Tim Scannell Accessibility Consultant

Tim Scannell Accessibility Consultant Deaf Awareness Training, British Sign Language, Accessibility Consultant and Workplace Assessment

The AI Sign Language Landscape (2026)For the past two years, I have been following organisations working with AI and sig...
03/09/2026

The AI Sign Language Landscape (2026)

For the past two years, I have been following organisations working with AI and sign language.

What I have learned is that they are not all trying to solve the same problem.

Some are developing foundation AI and linguistic research. Others are working on sign-language avatars, sign recognition, smart glasses, enterprise accessibility or new applications. Some Video Relay Service providers are also exploring how AI might support their services in the future.

It can be difficult to understand how all these different areas fit together, so I have created an infographic showing the landscape as I currently see it. I have also connected it to the principles in my Sign Language AI Maturity Model.

This is not intended to be a final or complete list. The field is changing quickly, and I am still learning.

You can read my full blog here:
The AI Sign Language Landscape (2026): Not Everyone Is Solving the Same Problem

I would genuinely welcome feedback. Have I missed an organisation, project or emerging technology that should be included?

Accessibility is not an add-on. Communication matters.When people think about deafness, they often focus only on hearing...
01/09/2026

Accessibility is not an add-on. Communication matters.

When people think about deafness, they often focus only on hearing:

“You can’t hear.”
“You wear hearing aids, so communication must be fine.”

But hearing aids do not remove every communication barrier. Deafness affects how we access conversations, information and services.

These barriers can appear at school, at work, in healthcare, when using public services and during emergencies. Facing them repeatedly can also lead to isolation, anxiety and poorer mental health.

It makes me ask: where is the Purple Pound for Deaf people?

Organisations often talk about disability inclusion, but Deaf people are still left out of important decisions. Services and policies are frequently designed around spoken communication, sometimes by people with little knowledge of BSL, Deaf culture or Deaf people’s everyday experiences.

There has been progress. The BSL Act 2022 was important, and greater visibility of sign language on television, including programmes such as Strictly Come Dancing, has helped more people become aware of BSL.

But visibility and awareness are only the beginning.

The Deaf community has a long and proud history. The Deaflympics began in 1924 and are among the oldest international sporting events in the world. Despite this, Deaf people remain underrepresented in leadership, employment, accessibility planning and decisions about investment.

I also continue to see experienced Deaf professionals overlooked while people without the same lived experience make decisions on their behalf.

The answer is not Deaf people working alone or hearing people working alone. We need to work together, combining lived experience with professional knowledge and shared responsibility.

Communication accessibility should be considered from the beginning of every policy, service and new technology.

Nothing about us without us.

Imagine what could change if communication accessibility received the same attention as physical accessibility.



Read the full blog: https://www.timscannell.co.uk/blog

A defibrillator can save a life. But what happens if you cannot make a voice call?These two images made me think about s...
25/08/2026

A defibrillator can save a life. But what happens if you cannot make a voice call?

These two images made me think about something important.

A public defibrillator usually tells people to dial 999. But does it explain what a Deaf person should do?

Does it show:
How to contact the emergency services without making a voice call?
What accessible options are available?
How to communicate with the call handler?

This is personal for me.

On two separate occasions, I helped rescue people who had drowned. I was able to help save their lives, but hearing people made the 999 calls.

I have often wondered what would have happened if no hearing person had been there.

This problem goes beyond defibrillators. Deaf people still face audio-only intercoms, car park barriers, voice-only emergency systems and public announcements with no visual alternative.

We often talk about Deaf awareness as communication tips. I believe we need to go further.

Deaf Awareness 2.0 means thinking about accessibility from the beginning—especially when someone’s life could depend on it.

I provide practical Deaf Awareness training for organisations:
✅ One-hour awareness sessions
✅ Half-day workshops
✅ Full-day training

If your organisation would like to make communication safer and more accessible, please visit:

🌐 www.timscannell.co.uk
Read my blog: www.timscannell.co.uk/blog

Could your organisation help save a life?Deaf awareness is about much more than learning a few communication tips.It is ...
18/08/2026

Could your organisation help save a life?

Deaf awareness is about much more than learning a few communication tips.
It is also about safety.

