Date: Thursday 22nd October 2026
Time: 1 pm – 2 pm
Venue: Online via Zoom

Please note BSL translation of this web page will be added here very soon as soon as it is available. 

In the meantime, for further information about this event in BSL please contact Jo Rees via SignVideo (BSL Video Relay Service) at https://tuccymru.signvideo.net/

Join us at the lunchtime webinar where we’ll be sharing more information about the new British Sign Language (Wales) Act 2026 and discussing what employers and unions can do to make workplaces more inclusive for Deaf workers.

British Sign Language (BSL) was recognised as a language in 2003 and legally as an official language of Great Britain in 2022. It is a unique language in its own right and has been in use for hundreds of years. BSL is not simply a signed version of English and has its own distinct grammar, syntax and vocabulary. This means that as a second language, written English is often not accessible to first language BSL users.

Despite increasing recognition of the importance of BSL inclusion amongst the public, many workers who use BSL still face significant discrimination and barriers in the workplace.

The new BSL (Wales) Act passed by the Senedd earlier this year will establish a new framework to support and promote the use of BSL in Wales and provides significant opportunities to create positive change.

The event will cover:

• The British Sign Language (Wales) Act 2026 – what reps need to know
• The impact of workplace discrimination and funding cuts to Access to Work on Deaf workers
• Working with Deaf workers to identifying barriers to workplace inclusion and identify Deaf-led solutions
• Improving Deaf awareness and increasing the use of BSL in the workplace
• What trade unionists can do to make both workplaces and trade unions more accessible to Deaf workers and the BSL community

Speakers will include:

• Dr. Rob Wilks, Associate Professor in Law, Bristol Law School, University of the West of England (TBC)
• Dr Natasha Hirst – Freelance photographer, writer and NUJ rep
• Deaf trade unionists including Stuart Parkinson, Deaf union member
• Speakers from organisations including Deaf Health Wales and the British Deaf Association ( tbc)

Who should attend

This online webinar event is aimed at workplace trade union reps but is open to all trade unionists as well as members of the Deaf and BSL community and others with an interest in Deaf equality.

The event will be held online on Zoom and BSL interpreters and speech to text reporting will be provided.
If you have any specific access requirements please inform us on the registration form.

We want everyone attending TUC events to have a safe and enjoyable experience. If you require any adjustments or assistance to participate at this event, please let us know.