Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People
Encyclopedia
Signature is a charity in the whose aim is to improve communication between deaf and hearing people in the United Kingdom
. Signature offers a portfolio of qualifications in British Sign Language
and other forms of communication with deaf and deafblind people.
(QCA) and appear on the National Vocational Qualification
framework. Signature Qualifications are available at centres across the UK.
The full list of Signature qualifications is as follows:
BSL/ISL
Deaf Awareness/Issues
Signature have overcome many obstacles to become the recognised professional registration body for interpreters, lipspeakers, speech-to-text-reporters and others providing language access services, and one of the top awarding bodies in the UK.
Deaf people are still excluded, overlooked and discriminated against in our society. There are far too few professionals offering language access services. CACDP know too few schools teach BSL
or even tactics for communicating with deaf people. We know far too few people are formally qualified to teach BSL
. Signature's work remains as important now as it was on the day the charity was established.
Signature exists to provide knowledge and recognise skills in the languages and communication methods used by deaf people. Over twenty-five years Signature has been highly successful, more than 280,000 candidates have entered for assessments and the number of professionals registered to offer language access services has grown to over 600. Signature's work has also had an appreciable effect on public policy and service provision helping to shift the emphasis from a paternalistic welfare model to one based on rights and inclusion.
Signature has been privileged to contribute to several important developments in their sector. Every Sign Language Interpreter, Lipspeaker and Speech-To-Text reporter now working in courts and police stations must be Signature registered. Projects to improve inclusion for deaf people in Scotland
, Northern Ireland
and Wales
backed by the devolved administrations are in various states of development and delivery. The report on access to communication in English for deaf people has raised awareness of the access issues for the greatest number of deaf people.
Until 2009 Signature was known by the name CACDP.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Signature offers a portfolio of qualifications in British Sign Language
British Sign Language
British Sign Language is the sign language used in the United Kingdom , and is the first or preferred language of some deaf people in the UK; there are 125,000 deaf adults in the UK who use BSL plus an estimated 20,000 children. The language makes use of space and involves movement of the hands,...
and other forms of communication with deaf and deafblind people.
Qualification portfolio
All of Signature's qualifications are accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum AuthorityQualifications and Curriculum Authority
The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency is an exempt charity, and an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Children, Schools and Families...
(QCA) and appear on the National Vocational Qualification
National Vocational Qualification
National Vocational Qualifications are work based awards in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that are achieved through assessment and training. In Scotland they are known as Scottish Vocational Qualification ....
framework. Signature Qualifications are available at centres across the UK.
The full list of Signature qualifications is as follows:
BSL/ISL
- Level 1 Certificate in BSL/ISL
- Level 2 Certificate in BSL/ISL
- Level 3 Certificate in BSL/ISL
- Level 3 NVQ in BSL/ISL
- Level 4 NVQ in BSL/ISL
- Level 4 NVQ in Interpreting (BSL/English)
Deaf Awareness/Issues
- Level 1 Award in Deaf Awareness and Communication
- Level 2 Certificate in Communication with Deaf People
- Level 2 Certificate in Communication with Deafblind People
- Level 2 Certificate in Communication with Deafblind People (manual)
- Level 3 Certificate in Facilitating Communication with Deaf People (Lipspeaking Skills)
- Level 3 Certificate in Facilitating Communication with Deaf People (Notetaking Skills)
- Level 3 Certificate for LSPs working with Deaf and Deafblind People (Lipspeaking)
- Level 3 Certificate for LSPs working with Deaf and Deafblind People (Notetaking)
Vision
The collective vision of Signature is one of an inclusive society where deaf people experience no communication barriers. In its 25 years the charity has raised awareness and promoted skills, and standards, in the languages and communication methods that deaf people use.Signature have overcome many obstacles to become the recognised professional registration body for interpreters, lipspeakers, speech-to-text-reporters and others providing language access services, and one of the top awarding bodies in the UK.
Deaf people are still excluded, overlooked and discriminated against in our society. There are far too few professionals offering language access services. CACDP know too few schools teach BSL
British Sign Language
British Sign Language is the sign language used in the United Kingdom , and is the first or preferred language of some deaf people in the UK; there are 125,000 deaf adults in the UK who use BSL plus an estimated 20,000 children. The language makes use of space and involves movement of the hands,...
or even tactics for communicating with deaf people. We know far too few people are formally qualified to teach BSL
British Sign Language
British Sign Language is the sign language used in the United Kingdom , and is the first or preferred language of some deaf people in the UK; there are 125,000 deaf adults in the UK who use BSL plus an estimated 20,000 children. The language makes use of space and involves movement of the hands,...
. Signature's work remains as important now as it was on the day the charity was established.
Signature exists to provide knowledge and recognise skills in the languages and communication methods used by deaf people. Over twenty-five years Signature has been highly successful, more than 280,000 candidates have entered for assessments and the number of professionals registered to offer language access services has grown to over 600. Signature's work has also had an appreciable effect on public policy and service provision helping to shift the emphasis from a paternalistic welfare model to one based on rights and inclusion.
Signature has been privileged to contribute to several important developments in their sector. Every Sign Language Interpreter, Lipspeaker and Speech-To-Text reporter now working in courts and police stations must be Signature registered. Projects to improve inclusion for deaf people in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
backed by the devolved administrations are in various states of development and delivery. The report on access to communication in English for deaf people has raised awareness of the access issues for the greatest number of deaf people.
Until 2009 Signature was known by the name CACDP.