The silent language we should all be learning | Tom Massey | TEDxShaftesbury Youth
The speaker argues that universal sign language access is crucial for breaking down communication barriers in the UK, citing data showing 1 in 6 people are deaf or hard of hearing, and advocating for making signing compulsory from primary school onward. She uses her cousin with Down Syndrome as a personal example of how signing opened up her world, and concludes with the quote, *"if we communicate skillfully we can work miracles."*
## Speakers & Context
- Unnamed speaker; presenting information on communication accessibility and sign language use in the UK.
- The talk is structured to address current communication norms while promoting sign language adoption.
- A personal anecdote was shared involving the speaker's cousin born with Down Syndrome.
## Theses & Positions
- Sign language is a crucial solution for breaking down communication barriers in modern life, especially for individuals with disabilities.
- The value of learning sign language extends beyond direct support for the deaf/hard of hearing, impacting personal, familial, and community well-being.
- Making signing compulsory across the educational system (primary through secondary, and in teacher training) is necessary for widespread societal impact.
- Improved communication through learning sign language would create safer environments, boost mental health, and open up professional opportunities for the disabled community.
- The core message is that while basic communication gets you by, skilled sign language communication can lead to miracles.
## Concepts & Definitions
- **Communication Barriers:** Obstacles limiting communication, which sign language aims to address.
- **BSL (British Sign Language):** The specific sign language used in the UK; it is the main source of communication for the UK's non-verbal speaking population.
- **ASL (American Sign Language):** Distinguished from BSL; BSL uses both hands, unlike ASL which reportedly uses only one.
- **Visual Learner:** A learning style exemplified by the speaker's cousin with Down Syndrome, who thrives through visual input.
## Mechanisms & Processes
- **BSL Adoption Path:** BSL is utilized by those who use it as a primary source of communication, but also by those learning it for family, work, or hobbies.
- **Curriculum Integration:** Advocacy for signing to become compulsory across education levels, including mandatory training within teacher training institutions.
- **Mental Health Impact:** The feeling of belonging and having one's voice heard is directly linked to mental health and well-being for disabled people.
- **Employment Gap:** Lack of communication skills leads to demonstrable discrimination in employment, with a study showing 35% of deaf/hard of hearing people are unemployed compared to 21% of the hearing population.
## Named Entities
- **BSL** — British Sign Language.
- **ASL** — American Sign Language.
- **UK** — The geographical and linguistic context of the discussion.
- **Down Syndrome** — Disability mentioned in relation to the speaker's cousin.
- **Calpry** — Disability mentioned in relation to communication challenges.
- **Autism** — Disability mentioned in relation to communication challenges.
## Numbers & Data
- Proportion of population in the UK who are deaf or hard of hearing: **1 in every 6 people** (approximately **12 million people**).
- Proportion of population in the UK who use BSL as primary communication: **1 in every 453 people**.
- Number of people who have learned BSL but do not have hearing difficulty: An **additional 64,000 people**.
- Unemployment statistic (deaf/hard of hearing): **35%** (compared to **21%** for hearing population).
## Examples & Cases
- **Cousin's Experience:** Learning sign language opened up the world for the speaker's cousin with Down Syndrome, enabling her to express delight and frustration.
- **Dorset Youth Parliament:** Two out of eight candidates campaigned on bringing signing into schools.
- **Job Interview Scenario:** A hypothetical example of getting denied employment because communication skills do not conform to a "normal" standard.
- **Initial Demonstration:** The speaker demonstrated saying "Hello, how are you" and eventually constructed the phrase "We love signing."
## Tools, Tech & Products
- *No specific tools, tech, or products were named.*
## References Cited
- **Jim Roh:** Source of the concluding quote, *"if we communicate skillfully we can work miracles."*
- **Study:** Referenced statistic comparing unemployment rates (35% vs 21%).
## Trade-offs & Alternatives
- **Sign Language vs. Verbal Communication:** Sign language offers an alternative communication avenue when verbal abilities are restricted.
- **Adaptation vs. Exclusion:** The alternative to recognizing communication diversity is discriminatory exclusion in areas like employment.
## Counterarguments & Caveats
- The speaker acknowledges that the public view of how people fit in society plays a vital role in mental health.
- The speaker deflects initial focus from a "favorite snack" (cinnamon rolls) or the speaker's appearance to the core topic.
- The realization that *disability* itself is not the root cause of communication barriers, but rather the *lack of adaptability* in society.
## Methodology
- **Advocacy through Storytelling:** Using personal experience (cousin) and current social data to build an argument for systemic change.
- **Didactic Demonstration:** Teaching short phrases ("Hello, how are you," "We love signing") to the audience to prove learnability.
- **Statistical Comparison:** Highlighting disparities in employment statistics based on disability status.
## Conclusions & Recommendations
- The need for *action* is emphasized: "speaks louder than words."
- The goal is to make signing compulsory in primary and secondary schools and integrate it into teacher training qualifications.
- The ultimate recommendation is that society must adapt to new, skillful communication styles to create a truly inclusive environment.
## Implications & Consequences
- **Mental Health:** Sense of belonging derived from communication directly impacts mental well-being.
- **Social Equality:** Lack of communication accessibility creates systemic discrimination, especially in job markets.
- **Wider Applicability:** The principles apply not only to the deaf/hard of hearing but also to individuals with Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, and autism.
## Verbatim Moments
- *"The ability to communicate using sign language could literally become a life changer for me and the rest of my family."*
- *"BSL is the fourth most commonly spoken language in the UK and it's one of Scotland's main languages too unlike ASL BSL uses both hands not just one."*
- *"I'm here to tell you that we need to do more actions speak louder than words to make a huge impact."*
- *"We need to make signing compuls for all starting in primary school and continuing on through secondary."*
- *"It's so significantly increased it's now overtaken the population of teenagers in the UK accessing these types of um Services."*
- *"Just because you can't hear them doesn't mean they don't have feelings now."*
- *"If we communicate we can get by but if we communicate skillfully we can work miracles."*