BSL-28 Samantha Hopkins, BSL / English Interpreter

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: Samantha Hopkins, Dehonglydd BSL / Saesneg | Evidence from: Samantha Hopkins, BSL / English Interpreter

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.

Yes absolutely. This will ensure accountability, it will drive BSL awareness and equal access. Legislation will give Deaf people more support and power to receive the access that they deserve.

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

Yes I do. I support the goals to remove barriers for deaf people and their families. Giving BSL the same weight as other minority languages is vital in closing the current gaps in provisions (such as healthcare and education).

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.

No.

The term BSL users is exactly that; people who use sign language. In my experience the word “Signers” is a wrongly used term for BSL interpreters.

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.

No.

For the reasons stated above. BSL users is sufficient when referring to Deaf BSL users.

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.

Disagree.

Because deaf people aren’t consulted and services are poor as a result.

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.

Deaf people are the experts when it comes to their access needs.

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

> BSL

> Hands on BSL

It needs to be highlighted that for many BSL users English is their second language. Therefore written English should not be treated as the next best thing to having an interpreter present.

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.

There are no specialist schools for the deaf in Wales.

There are no specialist mental health facilities for Deaf people in wales.

There is no free provision of BSL courses for parents of deaf children in wales.

There is a total lack of awareness within all sectors when it comes to deafness and the provision of interpreters.

There is a total lack of awareness and understanding of Access to work provision for deaf employees. Audio announcements in public settings such as train stations and supermarkets are inaccessible to the deaf community.

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.

Yes

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.

I agree with the proposal, however the BSL commissioner for Wales needs to be a Deaf BSL user to ensure a deep understanding and lived experience of the issues faced by the 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.

Enabling deaf users/signers to lead the development of policies and implementation of services for BSL users/signers; Early years language support for deaf children and their families; Improving BSL provision in education; Access to interpreters in public services.

Yes! As mentioned previously deaf people are the experts when it comes to meeting their needs as a community.

The language deprivation suffered by the deaf community in early years provision is deeply saddening and inexcusable.

Communication support workers provided by schools/colleges is usually of a low level to save cost. This isn’t good enough. They need to be level 4 BSL users at the very least.

Awareness around booking and accessing interpreters needs to be improved.

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.

Yes