đŸ§” THREAD: I have repeatedly requested that @radiographerben stop teaching British Sign Language (BSL) as a hearing person. It’s appropriative, harms the Deaf community, and creates more work for us when we have to help hearing people unlearn the wrong sign.

I’ve been blocked.
In case blocking #Deaf people isn’t a good enough reason as to why Ben’s actions are harmful, let’s mention the fact that he has shared incorrect signs in the past, such as this one here for ‘tired’. He’s also only just started captioning his videos, too.
https://twitter.com/radiographerben/status/1363040498647195650?s=20
I pointed this out to him back in February in the below thread. I implored him to leave the teaching to qualified #Deaf teachers.

He chose to ignore this, and continued to teach as a hearing person. He’s now chosen to block me, a #Deaf person, too. https://twitter.com/LiamODellUK/status/1363150753683156996
In fact, Ben posted a response video a week later in which he repeatedly insisted that he was not “trying to teach” and that he refutes the accusation that he is being culturally appropriative.

You can watch this with captions below:
I updated my previous thread to breakdown his response, which includes pointing out that, well, he has said quite explicitly in the past that he is teaching through his weekly videos: https://twitter.com/liamodelluk/status/1365633725455826944
And even if he is “learning, not teaching”, then he is still appropriating British Sign Language as he’s sharing a video online to get views.

In other words, he’s using sign language for clout.

Ben denies this, as you can see below. https://twitter.com/liamodelluk/status/1363162037925384194
His argument’s flawed though, when you consider the fact that by posting a video to Twitter, you are, naturally, wanting it to be viewed by someone - often, as many people as possible.

If you don’t, then why are you sharing it to begin with?

He couldn’t answer this question.
Also, let’s not forget that he ends his videos with “give it a go”, a clear instruction that reveals that it is not a one-person, progress series, but rather a two-way street where he is encouraging others to follow his lead, when he is completely unqualified to do so.
Just last week I asked @radiographerben why he hadn’t stopped, after several #Deaf people - not just me - have told him to because we see it as harmful.

He did not answer this question either.

In fact, just a week later, he would go on to block me from his account. https://twitter.com/liamodelluk/status/1384197074095284225
And the icing on Ben’s culturally appropriative cake came as it was revealed that he’d delivered a session on #deaf awareness and BSL to some uni students.

But I thought you were “learning”, Ben? If you are, then surely you’d agree that you’re in no position to teach on this? https://twitter.com/zenorobster/status/1384135374490923020
Just to reiterate, Ă  la tweet I posted five days ago: https://twitter.com/liamodelluk/status/1384195908389072906
So please, if you are, unfollow @radiographerben, and don’t engage with his #SigningSaturday series, as he clearly does not have the interests of the Deaf community at heart. His decision now to block Deaf people voicing legitimate concerns over his actions cements that. (END)
UPDATE: In response to one person making the extremely important point that Ben is taking up space by teaching BSL as a hearing person, he replies that there “is space aplenty for all on YouTube!”

He really doesn’t get it, does he?
https://twitter.com/radiographerben/status/1386031160728465411?s=20
Indeed there is, Ben, but you making ‘educational’ videos about a language which you are not qualified to teach draws attention away from those making videos on BSL who *are* qualified to teach the language - you know, #Deaf people?
The space which @leftinmygrasp refers to here does not concern the opportunity to make such content - as you say, both deaf and hearing people have space to create content on YouTube - but rather the space online for Deaf people to speak on Deaf issues, which you’re barging into.
It’s about prioritisation. You have hearing privilege, @radiographerben, which could very well mean that your videos can be - and in fact, are - seen more than videos from Deaf people who are qualified to teach sign language.
To use the ‘space’ analogy in a different way: let’s pretend you’re searching ‘sign language tutorials’ and your videos are near the top. Regardless of where they sit in the results, they’re *still* pushing a Deaf creator’s video further down the page.

That’s not right, is it?
Ben, are you really saying “if people listened” then they’d know you are “learning, not teaching”? Bit audist.

1. You taught uni students about BSL and deaf awareness.

2. I have tweets from you saying you’re teaching signs.

Stop embarrassing yourself.
https://twitter.com/radiographerben/status/1386037374828875777?s=20
It isn’t about “approach”, Ben, and even if it was, it’s still not working, as many people are telling you tonight. Blocking Deaf people asking you to stop harming their community isn’t good either.
https://twitter.com/radiographerben/status/1386058352841605129?s=20
Saying we ‘aren’t getting it’ when we’re telling you you’re harming our community is gaslighting, Ben, plain and simple.

If a Deaf person is saying you’re causing harm, and you continue by saying they’ve misunderstood you, are starting a pile-on etc., you’re gaslighting.

Stop.
Look at No. 9, too, which says that practitioners must “be able to work appropriately with others”.

He blocked me after I told him he was harming the #Deaf community with his actions. If ignorance is his response to legitimate criticism, then that’s incredibly alarming. https://twitter.com/SpudnPudding/status/1386064581529903107
Morning, Ben. Thanks for this thread, which I will respond to point by point. First and foremost, individuals sending you abusive DMs do not speak for me, and it is completely unacceptable.

