BSL-08 Individual

Senedd Cymru | Welsh Parliament

Bil Aelod Arfaethedig – Mark Isherwood AS | Proposed Member Bill - Mark Isherwood MS

Datblygu'r Bil Iaith Arwyddion Prydain (BSL) (Cymru) | Development of the British Sign Language (BSL) (Wales) Bill

Ymateb gan: Unigolyn | Evidence from: Individual

The need for legislation

The British Sign Language Act 2022 requires the UK Government to issue guidance about the promotion and facilitation of the use of British Sign Language (BSL). This however only applies in England and not to the Welsh Government or public bodies in Wales such as councils or the NHS. The British Sign Language (BSL) (Wales) Bill aims to place equivalent specific duties on the Welsh Government and public bodies in Wales.

Question 1: Do you think there is a need for this legislation? Please provide reasons for your answer.

Y3s there's long been a need for this legislation in Wales given total lack and poor provision twin access to BSL interpreters within the NHS services and well as public sector through a total lack of awareness and failing to meet obligations despite previous attempts under the ALL Wales Communications guidance thing to NHS and Public services as well as complete lack of action since the 2007/2008 consultation as part of the BSL Futures project and on improving access to Public Services through BSL the Welsh Government has since failed on his commitment to be an exemplar organisation.

Question 2: Do you agree or disagree with the goals that the Bill seeks to achieve? Please provide reasons for your answer.

For the majority yes, but there needs to be greater clarity on whether having a BSL Commissioner is achievable given that there will be a number of constraints in establishing one and who can be appointed to this role and whether the expectations of the Commisioners duties will be fulfilled remains to be seen. A BSL Advisory board is anothernthat there will be constraints as there needs ti be impartiality and no conflict amongst those who claimed to be "BSL experts" and do not fully represent the Deaf Communityb/BSL users instead having their own agendas as well as having no real consideration to empower the Deaf Community/BSL users on their rights as such

British Sign Language

Question 3: Do you agree that the Bill should include proposals to promote and facilitate the use of BSL and its tactile forms?

Yes

Question 4: Do you agree that the Bill should support the various Welsh regional dialects of BSL?

Don't know

Question 5: Do you think that the term ‘BSL users’ should be replaced with ‘BSL signers’, recognising that BSL is a language which includes both deaf and hearing signers? Please provide reasons for your answer.

BSL Users is the correct and generic term.to be used at all times 'sugners' is not the correct term to be used generically the generic consensus is BSL Users

Question 6: Do you think that the term ‘deaf BSL signers’ can be used when referring to BSL users/signers who are medically or audiologically deaf? Please provide reasons for your answer.

Deaf Communities

Question 7: Do you agree or disagree that deaf communities:

a) currently have a voice in the design and delivery of the public services that they use? Please tick the answer that most applies and provide any comments.

Strongly disagree

The Deaf community has long been totally ignored for far too long from any consultation on any design or delivery of public services including NHS Wales services and this is why it's in such a state when it comes to access to BSL interpreters as such

b) should have a formalised voice in the design and delivery of the public services that they use, especially ones targeted at deaf people. Please tick the answer that most applies and provide any comments.

Strongly agree

Of course they should every Deaf Citizen in Wales has the right to be formally involved in any design and delivery of services that impact them greatly

Question 8: Are there any specific communication methods used by deaf people that you would like the Bill to reference/include?

Well if course ensure that all communication is fully accessible and avail be in BSL at all times an ensuring Qualified and Registered BSL translators are used at ALL times as well as RSLI Interpreters

Barriers that exist for deaf people

Question 9: What do you believe are the main barriers that currently exist for deaf people and/or their families in the following areas. Please tick all that apply and provide information/examples on each area:

Education; Health; Social Care; Transport; Other Public Services used by deaf people and their families; Workplace.

Establishing a BSL Commissioner for Wales

The Bill proposes to establish a BSL Commissioner who would promote and facilitate the use of BSL, and would have the same powers as other minority language Commissioners such as in the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011.

Question 10: Do you agree or disagree with the proposal to establish a BSL Commissioner for Wales, and, do you have any different suggestions or alternatives? Please provide reasons for your answer.

Don't know

Question 11: The proposed remit of the Commissioner would be to:

§ formulate BSL standards;

§ establish a BSL Advisory Panel;

§ produce reports every 5 years in BSL, Welsh and English on the position of BSL in that period;

§ provide guidance and a process for public bodies to promote and facilitate BSL in their respective domains;

§ establish a procedure for the investigation of complaints.

Do you agree with the proposed remit of the Commissioner, and are there any other provisions you would like to include in the Commissioner’s remit? Please provide reasons for your answer.

This remit should not be a priority but at all later stage, the main focus must be in establishing on improving access to NHS and public services.

As previously mentioned there will be too many constraints in establishing a Commissioner and what is expected for the role and suitable candidates will raise eyebrows of any. They need to be a person who is fully well aware and has a totally true and passionate representative for the Deaf Community and BSL Users not to those who have their own personal agendas who are not fully representative of the Deaf Community

Question 12: Do you agree that the BSL Commissioner and the BSL Advisory Panel members should be fluent users/signers?

Yes

Question 13: Do you think that the proposed BSL Commissioner and Advisory Panel should prioritise the following. Please tick all that apply and provide reasons for your answer.

Access to interpreters in public services.;Enabling deaf users/signers to lead the development of policies and implementation of services for BSL users/signers;

Question 14: Do you agree or disagree with the proposal to place a duty on the Welsh Government to prepare and publish an annual BSL report? Please provide reasons for your answer.