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: Cwlwm | Evidence from: Cwlwm
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.
Mae’r Bil Iaith Arwyddion Prydain (BSL) (Cymru) arfaethedig yn ceisio gwneud darpariaeth ar gyfer defnyddio BSL a’i ffurfiau cyffyrddol yng Nghymru. Mae Mesur y Gymraeg (Cymru) 2011 yn cydnabod bod y Gymraeg a’r Saesneg yn ieithoedd swyddogol yng Nghymru. Sefydlodd y fframwaith cyfreithiol sy’n datgan “na ddylai’r Gymraeg gael ei thrin yn llai ffafriol na’r Saesneg”, gan osod dyletswyddau ar gyrff i ddarparu gwasanaethau drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg a diogelu hawliau pobl sy’n siarad Cymraeg i gael mynediad at wasanaethau penodol drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Byddai'r Bil BSL (Cymru) arfaethedig yn gweithio tuag at sicrhau nad yw arwyddwyr BSL yn cael eu trin yn llai ffafriol na'r rhai sy'n siarad Cymraeg neu Saesneg.
The proposed British Sign Language (BSL) (Wales) Bill seeks to make provision for the use of BSL and its tactile forms in Wales. The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 recognises that Welsh and English are official languages in Wales. It established the legal framework which states that “the Welsh language must not be treated less favourably than the English language”, placing duties on bodies to provide services through the medium of Welsh and protecting the rights of Welsh-speaking people to access specific services through the medium of Welsh. The proposed BSL (Wales) Bill would work towards ensuring that BSL signers are not treated less favourably than those who speak Welsh or English.
Rydym yn cytuno â’r nodau y mae’r Bil yn ceisio eu cyflawni. Teimlwn ei bod yn bwysig cefnogi’r gwaith o waredu’r rhwystrau sy’n bodoli i bobl fyddar a’u teuluoedd yng Nghymru ym meysydd addysg, iechyd, gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, gwasanaethau cymorth, ac yn y gweithle.
Byddai Bil BSL (Cymru) yn gosod dyletswydd ar Lywodraeth Cymru i adrodd ar sut mae adrannau Llywodraeth Cymru yn hyrwyddo a hwyluso defnydd BSL. Byddai sicrhau bod Bil BSL (Cymru) hefyd yn gosod dyletswydd ar gyrff cyhoeddus ehangach yng Nghymru i adrodd ar eu cynnydd o ran hyrwyddo a hwyluso BSL trwy gylch adrodd Llesiant Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol yn ymgorffori BSL ymhellach yn y fframweithiau polisi a chyfreithiol presennol o fewn Cymru.
Mae hyn yn arbennig o bwysig, gan fod llawer o’r gwasanaethau cyhoeddus dydd i ddydd yn cael eu darparu gan Awdurdodau Lleol a phartneriaid eraill yn y sector cyhoeddus, yn hytrach na Llywodraeth Cymru.
We agree with the goals that the Bill seeks to achieve. We feel that it is important to support the removal of barriers that exist for deaf people and their families in education, health, public services, support services and in the workplace in Wales.
The BSL (Wales) Bill would place a duty on the Welsh Government to report on how Welsh Government departments promote and facilitate the use of BSL. Ensuring that the BSL (Wales) Bill also places a duty on wider public bodies in Wales to report on their progress in promoting and facilitating BSL through the Well-being of Future Generations reporting cycle would further embed BSL into existing policy and legal frameworks within Wales.
Establishing a BSL Commissioner with the same powers as other minority language Commissioners such as the Welsh Language Commissioner, would be a significant display of support for BSL signing communities across Wales.
Yes
Yes
Yes.
Mae’r Memorandwm Esboniadol i Fil Iaith Arwyddion Prydain (BSL) (Cymru) yn nodi bod Cymdeithas y Byddar ym Mhrydain (BDA) wedi gofyn i’r term ‘defnyddwyr’ gael ei ddisodli gan ‘arwyddwyr’ yn y dyfodol. O'r herwydd teimlwn y dylid anrhydeddu'r newid terminoleg y gofynnodd y BDA amdano.
