About
Signly BSL is a pioneering web accessibility platform that bridges the communication gap between organizations and deaf or hard-of-hearing users by adding sign language video translations directly to websites. For many deaf individuals, sign language is their first and primary language — not written English — meaning standard text-based websites can be fundamentally inaccessible. Signly addresses this by capturing website text, sending it to Signly Studio, where proficient deaf sign language translators record the content in their home studios, and then embedding the video seamlessly into the site. The integration is deliberately low-friction: a one-time, low-code setup takes approximately 10 minutes. Once live, Signly checks for site updates and new content daily, recording translations promptly so content remains accessible as it evolves. Users can also request translations for pages not yet covered, making the service adaptive and community-driven. Signly supports multiple sign languages, including British Sign Language (BSL) and American Sign Language (ASL), reflecting the reality that over 300 distinct sign languages exist worldwide among approximately 72 million deaf people. Clients include major organizations such as Lloyds Bank and Disability Rights Florida. By providing this 'sign language screen reader' experience, Signly helps organizations meet accessibility compliance obligations while genuinely serving deaf communities — reducing reliance on interpreters and empowering deaf users to self-serve online.
Key Features
- Low-Code Website Integration: One-time setup takes approximately 10 minutes, requiring minimal technical effort to embed sign language video translations across an entire website.
- Professional Deaf Translators: Content is recorded by proficient deaf sign language translators in their home studios, ensuring authentic and culturally accurate translations.
- Daily Content Monitoring: Signly automatically checks for new or updated website content daily and records fresh translations promptly, keeping accessibility current.
- Multi-Language Sign Support: Supports multiple sign languages including BSL and ASL, reflecting the global diversity of over 300 distinct sign languages used by deaf communities.
- User-Requested Translations: Deaf users can request sign language translations for pages not yet covered, making the service adaptive to real user needs.
Use Cases
- A bank like Lloyds integrates Signly BSL to make their website fully accessible to deaf customers, enabling them to self-serve without needing an interpreter.
- A disability rights organization adds ASL translations to their site so deaf visitors can access legal information and resources in their native language.
- A government or public sector body uses Signly to meet digital accessibility compliance requirements and serve deaf constituents equitably.
- A healthcare provider embeds sign language translations on patient information pages, ensuring deaf patients can understand medical content independently.
- An e-commerce retailer adds BSL translations to product and support pages, expanding their customer base to include deaf shoppers.
Pros
- Fast and Easy Integration: The ~10-minute low-code setup means organizations can launch sign language accessibility without dedicated development resources.
- Authentic Deaf-Led Translations: Using professional deaf translators (not AI-generated avatars) produces culturally accurate, high-quality sign language content.
- Compliance and Social Impact: Helps organizations meet disability accessibility regulations while genuinely serving an underserved community, reducing both legal risk and social harm.
Cons
- Translation Turnaround Time: New or updated content relies on daily checks and human translators, so there may be a delay before sign language versions of new pages go live.
- Paid B2B Service: Signly is an organizational service with no publicly listed free tier, which may be a barrier for smaller nonprofits or community organizations.
- Limited to Website Context: The service is designed specifically for website content and does not extend to apps, PDFs, or other digital formats out of the box.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Signly integrate with my website?
Signly uses a low-code, one-time integration process that takes approximately 10 minutes. After setup, Signly captures your website's text and sends it to Signly Studio for professional translation, then embeds video translations directly into your pages.
Which sign languages does Signly support?
Signly supports multiple sign languages including British Sign Language (BSL) and American Sign Language (ASL). It reflects the global diversity of 300+ sign languages used by the world's roughly 72 million deaf people.
How are translations kept up to date?
Signly monitors your website for new and updated content daily. When changes are detected, translators promptly record new sign language videos so your accessibility layer stays current.
Who translates the content — humans or AI?
Proficient deaf sign language translators record all content in their home studios, ensuring authentic and culturally accurate translations rather than AI-generated or avatar-based alternatives.
Can users request sign language translations for untranslated pages?
Yes. Signly provides an option for deaf users to request translations of pages that have not yet been translated, making the service responsive to real community needs.
