Unique New Website Launched by Deaf Lawyers UK

By Alison Bryan

Last June, a group of Deaf lawyers came together to create a website to document the existence of Deaf lawyers, provide an online resource and to address topical issues.

The site contains Deaf Blawg, which is an online journal, to be updated regularly. Written by Deaf people, it provides regular comments by Deaf people on Deaf legal access in the mainstream.

The website has gathered support from Deaf lawyers internationally. Henry Vlug, a Deaf Lawyer from Canada, said, "I am truly impressed. The website has already pointed me to the UK Equal Treatment book, which I have downloaded and passed onto the British Columbia Law Society Equality Committee, to see if they could do something similar."

Additional support has come from the British Deaf Association. Its Chair. Doug Alker commented, "The BDA welcomes this initiative, and sees it as a significant step forward towards Deaf lawyers having involvement and influence in Deaf legal issues. "

www.deaflawyers.org.uk highlights the potential, professionalism and depth of Deaf talent in the UK that is still not recognised at the beginning of the 21 st century.

Deaf Lawyers UK was launched in June 2004.