Northumbrian Water has taken a significant step towards greater digital inclusion by introducing British Sign Language (BSL) on its website.
By adding the BSL feature to the Recite Me Toolbar on their website, with translations provided by Sign Solutions, Northumbrian Water has reduced communication barriers, improved independent access to key services, and strengthened its commitment to digital inclusion.
Making Online Services Work for Everyone
Northumbrian Water continues to improve the accessibility of its digital services while working towards WCAG Level AA compliance. As part of this ongoing focus, the organisation recognised that Deaf customers who use British Sign Language can face barriers when accessing online content that relies heavily on written English.
Barbara Anderson, Digital Experience Manager, Northumbrian Water told us:
“Introducing a BSL feature was a natural extension of our digital inclusion strategy, ensuring customers have equal access to information, support, and self-serve tools in the format that works best for them.”
Building on a Trusted Partnership
As a Recite Me Customer since 2019, Northumbrian Water chose to enhance its existing inclusive offering by introducing the BSL feature within the Recite Me Toolbar, provided by our partner Sign Solutions.
This addition complements the organisation’s current accessibility tools, including a screen reader, customisable styling options, reading aids, and an on-demand translation tool.
Barbara added: “We have partnered with Recite for many years now for their accessibility tools and it made sense to work with Recite as an already trusted partner.”
The BSL feature allows website visitors to access selected content in British Sign Language with just one click. Users can view a video-based BSL translation directly from the Recite Me Toolbar, enabling clearer understanding and more confident engagement with online information.
Expert BSL Support from Recite Me’s Partner, Sign Solutions
Sign Solutions exists to enable communication between Deaf and hearing people anytime, anywhere, and in any way. Their mission is to provide access and combat inequality, ensuring Deaf people have equal opportunities to engage with information, services, education, and employment.
Sophie Kang, Sales and Marketing Manager at Sign Solutions told us:
“Only 2% of online content is accessible in British Sign Language, which creates a significant barrier for Deaf people.”
For Sign Solutions, working with organisations like Northumbrian Water demonstrates real progress in digital inclusion.
“When organisations such as Northumbrian Water integrate BSL services, it validates our mission and highlights the growing recognition of access for the Deaf community. Our partnerships drive systemic change in digital inclusion, adopt a sense of pride in contributing to real-world impact, where Deaf people can navigate essential services independently.”
Delivering Inclusive Digital Services
This collaboration between Northumbrian Water, Recite Me, and Sign Solutions demonstrates how accessibility can be embedded into digital services in a practical and meaningful way.
By introducing British Sign Language on its website, Northumbrian Water is ensuring more customers can access essential information, while setting a strong example of inclusive digital design in action.
Why Offer BSL Translation on Your Website?
Adding BSL translations to your digital accessibility strategy can help you:
- Provide inclusive digital experiences for Deaf users who rely on BSL as their first language
- Reduce reliance on written English, which may be difficult to understand for some users
- Meet equality and accessibility standards
- Demonstrate a clear commitment to corporate social responsibility and diversity
- Reach a broader audience while meeting legal and ethical obligations
If you’d like to explore how BSL translation can support accessibility on your website, get in touch with the Recite Me team to find out more.
