BT Sign Improves Communication Opportunities for BSL Users

 7th May 2007


BT today announced the launch of a new website resource which will help the UK’s 50,000 BSL (British Sign Language) users to access information about BT products and services in their first language.

Launching to coincide with national Deaf Awareness Week (7th-13th May 2007), the site, www.bt.com/btsign  has been developed following a consultation process with BSL users which highlighted the need for more information to be made available to them in their first language. 

 

Specifically 80% of respondents requested that information be made available about how to contact BT, and 50% wanted more information about products and services available to them.  The new site has been built specifically to meet these requests.

The BT Sign site has been created forBT by AC2.com Productions, which is a video, multimedia and web production company. Joel Kellhofer, Managing Director of AC2.com said “New technology like broadband has been a revelation for deaf people. For the first time, it’s possible for us to use the web to communicate in our first language - BSL. The BT Sign site we’ve created makes information accessible to all and enables everyone to know about the potential of new technology.”    
     
He continues “AC2.com was the first company in the UK to create an accessible website using BSL video clips.  We are a vibrant, young deaf company, and are always looking for new projects to work on which present us with new challenges. We have really enjoyed making the BT Sign site and are looking forward to future projects.”

Fiona Miller, national manager for BT Age & Disability action, said: “BT has a long standing commitment to improving communication for everyone, and by harnessing the capabilities of broadband technology we’re one step closer towards greater accessibility for all.”

The launch of the BT Sign site is the final stage in a project which last year saw the launch of the UK’s first product guide in BSL.  The guide to broadband was produced to explain the technology and how it enables BSL users to communicate via web cams over the internet.

The power of broadband is also opening other channels of communication to BSL users.  In a first for the publication, the Spring edition of BT’s online magazine, Better World, includes an interview in BSL with Joel Kellhofer, producer of the new BT sign website.  The interview can be viewed at

www.btplc.com/Societyandenvironment/magazine/betterworld

For more information about BT’s history of working with older and disabled people on access and equality issues visit www.bt.com/age_disability.

-ENDS-
                                                                                   
Issued by Trimedia Harrison Cowley on behalf of BT.

For further information please contact Katie Keenan on 020 7025 7503
or email katie.keenan@trimediahc.com

About BT
BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in 170 countries.  Its principal activities include networked IT services, local, national and international telecommunications services, and higher-value broadband and internet products and services.  BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.

In the year ended 31 March 2006, BT Group’s revenue was £19,514 million with profit before taxation of £2,040 million.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group.  BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York. 

For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt