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👋 A note from your colleague

Working with a
BSL User

A few simple tips to help us communicate well, from the person who knows best.

Hi everyone,

I'm Deaf and use British Sign Language (BSL) as my first language. I thought I'd share a few easy tips so we can all communicate comfortably, and avoid any awkward staring competitions. 🥸

🤯

English is my second language. So sometimes messages may come across as a bit short, direct, or missing a small word here or there. That's not rudeness, it's just the brain translating between BSL and English in real time!

✅ Please do
👀
Face the person when you speak A clear view of your face and lip movements makes a big difference.
✍️
Write in plain English — short and simple is best BSL is a visual language with its own grammar and structure, it is not the same as English. Long, complicated messages can sometimes get lost in translation.
🗣️
Speak clearly and naturally Gestures and facial expressions help, keep them coming!
👋
Get their attention first A wave, a tap on the table, or a gentle tap on the shoulder or arm works perfectly. It might feel unusual, but it's simply the equivalent of saying someone's name.
🎙️
Turn on captions in meetings Most video call tools have live captions, they're a game-changer and easy to enable.
🙏
Be patient with clarifications If they ask you to repeat something a couple of times, that's completely normal, no worries at all.
💬

Teams chat and email work great

Written messages are often the most reliable way for us to communicate clearly, especially for anything detailed or important. Feel free to drop me a message or email whenever it's easier. There's no right or wrong way, whatever works best for both of us!

❌ Try to avoid
🤐
Cover your mouth while speaking Lip patterns are an important part of communication, covering them cuts off a key signal.
🚶
Talk while walking away Once you turn away, they genuinely cannot hear you, finish the thought first!
🌪️
Everyone speak at once In group conversations or meetings, one person at a time really helps with following along.
😰
Panic if communication feels awkward It happens sometimes, that's completely fine. Just keep going and laugh it off together.
📢
Shout louder Volume doesn't help, speaking clearly and facing the person is far more useful. 😄
🔭
Test lip-reading from across the room Distance, lighting, and angles all affect lip-reading, keep it close and face on.
🤝

Happy to answer any questions, anytime!

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this, it genuinely means a lot. Looking forward to working together.