Bodrhyddan Hall, near Rhuddlan

Dec 13, 2018

BSL videos widen accessibility


British Sign Language videos are starting to appear on HistoryPoints web pages, thanks to Conwy County Borough Council and the Centre of Sign Sight Sound (COS) in Colwyn Bay. The videos will give equal access to on-the-spot historical information for everyone ...

including people with sensory loss. It's almost six years since HistoryPoints installed its first audio readings of texts, kindly provided by RNIB. The new videos will include audio readings as well as BSL. The initial project will provide BSL videos on web pages which can be viewed on mobiles by scanning QR codes in Conwy town, including several at the future Conwy Culture Centre (now under construction just outside the town walls). The Trilingual Culture Centre project has secured £7,892 of funding from LEADER, the Rural Development Programme for Conwy, for production of BSL videos and other features, such as dementia-friendly signs in the Culture Centre.

Cllr Goronwy Edwards, Chair of the Conwy Local Action Group, said: “We’re excited to watch the progress of this pilot project, which will use LEADER funding to test an innovative way of bringing our heritage to life for broader audiences.”  

Holly Cuffin, Training and Consultancy Services Manager for COS, said: “There are currently an estimated 19,483 people in Conwy County with hearing loss. COS are excited to be working with Conwy Council and HistoryPoints to improve the equality of access by breaking down barriers and giving everyone the opportunity to access information through their preferred method of communication, including British Sign Language for the Deaf community “.

To see the first BSL video (produced in a relatively basic form to test the concept), scan the QR codes at the entrance to St Mary's Church in Conwy, or click here