Euan’s Guide teams up with Signly to boost digital access to British Sign Language
Disabled access charity Euan’s Guide has teamed up with Signly to improve access to British Sign Language (BSL) for deaf people.
Signly is a smart widget that brings websites to life for BSL users by showing sign language right next to the text.
This means visitors to EuansGuide.com can now watch signed versions of the site’s content, including reviews written by and for disabled people. Whether the user is checking out a hotel in Edinburgh or a park in Cardiff, they will be able to access that info in BSL.
Hearing loss affects over half the UK’s 55+ population and one in three adults are deaf, have hearing loss, or live with tinnitus.
Matt Kirby, Professional Standards Lead at Signly, commented: “Many of our deaf team have faced less-than-ideal experiences. I once stayed at a hotel where the vibrating fire alarm under my pillow went off every hour.
“When I raised it with reception, they just said, ‘Oh, the battery’s dead – sorry.’ That kind of thing sticks with you. To see venues proudly welcoming sign language users – and to be able to find them easily on Euan’s Guide – is real progress.”
For many, written English may not be a first or preferred language, but BSL is.
Elspeth Morrison, a Euan’s Guide user, commented: “It’s great that our voices make a difference, and that Euan’s Guide helps so many disabled people find accessibility information from other folk who know exactly what ‘accessible’ means.”
She continued: “Every time I’m about to book a holiday, I check out the hotel and area on Euan’s Guide, and I’ve received some really helpful info and tips. I always tell the holiday company booking staff about Euan’s Guide – many have expressed great interest because either they or a close family member is disabled. It’s a great resource.”
Katie McConnell, an artistic access consultant, reviewer and facilitator, agrees. She says: “Services like Signly mean that those who are not fluent in spoken English, or whose first language is BSL can have equitable access to written text.
“There is a common misconception that these offer the same content but it’s imperative that we remember the array of differences. As someone who has to consciously adjust to the facial expressions and body language that go along with BSL, it is clear to see how natively deaf people may struggle to understand context or intention without them.
“Signly is the perfect solution to this and I’m excited to see the partnership with Euan’s Guide – a blog I have written on for years! The work they do already improves the lives of so many disabled people and this will open those doors for an even wider demographic.”
The collaboration between Euan’s Guide and Signly was made possible thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund and a Colleague Grant from Nationwide Building Society supporting Euan’s Guide’s work to make disabled access information more inclusive and accessible.
Euan’s Guide is the award-winning disabled access charity best known for EuansGuide.com, the disabled access review website with thousands of reviews written by disabled people for disabled people.
Earlier this year a survey by Euan’s Guide revealed that 70 per cent of respondents are finding that a lack of disabled access has directly affected their goals, plans or aspirations.
Signly, a world-first, is a delivery agent that connects organisations with their deaf customer, making digital and print accessible to sign language users. Its speedy turnaround is achieved through Signly Studio, a powerful automated workflow for translators.
