Adopting British Sign Language in deaf education: Lessons from Welsh and Gaelic

Wilks, Rob; O'Neill, Rachel

Abstract

While UK deaf education typically focuses on integrating deaf children into hearing culture through auditory/oral methods, there is potential for bilingual and immersion settings with BSL, inspired by Welsh and Gaelic education experiences.

In Wales, the Cymraeg 2050 policy mandates Welsh education from ages 3 to 16. In Scotland, Gaelic learning is optional, but the BSL (Scotland) Act 2015 promotes BSL, which is included in the Welsh and Scottish curriculums. However, deaf children lack specific rights to learn BSL in schools.

Language attitudes vary by deaf or hearing status and employment level. Top-level deaf participants view BSL as a language, while mid- to bottom-level participants see it as a communication tool. Teachers of Deaf Children and Young People, influenced by audiology, often prioritize medical perspectives, leading to language deprivation and delayed BSL acquisition, contributing to poorer educational outcomes.

Gaps in early years BSL provision are highlighted, with inconsistent availability across Scotland and Wales. Early language acquisition is crucial, yet the early years sector lacks BSL proficiency and resources. The relative success of Welsh-medium education suggests the need for a long-term commitment to BSL immersion from early childhood.

An adequate supply of qualified BSL teachers is essential, requiring the expansion of undergraduate and postgraduate BSL courses, integration of BSL into teacher training, and geographic accessibility. Challenges include the lack of a central register for BSL teachers and balancing qualifications with deaf individuals' educational backgrounds.

Recommendations include a focus on promoting BSL, improving language pedagogy, and ensuring sufficient resources and qualified teachers. Recognizing BSL's full linguistic value and integrating it into deaf education is necessary for its revitalization, requiring commitment and funding from the UK's legislative bodies.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 4, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jan 21, 2025
• Publication Date: Feb 21, 2025
• Deposit Date: Feb 10, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 22, 2025
• Journal: Languages, Society & Policy
• Electronic ISSN: 2515-3854
• Publisher: University of Cambridge
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/13735116
• Publisher URL: https://www.lspjournal.com/post/adopting-british-sign-language-in-deaf-education-lessons-from-welsh-and-gaelic