work:
- We provide evidence and share insights from Deaf people’s lived experiences that shows decision makers what needs to change.
- We collaborate with other deaf sector organisations because real progress comes from strong partnerships with the Deaf community.
- We hold governments to account, pushing them from positive words to concrete action.
From writing briefings to standing in committee rooms to mobilising supporters, RNID has helped shape legislation that will improve access, rights, and opportunities for generations to come.
What’s next?
The laws are now in place to give us a stronger foundation but they are not enough on their own. Deaf people still face barriers every day, and we are committed to tackling them.
Our next priorities:
- Accountability that delivers results
Governments must publish regular reports showing whether they are meeting their legal duties and what they will do when they’re not. - Equal access to public services
Healthcare, education, employment and justice systems must treat access for Deaf people as essential. We will monitor where services fall short and push for change through our campaigning. - Deaf-led decision-making
From advisory boards to national plans, Deaf people must be at the centre of implementation. We will continue to champion Deaf leadership at every stage and work with our communities and deaf sector organisations.
Together, we’ve changed the Law.
RNID is proud to have stood with Deaf people across the UK through every rally, consultation, committee hearing and parliamentary debate. But our work isn’t finished.
We’re calling on our supporters, partners and allies to stay with us as we push for full equality, where every Deaf person can access the services they need, communicate on their own terms, and thrive.
