BSL-59 Pauline Jennings

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: Pauline Jennings | Evidence from: Pauline Jennings

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. I agree because it is not fair if Welsh deaf people are left behind their peers in England Scotland.

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

Agree. We do not want us deaf people to be left out and action needs to be done to improve things. I do not want to see any barriers happening for deaf people in Wales.

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.

Yes.

I am not bothered about this personally. However, I know other deaf people who do not like to use the word user and prefer signer. I just want to see deaf people being treated equally and their needs are met.

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.

Yes.

I do not like the medical term hearing impaired. I prefer to be called Deaf and I am proud to be deaf. If deaf people use sign language then they should be called signers or part of the deaf world but not use hearing impaired.

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.

I do not want to have to do things online. I'm older and I struggle with technology (I have someone filling this consultation on my behalf). For example the doctors want me to request things online and I don't want that but they ignore me and ask my hearing family to do it instead but what if they are working or you don't have family? Health services always use the telephone for communication but they don't listen to use when we say we cant do this.

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.

They should listen to us to make access to making appointments or going for tests in hospital which at present is not accessible to us on the telephone.

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

Health services for example should allow deaf patients to be able to communicate with them in emails, text messages or face to face whatever they want not be restricted to have to follow their use of telephones or online only.

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.

When using a certain bus service I was waiting for ages for the bust to go oblivious that an announcement had been sent out saying people had to get off the bus and use an alternative service instead! I could not hear this and missed this information. When attending a jobcentre with a deaf peer they were refused a bsl interpreter with the excuse that there was no money to fund this and was told to ask for services using their online services instead.

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.

I would like to see a scheme set up to assist Deaf people in gaining employment successfully.

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.

When I originally lived in England as  deaf person I had so much more access to information in an accessible way for deaf people. When I moved to Wales I was shocked to see how many deaf people who were educated here had not had the same privilege as me which is access to education and information and general knowledge that all adults should know.

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.

We have the right to be kept in the loop and not left out.

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

I have lived in Wales for 7 years and I have seem mo improvements in school access for deaf children during this time. I feel we need more open deaf clubs to ensure the deaf community and sign languages thrive for thr future which is essential for a safe BSL space.