Would your staff know what to do if a Deaf person could not hear an alarm, understand an urgent announcement or communicate during an emergency?

I deliver practical Deaf Awareness training based on the real barriers Deaf people face. Each session can be adapted to your organisation and your staff.

Training options include:
One-hour awareness sessions
Half-day workshops
Full-day training

Small changes can make communication clearer, improve inclusion and sometimes make a life-saving difference.

If you would like more information or a quote, please visit:
www.timscannell.co.uk

Let’s move beyond basic Deaf awareness and make communication accessible before an emergency happens.

Read the full blog: https://www.timscannell.co.uk/blog

Over the past few months, I have written about AI and sign language:Accessibility Is Not an Add-OnThe Communication Pref...
13/08/2026

Over the past few months, I have written about AI and sign language:

Accessibility Is Not an Add-On
The Communication Preference Layer
The Sign Language AI Manifesto

Recently, I watched a presentation by a Deaf speaker in France about AI and deafness.

The presentation covered both AI and the possibility of a “cure” for deafness. But during the Q&A, nearly every question focused on AI. There seemed to be very little discussion about a cure.

That stayed in my mind.

Why are people more comfortable discussing AI than discussing a cure for deafness?

Perhaps AI feels more immediate because it is already becoming part of our daily lives. A cure is different. It is much more personal.

For some people, a cure could represent hope or medical progress. For others, it raises difficult questions about Deaf identity, sign language and culture.

The issue is not simply whether AI could help develop new treatments.

The bigger question is:
As AI becomes more involved in healthcare, who decides what needs to be “cured”?

Deaf people will not all have the same opinion—and that is exactly why personal choice matters.

AI should expand our choices, not make those choices for us.

I would be interested to hear different views, particularly from Deaf people, researchers, healthcare professionals and AI developers.

How can we make sure future medical AI supports innovation while still respecting Deaf identity and individual choice?

Read the full blog: www.timscannell.co.uk/blog

The Invisible Deaf Crisis: It Is About More Than HearingMany people still think deafness is simply about not hearing.But...
11/08/2026

The Invisible Deaf Crisis: It Is About More Than Hearing

Many people still think deafness is simply about not hearing.

But for me, the bigger issue has always been communication.

When communication is inaccessible, it can affect every part of a Deaf person’s life.

In education, many Deaf children still grow up without full language access. The focus should not only be on hearing. It should be on language, communication and giving every Deaf child an equal opportunity to learn.

In healthcare, Deaf people can face barriers before they even see a doctor, from booking an appointment to understanding medical information. Accessible communication is not an optional extra. It is part of safe healthcare.

At work, Deaf people have the skills, experience and knowledge to succeed. Yet communication barriers can still limit recruitment, promotion and career development.

During an emergency, every second matters. Deaf people need to be able to contact emergency services quickly, communicate clearly and understand what is happening. That can save lives.

AI could improve accessibility, but Deaf people must be involved from the beginning, not invited in when the technology is nearly finished. We need evidence, transparency, independent evaluation and Deaf leadership.

Deaf sport is another area that is often misunderstood. International Deaf competitions have their own eligibility rules. Athletes must generally have a hearing loss of at least 55 dB in their better ear, confirmed through audiological testing.

This supports fair competition and recognises the shared experiences of Deaf athletes.

Education. Healthcare. Employment. Emergencies. Technology. Sport.

These may look like separate issues, but they are connected by one thing: communication.

When we stop seeing deafness only as hearing loss and begin recognising accessible communication as a human right, we can create real change.

Accessibility is not an add-on.
Communication is a human right.



Read the full blog: https://www.timscannell.co.uk/blog

AI is changing how we communicate.But technology alone does not define progress.The values behind it do.That's why I wro...
06/08/2026

AI is changing how we communicate.
But technology alone does not define progress.
The values behind it do.

That's why I wrote the Sign Language AI Manifesto.
It isn't a set of rules.
It isn't a technical standard.

It's a vision for the future I hope we build together.

A future where:
🤝 Sign languages are respected.
🤝 Deaf communities help shape AI.
🤝 Trust is earned through openness and evidence.
🤝 Accessibility is centred on people.
🤝 AI gives people more choices, not fewer.
🤝 Human interpreters remain essential when needed.
🤝 Collaboration is stronger than competition.
🤝 Sign languages continue to grow and thrive.