The Explanatory Memorandum to the British Sign Language (BSL) (Wales) Bill notes that the British Deaf Association (BDA) has requested that the term ‘users’ be replaced with ‘signers’ going forwards. As such we feel that the terminology change requested by the BDA should be honoured.
Yes.
Byddai’n ymddangos yn rhesymol i ddefnyddio’r term ‘arwyddwyr BSL byddar’ wrth gyfeirio at arwyddwyr BSL sy’n fyddar yn feddygol neu’n awdiolegol fel grŵp penodol o arwyddwyr BSL. Mae’n debygol y bydd anghenion ‘arwyddwyr BSL byddar’ yn wahanol i anghenion y gymuned arwyddo BSL ehangach, ac felly bydd angen ystyriaeth benodol iddynt wrth lunio’r safonau BSL.
It would seem logical to use the term ‘deaf BSL signers’ when referring to BSL signers who are medically or audiologically deaf as a distinct group of BSL signers. It is likely that the needs of ‘deaf BSL signers’ will differ from those of the wider BSL signing community, and will therefore need specific consideration when formulating the BSL standards.
Neither agree or disagree.
Nid oes gan pum sefydliad partner Cwlwm unrhyw brofiad uniongyrchol o gymunedau byddar yn ymwneud â’r broses ddylunio a darparu gwasanaethau a ddarperir ar draws y sectorau Blynyddoedd Cynnar, Gofal Plant a Chwarae ledled Cymru. Ein profiad ni yw bod lleoliadau unigol yn gweithio gyda chynghorwyr, teuluoedd a gweithwyr proffesiynol eraill er mwyn addasu eu harferion i ddiwallu anghenion plant a phobl ifanc unigol tra’u bod yn eu gofal.
The five Cwlwm partner organisations have no direct experiences of deaf communities being involved in the design and delivery of the services provided across the Early years, Childcare and Play sectors across Wales. Our experience is that individual settings work with advisors, families and other professionals in order to adapt their practices to meet the needs of individual children and young people whilst they are in their care.
Strongly agree.
Credwn ei bod yn hanfodol bod gan gymunedau byddar llais ffurfiol wrth ddylunio a darparu’r gwasanaethau cyhoeddus y maent yn eu defnyddio, yn enwedig y rhai sydd wedi’u targedu at bobl fyddar. Er bod Llywodraeth Cymru ar hyn o bryd yn cydnabod BSL fel iaith yn ei rhinwedd ei hun, mae’r rhwystrau i gyfathrebu a wynebir gan aelodau o’r gymuned fyddar yn aml yn arwain at arwahanu cymdeithasol, llai o fynediad at wasanaethau hanfodol, yn ogystal â mynediad mwy cyfyngedig at gyfleoedd addysg a chyflogaeth.
We believe that is essential that deaf communities should have a formalised voice in the design and delivery of the public services that they use, especially ones targeted at deaf people. Although the Welsh Government currently recognised BSL as a language in its own right, the barriers to communication faced by members of the deaf community often lead to social isolation, reduced access to essential services as well as more limited access to education and employment opportunities.
Credwn mai’r gymuned fyddar sydd yn y sefyllfa orau i ymateb i’r cwestiwn hwn.
We believe that the deaf community is best placed to respond to this question.
Gweler ein ymateb isod / please see our response below:
Amcangyfrifwyd
bod 90% o blant byddar yn cael eu geni i rieni sy’n clywed
heb unrhyw brofiad blaenorol o fyddardod , ac felly ‘gall
dysgu bod eu plentyn yn fyddar fod yn amser emosiynol a dryslyd i
rieni a gofalwyr’. Mae Comisiynydd Plant Cymru wedi
nodi’n flaenorol bod diffyg cymorth ar gael i sicrhau bod
aelodau’r teulu’n gallu defnyddio BSL, gyda diffyg
sgiliau cyfathrebu yn gallu osod rhwystr diangen ac annheg rhwng
defnyddwyr/arwyddwyr BSL a’u teuluoedd.
