ABSLT – The Association of British Sign Language Tutors – was formed at the instigation of the BDA in April 1989 – prior to that there was no organisation or group to co-ordinate issues relating to the teaching of BSL and the tutors who taught it.

Liz Scott-Gibson was the BDA’s Education Officer at that time and she arranged an open meeting at Doncaster College in April 1989, with the view to setting up an Association of BSL tutors who could share experiences and support each other.