Life and Deaf bring BSL event to Storytelling Centre

Between Monday 8 and Wednesday 24 July, the Life & Deaf Association will be travelling the length and breadth of the UK in their VW camper van, Heidi, to spread a positive message of deaf awareness and to encourage participation in their Sign Good Morning campaign, which has attracted many famous faces including Sir Ian McKellen, Rob Brydon, Benjamin Zephaniah and Scotland’s own Lorraine Kelly.

With 23 stops in 17 days, The Life & Deaf Association will be in both Glasgow and Edinburgh on 15 and 16 July respectively and visit the Scottish Storytelling Centre in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town for a morning of understanding, education and an opportunity to get involved and learn new skills.

There will be inspiring live performances from deaf young poets and deaf awareness quizzes to teach you about sign language, a pop up exhibition of art and poetry created by young deaf people and a screening of award-winning short film ‘That’s not all of me’ – plus plenty of opportunities to win prizes!

This is a fun morning to learn sign language, become deaf aware and find out about the experiences of deaf people and how you can ensure that they are included in your communities.

“I am a Londoner. I am a worker. I am deaf.
I am a young person. I am Hindu. I am a woman.
Whichever community I am in, I am always deaf.
I am fluent in a British language
yet I have rarely seen an accomplished actor, musician, sports person, politician or public figure use my language.

“When I turn on the television my language is missing, I am missing.
I am not on the radio. I am sometimes on Facebook or YouTube. I am rarely on Eastenders.
I am not in story books.
I am not there in the morning, nobody says good morning.

“That most basic and beautiful early morning greeting is not there for me, not on the radio, not on the television, not in the newspapers, rarely on the tube, train or bus.
I believe that if deaf people could see others signing ‘Good morning’ it would be a start.
It would make them feel alive.
I think change is in the air.”

-- Mayuri Hirani, young Life & Deaf poet

Join us at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, 10am – 12pm on Tuesday 16 July
Event is Free but ticketed – call 0131 556 9579 to reserve your space or book online here: bit.ly/17DCEn1

See the full tour details at: lifeanddeaf.co.uk/events
Submit your videos and images for the Sign Good Morning Campaign: lifeanddeaf.co.uk/good-morning