Corporate Events, Incentives, Conference Management | First Event

Creating an Accessible and Inclusive Celebration BSL Conference 2025

Client

Overview

 The British Deaf Association is the UK’s leading organisation representing Deaf people, promoting British Sign Language (BSL), and advocating for Deaf culture and rights. Operating nationally, the BDA connects communities across the UK and engages internationally through research, advocacy, and events. In 2025, they aimed to celebrate their 135th anniversary while fostering inclusivity, accessibility, and engagement for the Deaf community.

A woman and a man stand at the front of a conference room, speaking to an audience during a Corporate Anniversary Event. Two monitors display a presentation with subtitles and a woman using sign language. Rows of seated attendees face the presenters. A man stands at a podium speaking to a seated audience during a Corporate Anniversary Event in a large conference room. Two people stand beside him, one interpreting in sign language as captions are displayed on a screen behind them. A large audience sits in an ornate hall facing a stage where several people are presenting at a Corporate Anniversary Event. In the foreground, sound and video equipment with screens and control panels are visible in the technical booth. At a Corporate Anniversary Event, a woman speaks on stage at a formal gala dinner, with two large screens behind her displaying a sign language interpreter. The audience, dressed in evening attire, sits at round tables under an arched ceiling.

The Challenge

Key challenges included designing an inclusive and accessible event in a venue very different from previous years, scaling up production, and ensuring all attendees could engage equally in both sessions and social experiences.

The BDA approached us to deliver a landmark conference that:

  • Brought together Deaf and hearing attendees from across the UK and internationally.

  • Celebrated 135 years of Deaf culture, language, and community.

  • Ensured the event was fully accessible for blind, Deaf, and hard-of-hearing delegates.

  • Delivered a carefully planned programme of 30+ presentations across the main plenary and four breakout rooms over two full days, finishing with a celebratory gala evening designed for maximum engagement and accessibility.

“First Event’s partnership in organising this landmark event, which also celebrated the BDA’s 135th anniversary, was absolutely invaluable. The professionalism, dedication, and expertise demonstrated by your team were exceptional, ensuring that the conference ran seamlessly from start to finish.”

Our Solution

We delivered a fully inclusive, high-impact conference that prioritised accessibility, engagement, and celebration:

  1. Accessibility at the core

    Every session featured British and American Sign Language interpreters, voiceovers, live captions, and induction loops. Content was designed to ensure blind attendees could hear all presentations and Deaf attendees could see all visual content.

  2. Advanced AV and production

    A larger venue required a scaled-up production, including multi-room AV setups and on-screen captions to support simultaneous sessions.

  3. Engaging programme design

    Over two days, attendees enjoyed 30+ presentations, workshops, and breakout sessions covering Culture, Identity, Economy, Education, Technology, and Community. International speakers included Dr Joseph Murray, Helene Jarmer, and Dr Maartje De Meulder.

  4. Cultural celebration

    A gala evening featured Deaf-led performances, including comedians, poets, storytellers, and a raffle. A special exhibition highlighted 135 years of BDA history, both on-site and virtually.

“The team at First Event truly took the time to understand the BDA’s mission and the unique requirements of our Deaf-led event. This deep understanding transformed a service agreement into a genuine partnership.”

A large audience sits in a brightly lit conference hall at a Corporate Anniversary Event, facing two speakers on stage—one using sign language. A screen displays text and mirrors the scene, while decorative walls and ceiling add elegance to the occasion. A large audience sits in a conference hall at a Corporate Anniversary Event, facing a stage where three presenters stand, including one using sign language. A large screen displays captions of their speech. The room has high arched ceilings and bright lighting.

Why

It Worked

 

  • Inclusive design drives engagement: Prioritising accessibility created an environment where all attendees could fully engage and enjoy the event.
  • Planning and technology are key: Scaled production and multi-room AV solutions ensured a seamless experience despite the larger venue.
  • Cultural celebration enhances impact: Combining presentations with Deaf-led performances created a memorable, engaging, and meaningful event.
  • Forward momentum: The insights gained will guide future BDA events and demonstrate best practices for inclusive, large-scale conferences.

Explore More

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