💬 Powerful voices, proud community. We were thrilled to attend the BDA Conference and see so many brilliant people – from passionate presenters to an engaged audience. A celebration of deaf identity, advocacy, and connection. 📸 Photos by @CharlieSw_Photo – thank you!

Hi, I’m Zahra Nawab, a deaf PhD student at UCL. I’m looking for deaf adults in the UK to take part in my research about language, thinking, and emotions. If you're interested or know someone who might be, please email me at zahra.nawab.23@ucl.ac.uk

Watch this BSL video lay summary as Kearsy Cormier revisits her highly cited 2015 paper on constructed action in BSL, co-authored with Sandra Smith & Zed Sevcikova.

Our Deputy Director, Dr Kate Rowley, delivered a keynote at the International Congress on Education of Deaf (ICED) - bimodal bilingualism in action! Kate discussed how it takes a village to raise a deaf child & the importance of early deaf role models, practitioners & researchers

🎉 The Bencie Woll Prize is open for applications!.Celebrating excellence in linguistic research on British Sign Language. 🔗 Apply by 8 Dec:

For more information about the research, please watch this video:

Hi, I'm Zahra Nawab, a deaf PhD student at UCL. I'm currently recruiting participants for my research exploring language, thinking, and emotions in deaf adults. If you're interested or know someone who might be - feel free to get in touch at zahra.nawab.23@ucl.ac.uk

Exciting news! DCAL & UCL IOE launching CPD courses in early 2026 to help deaf teachers prepare to teach the new BSL GCSE in secondary schools. Please contact: dcal@ucl.ac.uk.

SignGPT is a 5-year EPSRC-funded project by Uni of Surrey, UCL DCAL & Oxford, building AI tools with the deaf community. We're a deaf/hearing team looking for more deaf BSL signers to join us!

Discover UCL this July! A free summer school for deaf and hard of hearing students - with BSL interpreters, live captioning, and a chance to explore university life. Apply now by Monday 10th June.

Watch Kearsy Cormier revisit her highly cited 2015 paper on constructed action in BSL, co-authored with Sandra Smith & Zed Sevcikova. She explains what it is, why it matters & how it ranges from role-shifts to facial expressions. 🎥

Happy Deaf Awareness Week!.Check out our online course: Deaf Awareness: Working and Communicating Well with Deaf People. Build practical skills & learn at your own pace—no experience needed. Sign up here:

RT @DCAL_UCL: I’m Zahra Nawab, a deaf PhD student at UCL researching language deprivation in deaf adults. If you’re a clinician with 2+ yea….

Today we mark National BSL Day – celebrating the BSL Act 2022, recognising British Sign Language across England, Scotland and Wales. We stand with the Deaf community in pushing for real accessibility and equality. ✊ #NationalBSLDay #BSLAct #DeafRights.

The Bencie Woll Prize is open to early-career researchers (within 7 years of PhD or Master’s) whose work on BSL linguistics has been published in the last 2 years as a first or solo author. Applications close end of May 2025! Full details here: 

We had an amazing time at Deaf Day 2025! 🧡 Thanks to everyone who came by the DCAL stand to chat, learn about our research, and get involved. #DeafDay #DCAL #DeafCommunity #UCL

RT @DrFionaKyle: Another fantastic couple of days down at the @Elizabeth_found seeing the language and reading progress made by some of the….

RT @DCAL_UCL: Are you deaf and interested in research or professional services? DCAL is offering paid one-week placements! Gain hands-on ex….

I’m Zahra Nawab, a deaf PhD student at UCL researching language deprivation in deaf adults. If you’re a clinician with 2+ years’ experience in adult deaf mental health, I’d appreciate it if you could complete my survey on identifying language deprivation.

We’re deeply saddened by the passing of Doug Alker. His leadership in the BSL recognition campaign in 2003 had a lasting impact on DCAL’s work. Thank you, Doug, for your tireless advocacy for BSL and the Deaf community.