In answer to the question 'why can't deaf people read?' and I asked the
very same question... many people profoundly deaf from birth do not acquire
an understanding of spoken language and consequently will be unable to
read. Those that can read can find reading very difficult as they will be
unable to articulate the 'sounds' that written words page make inside one's
head. Signing will be their first and preferred language, indeed in the UK
is is next most used language after Welsh, used by 1 in 1,000 of the
population.

British Sigh Langauge is not English interpretted with signs.  It is
structured in a completely different way to English and like any language
it has its own grammar. Linguists generally agree that BSL is a topic-
comment language. For example, the question in English 'What is your name?'
becomes the sequence 'Your name what?' in BSL. It uses both manual and non-
manual components - handshapes and movements, facial expression, and
shoulder movement.... quoted from Royal National Institute of the Deaf.

If one interprets disability discrimination legislation literally then sign
language interpretation of web pages is another essential component to
ensure full accessibility.


Ian Edelman, Web Manager
Recreation and Heritage, Hampshire County Council, UK

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