March 21, 2018 10.38 am This story is over 72 months old

Lincoln mum explains why she wants sign language to be taught in schools

This Lincoln mum wants to see sign language on the national curriculum.

Campaigners in Lincoln are calling for sign language to be taught in schools.

While British sign language (BSL) was recognised as a language 15 years ago, it is not on the national curriculum.

More families are turning to independent groups to teach their children BSL, but campaigners are also asking for it to be introduced into schools.

A Lincoln mother, Bethany Blackburn, said that she would be able to talk with her daughter if schools taught sign language.

Campaigner for the deaf and student at the University of Lincoln, Liam O’Dell, labelled the Government’s stance as “lazy”.

Watch the interviews in the video above.

An online petition calling on the Government to introduce sign language into schools reached 35,203 signatures and triggered a debate in Parliament.

However, the government dismissed the petition saying that “while sign language is not on the national curriculum, schools are free to teach it if they choose to do so.”