BSL-36 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: Dehonglydd BSL / Saesneg  | Evidence from: 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, the continued failings and barriers faced by this community, this have been identified and research papers such as ‘the locked out report’ should be enough evidence for the need of a BSL Act.

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

Yes, for all to be treated fairly and have full access to public services in BSL.

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?

Yes

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.

Q14. This is the same as any other language such as the Welsh language, North & SouthWales are different and you would not even dream of asking this question to the Welsh language community.

Q16. I don't think it should be replaced and by keeping the term user does not take away the recognition that it's a language. In many ways by changing it broadly it's removing the culture element that's part of the language that not all ‘signers‘ will understand or know.

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.

Don't know.

This term may be acceptable, you will need to consult with BSL community for this.

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.

Just by reading and completing this consultation form proves it is not accessible for many Deaf BSL users.

As a professional working in public services no voice of design of delivery is ever given for BSL users/Deaf community…it's usually an after thought or an add on.  The failure of booking communication professionals, letters asking people to contact them via phone to access services (that they pay for via national insurance/council tax) the list goes on and that shows this is a failure of basic human rights.

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.

If you are creating a service for deaf people to access then only those using that service will know best how it should be delivered. Therefore having deaf people design/co produce the delivery at the start of planning not an after thought or tick box would be the most effective way to achieve greater accessibility.

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

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; Please see below:

All of the above, also extra curricular activities, sports, heritage sites, local community events.

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.

Q26. How would you appoint and select this commissioner? Who selects?

The commissioner would need to be fluent in BSL but with a clear understanding of the cultural differences. Will also need to show collaboration with or actively involved with Deaf community and that engages with all demographics of the communities.

I believe that every commissioner should have responsibility for BSL.

I agree with the proposed remit.

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 all... There is clearly a need for a bsl Act as everything should be focused on access to BSL.

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.

Don't know

Question 15: Are there any other issues that you would like to raise about the Bill and the accompanying Explanatory Memorandum?

My concern is that this consultation form is not accessible to the wider Deaf community, failing at the beginning to understand your target audience with the added bonus of it being over the festive period.

My concern regarding this is that only professionals/ those with adequate English skills will respond, therefore not enough to reinforce the desperate need for a BSL Act from those that need it even more due to their failed education system.

Question 16: Anything else?

Interpreters have many roles within the Deaf community and I share the daily frustration and barriers the deaf community have. Interpreters are on the brink of burn out so by having a BSL Act we can continue doing what we do best without having to navigate and fight for someone's basic human right.