I am a Deaf British Sign Language (BSL) user. I have taught British Sign Language (BSL) for twenty years, fifteen of which have been here at York St John University. During my time here I am proud to see that the BSL team has grown, and that we now offer new modules in deaf studies. In 2021 I became an associate professor. As a Senior Lecturer at York St John, I teach on all levels of British Sign Language modules, facilitating learning for students who may never have signed a word to those who have some fluency in BSL. I am keen to include aspects of the deaf lived experience into my teaching, to help raise awareness of deaf people as a cultural as well as linguistic minority. In 2011, I was awarded National Teacher of the Year by Signature and, in 2012, York Adult Tutor of the Year by City of York Council’s “York 800”. I was shortlisted Signature teacher of the year in 2013 by students, Staff Excellence Award in 2015 by Programme Rep Award at YSJ, Excellence teacher at York St John Students' Union in 2017 and finalist for Signature’s Leadership award in 2017. In addition to these I have also more recently (2019) been nominated for the ‘inspirational teaching’ and ‘most supportive staff member’ of the year awards by York St John Students' Union. I also teach both basic and more advanced deaf awareness at the University, as well as to organisations and businesses in the surrounding area. I aim to encourage equal access for Deaf people within the community and workplaces. I support the student-led Sign Language Society in getting British Sign Language out of the classroom, and developing confidence and inspiring wider involvement in British Sign Language around the university.