Rob Butler, MP for Aylesbury, has joined parliamentarians from across the Commons to back a new Private Member’s Bill that makes British Sign Language (BSL) an official language of the UK.
In doing so, he praised groups his constituency including Stoke Mandeville Combined School, which has special facilities for hearing impaired pupils:
“It is incredibly moving to see how those children play a full part in the life of the school. And more importantly, that all the children who are not hearing-impaired recognise this is just a normal part of life: a different way to communicate, with different people, with different needs, but who are ultimately all exactly the same as they are.”
And the Saunderton-based charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People:
“These dogs make a real difference to deaf people’s lives, helping them regain confidence in everyday life – and it’s regaining confidence in everyday life that we are talking about today.”
Rob’s speech in full can be read here: British Sign Language Bill - Hansard - UK Parliament
The Bill was unanimously passed at Third Reading in the Commons, and now moves to the House of Lords. It can be seen here British Sign Language Bill publications - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament