American deaf daughter, help!

My wife and step-daughter will be applying for their visa's pretty soon. However there is a bit of an issue. C, daughter, is deaf. She is fluent in ASL (American sign language) however she will need to learn BSL.

Does anyone have any experience with transitioning a deaf child (16 yrs old) from ASL to BSL? Or where to look for services for her?

Thank you.
Phil

Hiya Phil! Here are some links for you. Hope one or all of them will be helpful to your family! I'm not a mom, just a nursery/day care worker. Good luck!

http://www.britishmuseum.org/learning/schools_and_teachers/school_projects/bsl_project.aspx

http://www.signature.org.uk/page.php?content=86

http://www.britishsignlanguage.com/?gclid=CJmm99TsoqQCFYiX2AoduknG6A

http://www.elmfield.bristol.sch.uk/AboutUs/LanguageCommunication/

Thank you Abby. I really appreciate the links.

Hi,
Sorry I don't have any help to give but I have sent a message to a friend who is a speech and language therapist here in England...will let you know if she has any advice :-)

HG..wow...thank you so much. This is a difficult transition for us as adults, I cannot imagine what C will be going through. She is going to be totally lost, and we have no idea of where to turn or how to help her. So many thanks again.

Hiya Phil
Most the NHS trusts have a speech and language specialist attached to them. You could contact them im sure that they would have lots of ideas.
Just do a search on the NHS trusts near where you would be living.

Okay here is the reply I got-- unfortunately not a lot of help but a couple of ideas that might be worth pursuing--

"Helena, how tricky!! Thjink there is quite a significant difference between the two-I would probbaly try and contact the royal school for the deaf to see if there are any links with bilingual signers-they must be out there!! There is the seashell trust(which I think is more for kids with additional difficulties) or a royal school for the deaf in derby(normal ability) or they have a website..especially if the child is still in education!! Otherwise not sure what to advise!!! Sorry!!!"

I'd contact your local DIAL to find out what d/Deaf resources are in your area.

http://www.dialuk.info/

Try the British Deaf Association as a first port of call:

http://www.bda.org.uk/

which has a youth service:

http://www.bda.org.uk/BDA_Youth_Service-i-72.html

Bristol University's Centre for Deaf Studies may also be able to help?

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/deaf/english/resources/

Maybe Deafaware?

http://www.deafaware.com/

Hope that helps!

We have a woman on here who I hope still lurks and can maybe answer your question- as she moved over and is deaf- so she may be able to help answer questions about the transition, etc. 

Check with your local council as well- we have the Deaf Centre and its a good resource for so many.  (I am not deaf, but I had a deaf co-worker, so I actually achieved Level 1 Certification in BSL through my council- and I hope to continue further- however, they're restructuring the programme- so I am waiting to find out more)

Oh, and also talk to the Spencial Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) or the headteacher of your child's school for help and advice:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Schoolslearninganddevelopment/SpecialEducationalNeeds/DG_10016184
 
http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/sen/

Good luck! 

Everyone is giving such great advice and resources. Thank you so very much.