BSL-50 Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW)

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: Iechyd a Gofal Digidol Cymru | Evidence from: Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW)

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 legislation will guide DHCW work around inclusivity and BSL services.

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

Yes, DHCW are supportive of the goals and the aspirations in this consultation document. It is noted that there will be a requirement for additional reporting for public sector bodies and therefore an impact on current capacity and resource. Additional provisions may need to be considered in the development of digital products and services.

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.

Don't know.

Due to limited knowledge and unaware of the potential research undertaken by Welsh Government and people that use sign language, we are unable to comment at this current time.

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.

Due to limited knowledge and unaware of the history of where the terminology originated and the current information gathered in relation to language and terminology, therefore we are unable to comment at this current time.

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.

We are unable to comment at this time.

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.

For the purposes of equality and inclusion there should be a formalised voice in design and delivery.

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

We are unable to comment at this time.

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.

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.

DHCW recognises the importance of senior leadership to drive forward this important agenda and implement standards for this work, however there is a query about how this aligns to existing roles and standards in Welsh Government for example Welsh Government Accessible Communication and Information Standards (plan) and whether this role can be incorporated into other areas of work in relation to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

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.

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.

Visible monitoring and tracking of progress against the standards and objectives and evaluation of impact. This also supports identifying barriers and any further action that may need to be taken.

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

There will be a requirement to ensure capacity in DHCW to support the activities and requirements for the Bill and this would need to be incorporated into the current EDI workplan and work on the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act.