Impact

2026

British Sign Language (Wales) Act 2026

My research and advocacy contributed to the development and passage of the British Sign Language (Wales) Act 2026. As Co-Chair of the BSL Wales Consortium, I helped lead the coalition campaigning for the legislation, provided written and oral evidence during Senedd scrutiny, and worked with stakeholders to develop and evidence amendments to the Bill. 

“Dr Rob Wilks played a leadership role in the wider campaign that secured cross-party and Government support for the Act.”

Mark Isherwood MS
Member in Charge, British Sign Language (Wales) Act 2026

My research was referred to during Senedd proceedings and contributed to the case for dedicated BSL legislation in Wales. 

2025

Co-producing the Deaf Legal Theory Model

This project brought deaf communities, practitioners and academics together to reshape Deaf Legal Theory around lived experience.

243 people contributed through the BIG Survey, alongside an eight-member Working Group and Development Workshop. The result was a new co-produced framework centred on three pillars: Collective Engagement, Rights and Progress.

2025

Research engagement with the Welsh deaf community

Co-produced work with the Welsh deaf community resulted in an Action Plan and Toolkit for researchers, setting out practical principles for more meaningful engagement with deaf communities.