BSL-45 Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

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: Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Aneurin Bevan | Evidence from: Aneurin Bevan University Health Board  

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.

A Bill will be useful to progress the improvement of availability and use of BSL for citizens who communicate via BSL. The infrastructure and support underneath the Bill will however be critical.

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

Yes, currently BSL is not as widely available as it could be so improvement to widen the availability is positive. This is particularly important in the delivery of health care services, so that individuals can communicate effectively.

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.

Yes.

I think the term that is used should be agreed in partnership with individuals who use BSL as their method of communication, so that they can agree on the most appropriate language used.

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.

again i think this should be agreed with those individuals directly affected.

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

We as an organisation are communicating and involving as many groups of the population in future planning of services, but there is still more that can be done in this space to reach everyone effectively.

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.

Agree.

Individuals who use BSL will not only use services related to audiology, they may need to come into hospital for a wide range of services, and the ability to communicate effectively in their communication style is critically important for person centre care, to ensure they understand and feel treated as an individual throughout.

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

BSL and Video Relay.

SignLive.

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; Workplace; Other Public Services used by deaf people and their families.

not all services currently can accommodate BSL users, as the training around this is very expensive and so limited. Interpreters and technology like SignLive can be accessed but this may cause a delay and isn't the same as individuals communicating directly. There is a risk then that individuals with sensory loss do not feel like they are being treated as individuals with their needs fully understood.

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.

The above remit is positive, but with focus on support and infrastructural to operationalise the above, or there is a risk it becomes solely a target driven agenda.

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; Improving BSL provision in education; Early years language support for deaf children and their families; 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.

Don't know.

possibly, however a wider sensory loss annual report may be more appropriate, to ensure all individuals with sensory loss are considered.

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

The Bill will need to co-produced via workshops with citizens of Wales who use BSL, as well as public services to drive the agenda and content of the Bill.