The Big Idea

Hello, I'm Rebecca Mansell,
CEO of the British Deaf Association.

One Big Idea from the BDA:

When we think of British Sign Language (BSL),
we think about how visual the language is

and how BSL conveys meanings visually.
The public assume BSL is for deaf people

only but it is actually for everyone.
In essence, BSL utilizes a combination

of hand shapes, movements, and body
language to express ideas and concepts.

When we learn of a loved one leaving a
Gift in their Will, we usually react with our

hands together in a ‘pray’ position
and slightly gasp in a thankful way.

Or we gasp with our hands on our
mouth as if saying ‘oh my god’.

Or we react with our mouths open when
gasping and slightly shaking our heads in

thankful-disbelief at the gift received.

Or we smile and look up to
the sky and sign ‘thank you’.

All these visual cues are a huge
part of BSL. BSL is a visual-spatial language,

meaning that signs, facial expressions,
and body language all contribute to

conveying meaning. The emotions of
receiving a Gift in a Will has a profound

impact on people and charities but to
elevate this emotion visually, goes even further.

The One Big Idea uses British Sign Language
in a Vox Pop style montage of people reacting

visually when they learn a Gift has been
left to their charity. The tagline could be

something like ‘The Emotional Impact
Of Leaving A Gift In Your Will.’.

The RAC members could think back
to their reactions when you learnt your

Charity received a Gift in the Will of
someone who supported your work.

Or if you personally received a
Gift in the Will of a family member -

how did you react?

• What was your reaction?

• How did it make you feel?

• What was running through your head?

Imagine how your visual cues could
be shared back to the donor to convey

the enormous impact their Gift in
their Will made on them?

It is our opportunity to share with the
public now what their Gift in their Will

will make us feel and react in a whole
range of body language (BSL) emotions.