On 17th and 18th July 2025 the British Deaf Association held their annual conference, and four staff from MSDP joined as delegates. Ian and Janice have attended the conference before, but it was the first time for Charley and Marc.

Below Janice, Marc, Charley and Ian share their experience of the conference below (scroll to the bottom for the original BSL video):

Janice Connolly: We are on our way home after our two day BDA conference. Wow!  It was information overload and I have come away with some actions: 

• BDA Advisory Board: I need to look into this and advertise the role to see if anyone is interested in becoming a member of the Board. 
• Deaf Led CEO’s: It was interesting that the number of Deaf Led CEO’s has grown compared to historically only having three. 
• BSL GCSE: This is still ongoing. 
• BSL Sign Club: My aim is to set up a Liverpool BSL sign club once a month starting in September. The Deaf community will continue as normal but the aim is to set up a club for students studying Level 2 – Level 4 to help gain confidence, and knowledge regarding Deaf Culture, History, and current issues such as education, employment and access to NHS services etc. 
• Deaf babies: I need to look at how to improve this area and contact Professionals. MSDP have a Family Service but we need to look at how we can further improve this. We need to speak to Teachers of the Deaf as many services out there are not aware of the Deaf clubs. I also need to contact the National Deaf Children’s Society and work with them more. 

These are the actions I need to do, two of these are just from yesterday. I was so overwhelmed with all the information. The future of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and signing which is very robotic, is currently hearing led and not Deaf led. We need Deaf people involved to provide backup, feedback, explain what is suitable and what needs to improve. At the moment signed AI videos are very stilted and I cannot watch them. 

We also talked about genetics. If you remember in 2008 there were discussions of removing embryos of babies who would be born Deaf. It was very emotional to watch. The focus still seems to be on Deafness whereas, I feel the focus should be on carriers of cancer instead. It was really interesting information.

Marc Boland: Wow, there was such a lot to learn and there’s plenty for us to do, to make sure things happen and change. When I go back to work there’s a lot to consider on how to improve our Services including Family and Children. We also need to consider the Deaf Clubs as youths now prefer to meet in different places and pubs. What will happen when they get in their 40s, 50s and want to return to the Deaf Clubs but there are all gone? We need to keep the youths and children and encourage the BSL students to mix with the Deaf Community. That’s why we are short of interpreters and why we need to have a sign club once a month to build up their confidence, knowledge, mix with each other and learn about history and culture. I feel its really important. 

Charley Connolly: It was a fantastic experience. I learnt so much from the speakers and other people I met who explained what life was like growing up and the barriers that they have faced. It has helped me understand more. I agree with Marc Boland that we need to be more focused on children and how these billingual children can learn and become successful in the future. It was a fantastic experience. I also met a Deaf historian, which was so interesting and exciting. 

Photos from the conference

Below are a selection of photos from our fantastic 2 days at the conference, we can’t wait to attend again next year.