It has been estimated that 90% of deaf children are born to hearing
parents with no previous experience of deafness , thus
‘learning that their child is deaf can be an emotional and
confusing time for parents and carers’. The Children’s
Commissioner for Wales has previously identified that there is a
lack of support available to ensure that family members can use
BSL, with a lack of communication skills potentially placing an
unnecessary and unfair barrier between BSL users/signers and their
families.
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.
Yes
Teimlwn fod cylch gwaith arfaethedig y Comisiynydd BSL yn fan cychwyn da. Mae’r Memorandwm Esboniadol i Fil Iaith Arwyddion Prydain (BSL) (Cymru) yn nodi y bydd natur a statws y Comisiynydd yn cael eu datblygu ymhellach mewn cydweithrediad â rhanddeiliaid, gan gynnwys Llywodraeth Cymru, wrth i’r Bil fynd rhagddo. Mae’n bwysig bod y gymuned fyddar yn cael ei chynnwys yn y sgyrsiau hyn o’r cychwyn cyntaf.
Nod y Bil BSL (Cymru) arfaethedig yw gweithio tuag at sicrhau nad yw arwyddwyr BSL yn cael eu trin yn llai ffafriol na’r rhai sy’n siarad Cymraeg neu Saesneg. Wrth sefydlu Comisiynydd BSL gyda'r un pwerau â Chomisiynwyr ieithoedd lleiafrifol eraill megis Comisiynydd y Gymraeg, mae Bil BSL (Cymru) yn darparu'r sylfaen i’r gymuned arwyddo BSL ymgysylltu â gwasanaethau cyhoeddus ledled Cymru.
We feel that the proposed remit for the BSL Commissioner is a good starting point. The Explanatory Memorandum to the British Sign Language (BSL) (Wales) Bill notes that the nature and status of the Commissioner will be further developed in collaboration with stakeholders, including the Welsh Government, as the Bill progresses. It is important that the deaf community is included in these conversations from the outset.
The proposed BSL (Wales) Bill aims to work towards ensuring that BSL signers are not treated less favourably than those who speak Welsh or English. In establishing a BSL Commissioner with the same powers as other minority language Commissioners such as the Welsh Language Commissioner, The BSL (Wales) Bill provides the foundation for the BSL signing community to engage with public services across Wales.
Yes
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.
Byddai hyn yn
rhoi BSL ar yr un lefel â'r adroddiad blynyddol sy'n ofynnol
ar gydymffurfiaeth Llywodraeth Cymru â Safonau'r
Gymraeg.
This would place BSL on equal footing with the annual report
required on Welsh Government compliance with the Welsh Language
Standards.
Gan fod BSL yn iaith weledol, ni ddylai gael effaith negyddol ar gyfleoedd i bobl ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg. Fodd bynnag, nodwn yr angen i fuddsoddi mewn hyfforddwyr a staff arbenigol gyda'r sgiliau iaith Gymraeg priodol yn ogystal â'r sgiliau BSL angenrheidiol. Mae hyn yn arbennig o bwysig wrth ystyried cymorth blynyddoedd cynnar i blant byddar a'u teuluoedd, a hefyd ar gyfer gwella darpariaeth BSL o fewn lleoliadau Blynyddoedd Cynnar, Gofal Plant, Chwarae ac Addysg.
Nodwn nad oes ysgolion i’r byddar yng Nghymru, a bod yn rhaid i deuluoedd Cymraeg eu hiaith a’r rhai a hoffai addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg i’w plant wneud dewisiadau a phenderfyniadau anodd ynghylch addysg arbenigol i’w plant. Mae hyn ynddo'i hun yn golygu bod y Gymraeg yn cael ei thrin yn llai ffafriol na'r Saesneg ar gyfer plant a phobl ifanc sydd angen cymorth addysgol arbenigol.
Mae tafodieithoedd rhanbarthol yn agwedd bwysig o’n treftadaeth ddiwylliannol. Maent yn darparu mewnwelediadau pwysig i ddiwylliant a hanes cymunedau rhanbarthol, ac yn adlewyrchu profiadau cymdeithasol, diwylliannol a hanesyddol unigryw'r gymuned mewn ardaloedd daearyddol penodol.
