Welcome to the #NoBSLNoVote campaign page, an initiative by Inspire Legal Group in collaboration with Signapse.ai, aimed at ensuring full political participation for the Deaf community in the UK.
With another General Election on the way, it is vital that all voters, including those who use British Sign Language (BSL), have equal access to political information and manifestos.
Why #NoBSLNoVote?
According to the British Deaf Association (BDA), there are 151,000 BSL users in the UK. For many BSL users, written English is a second language with a different structure, grammar, and syntax. This linguistic barrier often makes information, such as political manifestos and campaign materials, difficult to understand without BSL translations.
The Issue at Hand
The average reading age of a BSL deaf school-leaver is just 9 years old. This highlights the necessity for BSL translations in all political communications to make sure that the Deaf community is not excluded from participating in the democratic process.
Our Mission
The goal of the #NoBSLNoVote is to encourage all political parties to provide BSL interpretations for TV appearances, rallies, conferences, and their manifestos. This campaign is a call to action for political inclusivity and accessibility.
Legal Framework
Under the Equality Act 2010, political parties are legally required to provide BSL translations for public events and published information. With advancements in AI and other technologies, there are no longer any excuses for failing to provide these essential translations. AI-based BSL providers like Signapse.ai can quickly and easily translate text into BSL videos.
Write to the Politicians
We invite you to join us in advocating for this critical change. You can help by sending a letter to each or any of the political parties requesting BSL versions of political party communications. Download the free template letters below.
