Letter to UoB from Christopher & Patricia Smith

We wish to express our concern at the proposals to close the Centre for Deaf Studies at Bristol University. This can only exacerbate the existing crisis in the UK Deaf community caused by the acute shortage of interpreters. Graduate courses leading to BSL qualifications should be expanding to meet the needs of our community, not being cut.

On a personal level, as the parents of an undergraduate due to start the course in September, we are angered that no mention of these proposals were given at any time during the application process.

At the open day we were very impressed by the high quality of the course and facilities offered at Bristol, and we are at a loss to understand how the closure of such a highly regarded Centre of international standing can be justified.

We urge you to reconsider this proposal and maintain the Centre for Deaf Studies in its present form.

Yours faithfully
Christopher and Patricia Smith