This INCREDIBLE 12-Year-Old Boy Campaigning to Make British Sign Language a GCSE Subject

As you may already know, GCSE exams are a crucial milestone for every secondary school student in the UK. Previously, the Typical Student team told you about the New 9-1 GCSE Grading System: KEY DIFFERENCES 2018 (+INFOGRAPHIC). Also, many students are looking into the alternative exam options. Check Bored with GCSEs? UK Students Should Try These 4 Alternative Courses for a Change!

British Sign Language a GCSE Subject

Daniel Jillings, a 12-year-old British boy who happens to be deaf, has just hit his crowdfunding target of £4000 on Crowdjustice.com to make sign language a GCSE subject! In his video statement for Metro.co.uk, Daniel explains that he uses British Sign Language (BSL) as his first language in regular life and education.

In a couple of years’ time Daniel is doing his GCSEs. And that’s where he faced a trouble, since

there is no GCSE in British Sign Language! Turns out the exam that has been taken for years is not friendly to people with disabilities!

Using BSL, Daniel told about how he’s campaigning to help other deaf children achieve educational goals. He would also like to help hearing children “learn BSL in school to make the world a more accessible and communicative place for children like him.”

Here’s Why Daniel’s Initiative Could Have a Huge Impact

On his Crowdjustice page, Daniel gave a more detailed explanation of his initiative. Here are the key points as quoted from the source:

• Recognising BSL on the curriculum is possible due to the Equality Act of 2010 and the Human Rights Act of 1998.
  
• Daniel is raising funds to “cover the initial legal costs of challenging the delay on introducing a GCSE in BSL.”
  
• "If the claim succeeds this will have a huge impact on Deaf children who will be able to achieve a GCSE in their first language, as GCSEs are widely recognised by employers and colleges.”
  
• "This will also give the opportunity for hearing children to learn BSL in school, so they can communicate with deaf people both in school and adult life.”
  
• "In the longer term, this could encourage many more people to pursue a career in BSL interpreting, which will further benefit the Deaf community."

This is really admirable, isn't it?