BSL-40 Janet Palmer, Lead Specialist Teacher for the Sensory
Impairment Teams, Cardiff Education Inclusion Service
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: Janet Palmer, Athro Arbenigol
arweiniol ar gyfer Amhariad Synhwyraidd Tîm Gwasanaeth
Cynhwysiant Addysg Caerdydd | Evidence from: Janet Palmer, Lead
Specialist Teacher for the Sensory Impairment Teams, Cardiff
Education Inclusion Service
____________________________________________________________________
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.
To promote the
use of BSL in homes, schools and communities to ensure CYP can
engage and make choices and reduce the effects of isolation.
Also to
promote BSL as a language that all can engage in regardless of
hearing needs.
Question 2: Do you agree or disagree with the goals that the
Bill seeks to achieve? Please provide reasons for your answer.
agree. To
remove barriers and ensure there is no unfair treatment.
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?
Question 4: Do you agree that the Bill should support the
various Welsh regional dialects of BSL?
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.
Yes.
To include
more people and promote inclusivity.
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.
I feel the
individual should make the choice of how they wish to be
labelled.
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.
Neither agree
or disagree.
There needs to
be a stronger voice in Wales.
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.
Question 8: Are there any specific communication methods used
by deaf people that you would like the Bill to
reference/include?
to include
Welsh with Sign or English with Sign.
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; local clubs and community
activities.
It is not just
in education but greater awareness needs to be raised so Deaf
people can join in local sports or clubs.
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.
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 would
provide a stronger voice on committees and raise hte profile.
Question 12: Do you agree that the BSL Commissioner and the BSL
Advisory Panel members should be fluent users/signers?
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.
Families
should be aware of the choices and make informed decisions about
communication. There is not enough access to BSL classes within
communities. These need to be free at point of access and support
provided for non English or Welsh speakers e.g Arabic.
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.
It needs to be
central in order to collect all the information as too moany are
isolated.
Question 15: Are there any other issues that you would like to
raise about the Bill and the accompanying Explanatory
Memorandum?