Missed DCALx or want to revisit a talk? 🎥 Recordings from our DCALx event are now available to watch on YouTube, with captions included for accessibility. Read more and access the playlist here: www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...

DCALx talk recordings now available to watch on YouTube

Missed DCALx or want to watch a talk again? Recordings from the event are now available on the DCAL YouTube channel, with captions included for accessibility.

ucl.ac.uk

DCAL has submitted its response to the Government’s SEND reforms consultation, raising concerns that deaf children and young people are being overlooked within the proposed reforms. Read more: www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...

DCAL submits response to Government SEND reforms consultation

DCAL’s response raises concerns that deaf children risk being overlooked within proposed SEND reforms.

ucl.ac.uk

DCAL’s paid internship applications are closing soon ⏳ Paid opportunities for deaf and deafblind applicants interested in research, accessibility, communications, psychology, linguistics, neuroscience and more at UCL. Apply here: www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...

DCAL Paid Internship Opportunities

Are you deaf and interested in language, psychology or neuroscience research? We offer paid Research Placement opportunities. Come and work with us!

ucl.ac.uk

Exciting news! DCAL will be at the Birmingham NEC for Deaf Expo on Fri 15 & Sat 16 May! Come visit us at stall 442 to chat about our research, get involved, and enter our prize hamper giveaway 🎁 See you there!

Happy National BSL Day! On 28 April 2022, British Sign Language (BSL) was recognised in law in the UK, following years of campaigning led by the Deaf community. Celebrating BSL, Deaf culture, and early access to language. #NationalBSLDay #BSL #DeafCulture

DCAL at BATOD 2026 🎉 Great to be at BATOD this week, sharing our work and connecting with teachers and researchers. Patrick Rosenburg and Fiona Kyle led a workshop, and Mairéad MacSweeney and Kate Rowley delivered the keynote. Thanks to everyone who came to chat with us 👀

DCAL will be there to celebrate BATOD’s 50th! We’ll be leading a workshop, giving a presentation, and hosting a stall throughout the conference— do swing by and say hello!

In our next Academic Spotlight Series video, Amy Hegedus, a CODA, reflects on her journey from studying Psychology at university, to completing a postgraduate qualification in mental health interventions in education, to her current role as a Research Assistant at DCAL. youtu.be/f74FfkRoh54

Amy Academic Spotlight Interview Video

YouTube video by DCAL UCL

youtu.be

DCAL was invited by the Empowering Deaf Society to attend the parliamentary event “Deaf Voices: Breaking Barriers in Education” on Monday 16th March 2026. At the event, Elisabeth Taunton, a Research Assistant at DCAL, delivered a presentation outlining DCAL’s work and impact.

If you are a Year 12 student who is deaf or hard of hearing, Discover UCL offers the opportunity to experience student life, meet new people, and explore your future. Applications are now open and will close on Tuesday 16 June 2026. Apply now! www.ucl.ac.uk/widening-par...

Discover UCL: exploring university life as a deaf or hard of hearing student

As applications open for Discover UCL 2026, we’re looking back at the 2025 edition of this specialist summer school run in conjunction with the UCL Deafness Cognition and Language Research Centre (DCA...

ucl.ac.uk

New lay summary! Dr Patrick Rosenberg & Dr Victoria St. Clair share their study with Dr Evelyne Mercure on deaf parents’ lived experiences. The video highlights navigating resources, working with professionals, and accessing support during parenthood. youtu.be/vTjk5ndmLi8

Lived experiences of deaf parents: insights into pride, community, bilingualism, and barriers

YouTube video by DCAL UCL

youtu.be

Are you deaf and interested in research or professional services? DCAL is offering paid one-week placements! Gain hands-on experience in a world-class centre. Application deadline: 29 May at 5pm. Find out more and apply: www.ucl.ac.uk/.../dcal-pai...

BSL teachers: reminder that our BSL Linguistics for Teachers CPD course is open for registration. 🗓 Deadline: 12 February 2026. Places are limited. Full details and booking info below 👇

Deafness, Cognition and Language Research Centre (DCAL)@dcal-ucl.bsky.social · 7mo ago

We’re launching a new CPD course: BSL Linguistics for Teachers. This update shares our plans for the BSL GCSE and the CPD courses being developed to support BSL teachers. Find out more and register: www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...

We’re resharing staff and student achievements from our 2025 end-of-year newsletter, including promotions, research funding and PhD completions. www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...

DCAL highlights staff promotions, research funding and new PhD completions

We’re resharing the congratulations section from DCAL’s 2025 end-of-year newsletter to give wider visibility to recent staff and student achievements.

ucl.ac.uk

We’re launching a new CPD course: BSL Linguistics for Teachers. This update shares our plans for the BSL GCSE and the CPD courses being developed to support BSL teachers. Find out more and register: www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...

