British Sign Language (BSL) will be formally recognized through legislation to be passed by MPs.
The bill, which cleared its first hurdle in the House of Commons in January, would require public bodies to promote the language.
It will also recognize BSL as a separate language in England, Wales and Scotland.
The final stage of scrutiny in the House of Commons will take place later, after which the bill will go to the House of Lords.
The legislation, introduced by Labor MP Rosie Cooper, was backed by the government.
According to the British Deaf Association, up to 250,000 people in the UK use some BSL every day.
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Disability Secretary Chloe Smith said legal recognition of BSL would help provide better public services for the deaf.
“Legal recognition of BSL will create a more inclusive and accessible society, improve the lives of deaf people and help public services get it right,” she added.
The bill would require government agencies to follow new guidance on how to implement the use of BSL across their services.
Although no new funding will be made available for BSL promotion, Ms Smith argued that the issue was a “red herring” as the Equality Act already ensures that deaf people must have access to public services.
Kelsey Gordon is currently directing an interactive performance co-produced by a theater specializing in plays performed in BSL.
The actor-director says the deaf “need a stronger presence” in the arts.
“We’re tiptoeing through right now and we have to force these doors open,” she adds.
“BSL is our language, it’s really important to have a deaf representative in the room.”
Ms Cooper, MP for West Lancashire, grew up with BSL and says her bill is about “doing the right thing”.
She said the bill would “start the process” of giving deaf people “equal access to the essential services that everyone else takes for granted.”
“You no longer need to feel unheard, ignored and invisible,” she added.
She has also backed an initiative to offer classes to MPs to learn BSL.
She added that Parliament had offered spoken foreign language courses to MPs for many years, but she would encourage her colleagues to seize the opportunity now to be trained in BSL’s “rich and historic language”.
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