For me, the success of sign language AI won't be measured only by how intelligent it becomes.

It will be measured by whether people trust it.
Whether it respects language and culture.
And whether it improves people's lives.

Technology should never replace the human values that make communication meaningful.
That's the future I hope we build together.

🔗 Read the full blog: https://www.timscannell.co.uk/blog

What principle do you think is most important for the future of sign language AI?

Why Deaf Children Are Still Being Left BehindEvery child deserves the opportunity to thrive.Yet for many Deaf children, ...
04/08/2026

Why Deaf Children Are Still Being Left Behind

Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive.
Yet for many Deaf children, the biggest barrier isn't deafness.
It's communication.

The early years of a child's life are when language develops fastest.

If a Deaf child cannot fully access language—whether through British Sign Language (BSL), spoken language with appropriate support, or both—they can miss vital opportunities to learn, communicate and build relationships.

This is often referred to as language deprivation.
It's not caused by being Deaf.
It's caused by not having full language access .

Many families work incredibly hard to support their Deaf children, but they often face long waits for services, limited specialist support and difficult decisions about communication.

Schools, health services and local authorities are all working under pressure, yet delays in identifying and supporting Deaf children can have lasting effects.

Every Deaf child is different.
Some use BSL.
Some use spoken English.
Some use both.

What matters is that every child has early access to language in the way that works best for them.
This isn't simply an education issue.
It's about giving every child the opportunity to communicate, learn and reach their full potential.

Over the coming weeks, I'll continue exploring The Invisible Deaf Crisis, looking at the communication barriers that still exist across education, healthcare, employment and everyday life.

Because the real crisis isn't hearing.
It's communication.
🌐 www.timscannell.co.uk

We hear many claims about AI.But one question matters more than any other.Where is the evidence?A good demonstration can...
30/07/2026

We hear many claims about AI.

But one question matters more than any other.
Where is the evidence?

A good demonstration can be impressive.
But it doesn't prove that a system works well in everyday life.

People sign differently.
Lighting changes.
Backgrounds change.
Regional signs vary.
Real life is much more complex than a controlled demo.

If an organisation is thinking about using sign language AI, it should ask simple questions.
• Has it been tested with Deaf users?
• Has it been used in real-world situations?
• Are the limitations explained clearly?
• Can users report problems?
• Is the system regularly improved?

These questions don't slow innovation.
They help build trust.

For me, success is about more than accuracy.

It's about whether AI helps people communicate with confidence.
Whether it improves accessibility.
And whether Deaf communities are involved throughout the process.
Accessibility deserves more than promises.
It deserves evidence.

That's the focus of my latest blog.
🔗 Read the full article: https://www.timscannell.co.uk/blog

What evidence would give you confidence to use sign language AI?

I know this may spark debate, but I believe it is a conversation worth having.First, let me be clear.The current 999 BSL...
29/07/2026

I know this may spark debate, but I believe it is a conversation worth having.

First, let me be clear.

The current 999 BSL service is essential. Qualified BSL interpreters provide a vital service, helping Deaf people access emergency support when they need it most.

This post is not about criticising that service or the professionals who deliver it.

It is about asking a longer-term question.

What should emergency communication look like in 10 or 20 years?

The FCC in the United States is exploring whether Deaf people should have the option of communicating directly with signing emergency call handlers through Direct Video Calling (DVC), without a relay interpreter.

That made me wonder:
Should the UK begin the same conversation?

If so, it should involve Ofcom, emergency services, Deaf organisations, BSL users, technology providers and policymakers from the very beginning.

This is not about replacing interpreters.

It is about exploring whether Deaf people should also have the choice of direct communication in British Sign Language where appropriate.

Direct communication has the potential to improve:
Speed
Privacy
Trust
Communication accuracy
User experience

AI may also play a supporting role in the future by routing calls, identifying communication preferences and assisting emergency services. However, AI should never replace human BSL communication in life-critical situations.

The real challenge is not the technology.

It is leadership, governance, workforce planning and investment.

Accessibility should continue to evolve.

Perhaps it is time for the UK to begin this conversation.

What are your thoughts?

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