Sign Language Awareness Week is an annual campaign run by the BDA (British Deaf Association) that celebrates British Sign Language (BSL) and other sign languages, and raises awareness of the Deaf community and its culture.

The week is designed to:

• Promote understanding and recognition of sign language
• Encourage people, schools, and organisations to learn BSL or basic signs
• Highlight the experiences, rights, and contributions of Deaf people
• Advocate for accessibility and inclusion in public life, education, and workplaces

The theme for Sign Language Awareness Week 2026 (16–22 March) is “United in Sign.” This year’s focus is on celebrating the strength and diversity of sign language communities, promoting inclusion, and encouraging people of all backgrounds to learn, share, and support sign language.

BSL is a rich and diverse language that is continually evolving, and this week the team have been thinking about how some signs have changed over time. The videos of Janice speaking to our community members will be added at the end of the weeks.

Sign Language has a long and interesting history, we have created a few graphics to highlight some of the facts to share on social media: