News / television
Bristol school stars in CBBC sign language documentary
A new CBBC documentary follows a teenage deaf campaigner on his mission to inspire young lives in Bristol to learn British Sign Language (BSL).
Daniel Jillings, who is profoundly deaf and was born without a cochlea, has always used BSL to communicate and believes expanding its remit to hearing children gives them an understanding of how thousands of people communicate and even expands job prospects.
My Life: Can BSL Change the World sees him paying a visit to Fishponds Chuch of England Academy with his hearing dog Varley, aiming to inspire a group of year six pupils to learn BSL.
is needed now More than ever
The programme comes after years of campaigning by Daniel who has been fighting for the right to study a GCSE in BSL since he was 12 years old, believing it was unfair that he could not take get the qualification in his own language.
Daniel Jillings, from Lowestoft, Suffolk, had campaigned on issues for deaf children since he was a child
“This documentary is so important to me because it shows how many children are excited about the BSL GCSE,” said Daniel.
“It is crucial that young people are exposed to BSL from a young age so they can help to break down the communication barriers that deaf people face every day.”
Michelle Omoboni, headteacher at Fishponds CE Academy, added: “I am so proud of the way our children rose to the challenge of being filmed for My Life: Can BSL Change the World?
“Fishponds Academy are wholeheartedly committed to giving our children every opportunity to expand their horizons.”
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In 2018, Daniel started a crowd justice campaign, saying: “My first language is BSL and I want the chance to do this as a GCSE subject when I take my other exams. Delaying a GCSE is unfair to children who are deaf.”
Five years later in December 2023, the government introduced a GCSE in BSL in an attempt to boost inclusivity in schools and give would-be signers useful life skills.
About 12 million adults in the UK are deaf or have hearing loss. According to the National Deaf Children’s Society, about 151,000 people in the UK can use BSL, and it is the first or preferred language for about 87,000 deaf people.
My Life: Can BSL Change the World? airs on CBBC on Sunday at 9.30am and will be available to stream on iPlayer.
All photos: Drummer TV
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