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New rules for sign language - 21st February 2022

Sign language is an important way for deaf people to communicate. UK politicians want a new law to make British Sign Language an official language.

The UK government is now supporting the idea. New rules would give British Sign Language (BSL) legal status. Deaf people's lives would become easier.

At the moment, people don't have to help deaf people communicate. This makes deaf people's lives less private. They can't speak to a doctor alone. They need the help of a family member.

The BSL law was suggested by Rosie Cooper, who's a Labour party politician. She hopes the law will give deaf people equal access to services.

Cooper has deaf parents and took on many responsibilities as a child. When she was four years old, she had to book the family holiday. She thinks this situation is unfair on children.

41 countries have made sign language an official language. BSL is used by around 250,000 people a day in the UK. Only Scotland has BSL as an official language now.

The British Deaf Association speaks for deaf people. Its leader, David Buxton, says the new law is important. It will allow deaf people to live "on an equal basis" in Britain.