Little Mix Causes a Little Stir with Deaf Mum's Battle for BSL Interpretation

One news story that caught our attention last month was the case of Deaf mum Sally Reynolds, who is suing the promoter of a performance from pop group Little Mix, saying that they failed to provide good enough sign language provision.

Reynolds asked the promoter, LHG Live, to provide British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation so that she and two friends, who are also both Deaf, could enjoy the concert with their hearing daughters.

LHG initially said Reynolds could bring along her own interpreter, but she used the 2010 Equality Act to argue that LHG should supply this, and she applied for a court injunction to force them to do this.

LHG duly agreed, just hours before the gig, and an interpreter was provided for when the all-girl pop group and former X Factor winners performed. However, supporting acts Ella Eyre and the Germein Sisters were not interpreted. Now Reynolds is suing LHG on the grounds that ‘reasonable adjustments’ hadn’t be made for her or her friends for the whole concert.

This case attracted a high level of media attention, and while it wasn’t without controversy, we admire Sally’s campaigning spirit. And, of course, many music and other events remain deeply inaccessible to most Deaf people without proper interpretation.

It could be the first of a number of cases brought against concert promoters who do not make adequate provision for Deaf attendees. So we’ll be watching further developments with interest.

(Photo: Zimbio..com)