The "heartbreaking" decision on the stalled sign language GCSE episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 14, 2026 · 30 MIN

The "heartbreaking" decision on the stalled sign language GCSE

from Access All: Disability News and Mental Health · host BBC Sounds

There were celebrations last year when a GCSE in British Sign Language was approved...but a few months have passed and no accredited exam board has taken it on. What now for the exam which had a strong 10-year campaign behind it?Simon Want from the National Deaf Children's Society gives his reaction while BBC journalist Kateryna Pavlyuk talks us through it.Cyber correspondent Joe Tidy has been in California visiting humanoid robots built to carry out domestic tasks and considers how this development might help disabled people in the future.And the BBC's Alex Taylor is Emma's studio pal this week. He spills the tea on his new romantic relationship. Not only is he smitten but it's also given him pause for thought on letting her help with his care responsibilities so they can let his careworker go out for the night and leave them to some alone time.And finally. Just a heads up, we're moving to a monthly podcast from now on. Our next episode will be 4 February. Catch you then!Presented by Emma Tracey with Alex TaylorSound mixed by Dave O'NeillProduced by Kateryna Pavlyuk and Alex CollinsSeries producer is Beth RoseEdited by Damon Rose

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The "heartbreaking" decision on the stalled sign language GCSE

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