As for your comments on professionalism, let’s unpack that.
https://twitter.com/radiographerben/status/1386205585528524800?s=20
“What I won’t take, however, is my professionalism questioned, or my professional standards quoted at me from an account that doesn’t have the person’s full name attached.”

We are well within your rights to question your professional conduct. Here’s why.
https://twitter.com/radiographerben/status/1386205586786816000?s=20
Ebony puts it perfectly in the below tweet: you gave a talk on BSL and #Deaf awareness as a *hearing person* in a professional capacity - to a group of radiography students, in fact.

We are completely right to question the impact that this could have on future Deaf patients. https://twitter.com/Ebonyrgooden/status/1386031550429421572
This is an important side of the issue, Ben. We don’t know whether you’re using these incorrect and poorly signed signs in conversation with patients or indeed other healthcare staff. We are right to question that, seeing as it concerns the important subject of public health.
I would also like to think that healthcare practitioners such as yourself are required to be professional when it comes to their social media output, too. Most organisations have a SM policy to ensure professionalism and mitigate any potential reputational damage.
While your comment on not knowing how you conduct yourself professionally is somewhat correct (we haven’t seen you at work), we can criticise how you delivered a Deaf awareness session in a professional capacity, and the impact your video series could have on Deaf patients.
You’ve blocked me, a Deaf person, for making a polite request to stop teaching sign language. We are questioning your mindset/viewpoint here, and such a mindset can extend to your profession and how you interact with patients, Deaf or hearing, in an area as important as health.
Yesterday, you said “if people read/listened”, we’d understand that you aren’t trying to teach. Given most of the criticism has come from Deaf people, for whom telling them they’re not listening is pretty offensive, we are right to question your attitude towards our community.
Also, if the anonymity of the person questioning your professional standards is an issue, then know that I too pointed out concerns in this regard, and my name is public.

If you don’t want your professionalism questioned like this, improve your attitude to Deaf people.
We are right to question that, but thank you for your response thread nonetheless. I would be grateful if you could issue a response on the future of Signing Saturday’s, as this is the main area of concern to Deaf people like me.
These two tweets aren’t the only posts from @radiographerben which refer to him ‘teaching’ sign language, by the way. Here’s two tweets which show he has ‘taught’ BSL to students in Cumbria in 2017, and attendees at the ‘Towards Inclusion’ conference in 2018: https://twitter.com/liamodelluk/status/1365633725455826944
These two tweets aren’t the only posts from @radiographerben which refer to him ‘teaching’ sign language, by the way. Here’s two tweets which show he has ‘taught’ BSL to students in Cumbria in 2017, and attendees at the ‘Towards Inclusion’ conference in 2018: https://twitter.com/liamodelluk/status/1365633725455826944
These two tweets aren’t the only posts from @radiographerben which refer to him ‘teaching’ sign language, by the way. Here’s two tweets which show he has ‘taught’ BSL to students in Cumbria in 2017, and attendees at the ‘Towards Inclusion’ conference in 2018: https://twitter.com/liamodelluk/status/1365633725455826944
Ben has also said that the “overwhelming majority” are “fully aware” that he’s “not trying to teach signing”.

I can’t survey all of the people following him to check, but even one person - let alone the three below and one above - saying he is should be of concern.
Ben has also said that the “overwhelming majority” are “fully aware” that he’s “not trying to teach signing”.I can’t survey all of the people following him to check, but even one person - let alone the three below and one above - saying he is should be of concern.
Ben has also said that the “overwhelming majority” are “fully aware” that he’s “not trying to teach signing”.I can’t survey all of the people following him to check, but even one person - let alone the three below and one above - saying he is should be of concern.
Ben has also said that the “overwhelming majority” are “fully aware” that he’s “not trying to teach signing”.I can’t survey all of the people following him to check, but even one person - let alone the three below and one above - saying he is should be of concern.
And it’s not just Ben’s followers who are saying he’s ‘teaching’ sign language - he’s said so himself.

He’s taken issue with us questioning his professional standards, but given he’s teaching potentially incorrect signs to colleagues at work, we have every right to be concerned.
And it’s not just Ben’s followers who are saying he’s ‘teaching’ sign language - he’s said so himself.He’s taken issue with us questioning his professional standards, but given he’s teaching potentially incorrect signs to colleagues at work, we have every right to be concerned.
And it’s not just Ben’s followers who are saying he’s ‘teaching’ sign language - he’s said so himself.He’s taken issue with us questioning his professional standards, but given he’s teaching potentially incorrect signs to colleagues at work, we have every right to be concerned.
And it’s not just Ben’s followers who are saying he’s ‘teaching’ sign language - he’s said so himself.He’s taken issue with us questioning his professional standards, but given he’s teaching potentially incorrect signs to colleagues at work, we have every right to be concerned.
UPDATE: Ben has issued another statement on his teaching of BSL, and to begin with, I want to stress again that those being abusive or vitriolic do not speak for me, and I condemn their actions.

We can criticise Ben’s actions with civility.
https://twitter.com/radiographerben/status/1386679079781511172?s=20
I welcome this apology, but the conditional ‘any’ negates the fact that we *have* seen people upset by your actions.

It should read: “I apologise for the offence or upset caused.”

If you accept comments made, can now confirm that you are ending Signing Saturday, Ben?
You can follow @LiamODellUK.
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