GOVERNMENT recognition of British Sign Language (TES, March 21) is welcome if it amounts to more than pious promises.
Last year, I organised an introductory sign language course for a cross-cultural, mixed-age group. On completion, all members were recommended to take the BSL level 1 course, and most wanted to do so.
However, the only provider of BSL courses is the local college. As colleges are bound by the rules of their funder, they will not accept learners under 16.
The result was a project embracing community cohesion, family learning and better communication with deaf people, throttled by the dead hand of the Learning and Skills Council. It needs a speedy amputation.
Chris Johnson 18 Exmouth Place Bradford
