Available on BBC iPlayer Now!
Daniel Jillings started campaigning for a GCSE in BSL when he was just 12 years old. Five years on, he has a new mission: to get the whole world signing!
He’s off to a school in Bristol with Varley his ‘hearing’ dog, some fun content from his favourite deaf influencers Jazzy and Benny, and a film about his campaign, to show Year 6 why he thinks BSL can change the world.
Daniel is profoundly deaf and found school a challenge being the only student using BSL as a first language. He couldn’t understand why there were options to study French and Spanish – but not a language used by so many deaf people in the UK. His campaign took him all over the place, meeting some of the most successful deaf campaigners, and he even ended up organising a demonstration in central London.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to create a GCSE in time for Daniel, but in 2023 the news came through that many people had been waiting for: students will be able to study for a GCSE starting in September 2024.
Daniel’s not one to give up, and although the GCSE didn’t come in time for him, he’s looking to the future and this this group of Year 6’s are a very good start. Inspired by his campaign story, some fun clips from Jazzy and Benny, and of course the ever-calming presence of Varley, will he succeed in getting these kids signing and fill them with a desire to learn more?