There's an issue going in the UK about sign language 'recognition', a european directive (Not an Brit Government one !), 'enforced' recognition of sign usage via human rights. This was then lauded as Deaf people now officialy use sign as a right and cultural recognition thing. Actually it didn't as no-one read the small print. All it did was 'recognise' deaf people sign, not had a legal right in law to demand any changes where it mattered e.g. eductaion and other priority areas. So now BSL groups in the UK are trying to re-start BSL access campaigns, now they realise they were out-manouvered.
All the law is saying is "Deaf people use sign-language" but the overiding law of free choice, means the sign user cannot demand changes where they want to, because it may overide another's right to NOT sign. What also holds things back, is a total lack of interpreters on the ground to enable deaf signers here, drop-out rates are very high, and courses very expensive. I don't think the deaf sign user thought these campaigns out.
They have various rights, but cannot enact them because of lack of support. In Wales (UK) a grant for near $5m to train interperters was opposed, because it meant other deaf and HI sectors could not then claim funds for themselves or their need,it fell foul of the Deaf/deaf issue, funding grants couldn't tell the difference and assumed all, were the same, many were annoyed the 'Deaf' didn't clarify either !
