Deaf man wins award for outstanding contribution

A DEAF man from Stoke Park who led groundbreaking training and research in sign language has been presented with a national award in recognition of his work reports This is Bristol (02/12/11).

Clark Denmark was presented with the Joseph Maitland Robinson Award for outstanding contribution at the 2011 Signature Annual Awards.

Mr Denmark, 57, learned to sign from a young age after being born deaf and into a deaf family. He first became involved with British Sign Language teaching and research in Edinburgh in the 1980s. He was later instrumental in developing Durham University's groundbreaking sign language course, launching the first formal qualifications for BSL teachers that became a template for future learning. As director of Education and Training at the British Deaf Association he introduced training opportunities for deaf people and those who work with them.

In 1992 Mr Denmark joined the teaching staff on the newly- established degree course at Bristol University's centre for deaf studies, teaching sign language, sign language teaching, deaf history and deaf politics. He has since joined the deaf studies team at the University of Central Lancashire, splitting his time between Lancashire and his home in Bristol.

Mr Denmark said: "I am honoured that, as a member of the deaf community who endeavours to make BSL stronger, and the deaf community a better place to live in every day, I am able to contribute to achieving this in a small way for deaf BSL teachers and BSL learners so that we can make it happen through the empowerment of deaf people. To receive the Joseph Maitland Robinson Award for outstanding contribution is an absolute privilege."

Jim Edwards, chief executive of Signature, said: "Clark's contribution to the deaf community cannot be overstated."