Tim Scannell, Accessibility Consultant:

Enhancing Access for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing by Focusing on Sign Language, Digital Accessibility, and Information Access for Everyone.

For years, accessibility conversations have focused on tools. Captions. Sign language interpreters. Speech-to-text. Text-to-speech. Sign language translation. AI avatars. Translation widgets. Empowering Communication: A diverse group of individuals chooses their preferred communication methods through a digital interface, highlighting the importance of accessibility and inclusion across various sectors such as education, healthcare, and media. Each new development promises to

Thank you to the European Union of the Deaf (EUD) for bringing these important discussions into the public conversation. EUD's Linkedin Post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/european-union-of-the-deaf_deafrights-signlanguage-ai-activity-7468595259296497666-_fR2?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAfVDxEBUlYb7g-FMydDz_Dy9BiPrexkXwM Over the past year, I have devoted a significant amount of time to reading research papers, books, reports, conference presentations

Most industries still discuss accessibility as if it is mainly about compliance. A requirement. A legal risk. A technical checkbox. An extra budget line. But I think that mindset completely misunderstands the real issue. Accessibility is not only about avoiding complaints or penalties. It is about communication, participation, audience trust, innovation, profitability, and long-term sustainability. Currently, the broadcasting, advertising, and media industries are still losin

For the past few weeks, I have spent a lot of time reflecting on Deaf experiences with media, broadcasting, captions, sign language, AI, accessibility, interpreters, and future technology. As a Deaf person, freelance accessibility consultant, BSL tutor, and AI evaluator, I recently answered many detailed questions about what media actually feels like from a Deaf perspective. The conversations were not only about captions. They were about: communication inclusion trust culture

Recently, I experienced an issue with ATW - Access to Work communication processes as a Deaf British Sign Language (BSL) user. I submitted my Access to Work renewal on 3rd April for expiry on 26th June. I believed I had given enough time for the process to run smoothly. At first, communication became confusing. I received unclear emails. Some information appeared inconsistent. There was mention of documents and attachments, but no attachment was included. Different teams appe

"Emphasising that accessibility is integral infrastructure, this infographic advocates for treating accessible communication services as essential, highlighting current revenue-sharing models in hearing industries and the FCC TRS model in the USA, with a call for ethical and sustainable practices in Europe." For many years, society has accepted platform fees, shared funding systems, and revenue-sharing models because people understand they support infrastructure, services, in

For years, Deaf people have adapted to systems that were never truly designed for us. We learned to navigate poor subtitles. Missed announcements. Phone-only services. Rooms where access depended on luck, kindness, or whether someone remembered to book an interpreter. Now AI is changing accessibility faster than many people expected. Live captions are improving. Translation tools are becoming smarter. Hospitals, workplaces, transport systems, and customer services are beginni

Before AI avatars, machine learning, motion capture, and sign language datasets, there were Deaf communities. There were Deaf people signing across dinner tables, in schools, churches, clubs, workplaces, and streets long before technology companies discovered sign language. Sign language did not begin with AI. It began with people. For centuries, Deaf communities built language, identity, humour, friendship, culture, education, and resilience together. Even during periods whe

I often think about AI and sign language beyond technology itself. Not only recognition systems, captions, translation models, or animated avatars. I think about people. AI and Sign Language: Enhancing Human Connection, Not Replacing It. This infographic highlights the importance of using AI to support the Deaf community, emphasising the rich history and strong future of sign language. It outlines the value of human involvement in developing AI systems and stresses the role o