Update on BSL GCSE and CPD Courses for Teachers

An update on our plans for the BSL GCSE and the CPD courses being developed to support BSL teachers.

ucl.ac.uk

DeafATW and RNID are collecting evidence on Access to Work – including budget cuts and renewal issues. If you’re deaf, deafblind or have hearing loss and have used or applied for AtW since Oct 2024, please take or share this survey: connect.deafatw.com/ty/cl/eyJ2Ij...

🔍 Job opportunity: Research Assistant (50% FTE, 36 months) on an AHRC-funded project exploring multilingual experiences of deaf and hard-of-hearing children in the UK and Germany. Based at the University of Leeds. jobs.leeds.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx...

Job Opportunity at University of Leeds: Research Assistant – Examining the multilingual experiences and repertoires of DHH children growing up in migrant contexts of Germany and the UK

**The appointment is available on a fixed term basis for 36 months at 50% fte**The School of Education, University of Leeds, seeks to recruit a Research Assistant for a AHRC funded research project th...

jobs.leeds.ac.uk

New lay summary release! Dr Joanna Atkinson shares the development of the first screening test for detecting cognitive impairment and dementia in deaf signers: the British Sign Language Cognitive Screening Test (BSL CST). youtu.be/pm_TbR77wAc

BSL Cognitive Screening Test (BSL-CST)

YouTube video by DCAL UCL

youtu.be

Our DCAL 2025 Christmas Newsletter is out now 🎄 Read the newsletter and watch the BSL videos here: mailer.ucl.ac.uk/7SWP-2ECWZ-3... Thank you for your continued support. Wishing you a peaceful festive break and a positive New Year.

Congratulations to Brennan Terhune-Cotter on receiving a Newton International Fellowship from the Royal Society! He’ll be with us at DCAL until Nov 2027, working on neural mechanisms of reading in deaf adults: fingerspelling. royalsociety.org/news/2025/11...

Deadline extended to Friday 5 December. UCL DCAL is recruiting a PhD researcher on tactile BSL and DeafBlind communication. DeafBlind applicants especially encouraged. Apply: www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...

Deafness, Cognition and Language Research Centre (DCAL)@dcal-ucl.bsky.social · 8mo ago

PhD opportunity at UCL on tactile BSL & DeafBlind communication. 3-year FT / 5-year PT, £27k stipend, start Feb 2026. UK students only. Deadline: 1 Dec 2025. More info + how to apply: www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...

New lay summary! Dr Matt Brown shares key findings from his PhD on how BSL expresses “and”/“or” through signs, facial expressions, body movement and space and why this matters for linguistics, pragmatics, and deaf children’s language development. 🎥 youtu.be/6FbIw9aAslo

"And", "Or", and intonation in BSL

YouTube video by DCAL UCL

youtu.be

Some of our colleagues at DCAL attended the British Library’s Family Festival: Imaginary Worlds on Saturday 22nd November, where we hosted a DCAL stall. We had a fantastic time meeting everyone!

PhD opportunity at UCL on tactile BSL & DeafBlind communication. 3-year FT / 5-year PT, £27k stipend, start Feb 2026. UK students only. Deadline: 1 Dec 2025. More info + how to apply: www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...

Last call for the Bencie Woll Prize – apply by 8 December. £500 award for early-career researchers with a BSL-focused publication from the last two years. Send your CV, 500-word summary and publication link to dcal@ucl.ac.uk. Deaf researchers encouraged to apply: www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...

There’s still time to apply for the Deaf in AI & Technology workshop. The deadline’s this Sunday, 23 November. Re-sharing in case you haven’t seen it yet.

Deafness, Cognition and Language Research Centre (DCAL)@dcal-ucl.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Deaf in AI & Technology workshop – 9 Dec 2025, London. Find details and apply at www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...

Meet Vernon, a final-year university student in Biomedical Sciences, who shares his internship experience at DCAL. His week at DCAL gave him insight into research, brain imaging, and better clarity about his future career - youtu.be/ylHW99wRuT8

Interview with Vernon: DCAL Internship Experience

YouTube video by DCAL UCL

youtu.be

In our next #AcademicSpotlightSeries, Prof. Kearsy Cormier shares her journey from studying ASL linguistics in Texas to leading DCAL. Her 20+ years at UCL exploring BSL structure, use & brain processing have shaped sign linguistics. Watch her story: youtu.be/7Pkq-qUpkUc?...

Academic Spotlight Series | Kearsy’s Journey: From Studying ASL Linguistics to Director at DCAL

YouTube video by DCAL UCL

youtu.be

We’re joining the British Library’s Family Festival: Imaginary Worlds on Sat 22 Nov (12–4pm). Visit DCAL’s Fingerspelling Space Race to race friends and test your BSL skills. More info: events.bl.uk/events/famil...

Deaf in AI & Technology workshop – 9 Dec 2025, London. Find details and apply at www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...

Deaf in AI and Technology Workshop

Join the Deaf in AI & Technology workshop on 9 Dec 2025 in London. Explore how deaf professionals are shaping the future of tech, AI and sign language.

ucl.ac.uk