Dylid nodi hefyd fod gan BSL arwyddion / ystumiau penodol ar gyfer y deugraffau Cymraeg, ac mae angen cefnogi'r rhain hefyd ar draws Cymru.
Mae partneriaid Cwlwm yn cynrychioli’r sector Blynyddoedd Cynnar, Gofal Plant a Gwaith Chwarae ledled Cymru. Wrth ddatblygu a gweithredu Bil BSL (Cymru), mae angen ystyried yr angen i uwchsgilio ymarferwyr ar draws y sector i ddefnyddio BSL yn effeithiol gyda’r plant a’r bobl ifanc yn eu gofal. Bydd angen cynllunio gofalus ar gyfer hyn, yn ogystal â chyllid ychwanegol, i sicrhau bod holl ymarferwyr presennol a dyfodol y sector yn gallu diwallu anghenion teuluoedd ledled Cymru.
Byddem hefyd yn tynnu sylw at y defnydd presennol o ddulliau cyfathrebu eraill a gefnogir gan arwyddion mewn lleoliadau Blynyddoedd Cynnar (er enghraifft Makaton a Sign Along). Teimlwn y byddai’n fuddiol cynnwys y gymuned fyddar mewn trafodaethau am y defnydd mwyaf priodol o’r systemau cyfathrebu hyn yn y blynyddoedd cynnar. Byddai hyn yn cyfrannu at gysondeb o ran ymagwedd gan yr holl weithwyr proffesiynol sy’n gweithio gyda phlant ifanc a’u teuluoedd ac yn eu cefnogi mewn lleoliadau amrywiol ledled Cymru.
Mae'n bwysig bod y Panel Cynghori BSL yn cynnwys arwyddwyr Iaith Arwyddion Prydain o Gymru sy'n deall y problemau a wynebir gan arwyddwyr BSL byddar yng Nghymru. Fodd bynnag, byddai’n fanteisiol ymgynghori â rhieni / gofalwyr plant a phobl ifanc byddar yng Nghymru i sicrhau bod teuluoedd yn cael eu cefnogi’n ddigonol o ddechrau eu taith gyda’r gymuned fyddar.
As BSL is a visual language, it should not have a negative impact on opportunities for people to use Welsh. However, we note the need to invest in trainers and specialist staff with appropriate Welsh language skills as well as the necessary BSL skills. This is especially important when considering early years support for deaf children and their families, and also for improving BSL provision within Early Years, Childcare, Play and Education environments.
We note that there are no schools for the deaf in Wales, and that Welsh-speaking families and those who would like a Welsh-medium education for their children must make difficult choices and decisions about specialist education for their children. This in itself means that Welsh is treated less favourably than English for children and young people who need specialist educational support.
Regional
dialects are an important aspect of our cultural heritage. They
provide important insights into the culture and history of the
community in that region, and reflect the unique social, cultural
and historical experiences of the community in specific
geographical areas.
It should also be noted that BSL has specific signs / gestures for
the Welsh digraphs, and these also need to be supported across
Wales.
Cwlwm partners represent the Early Years, Childcare and Playwork
sector across Wales. In developing and implementing the BSL (Wales)
Bill, consideration needs to be given to the need to upskill
practitioners across the sector to effectively use BSL with the
children and young people in their care. This will need careful
planning, as well as additional funding, to ensure that all current
and future practitioners are able to meet the needs of families
across Wales.
We would also draw attention to the current use of other sign-supported communication methods in Early Years settings (for example Makaton and Sign Along). We feel it would be beneficial to include the deaf community in discussions about the most appropriate use of these communication systems in the early years. This would contribute to consistency in approach from all professionals working with and supporting young children and their families in various settings across Wales.
It is important that the BSL Advisory Panel would be made up of Welsh BSL signers who understand the issues faced by deaf BSL signers in Wales. However, it would be advantageous to consult with the parents / carers of deaf children and young people in Wales to ensure that families are adequately supported from the beginning of their journey with the deaf community.