BSL-63 Caitlin

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: Caitlin | Evidence from: Caitlin

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.

i think that deaf people have the right to access their needs. they have a right to have a bsl interpreter and should bsl  be taught everywhere.

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

agree, there should be commissioner and somebody to report and keep updates.

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.

we dont use word for bsl user. we use bsl signers. i am deaf myself and i use bsl for the lady who i care for. she is profoundly Deaf and uses sign language all the time. It is important to use sign language and for people to be deaf aware.

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.

Some Deaf people don't have access to Hearing Aids or Cochlear Implants etc so it wouldn't help them. Some Deaf people prefer to use sign language without equipment. Some BSL users are their first language that's how they learn. Hearing aid equipment dont work.

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 went to doctor to make appointment and they told me to go home and ring them or ask my parents to ring them. i want to be independent! I worked at Amelia Trust Farm and they refused to give me an interpreter and said I can lipread.

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.

I went to job centre and they did not have interpreter. This is important that deaf people have interpreter. Hearing people have no idea how to communicate with Deaf people. It is not fair. Hearing people will only experience deaf if they are Deaf themselves.

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

yes, text, emails, facetime, sign video, face to face, blind typing- braille  should all be available at all times.

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.

Barry college lack of interpreters and any other colleges, universities. If I travel by bus or train there's a speaker, I cannot hear or understand where I am going. There should be written information and make people aware of what is like to be Deaf. There is no interpreter for physiotherapy for the lady that I care for, everything is by phone. Cannot text them. Cannot hear them.

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.

They should do free sign language for children, families and at pre school. They should be more sign language training so that this grows and develops and make it better for deaf community.

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.

deaf families will need extra support, it takes time to learn sign language so need to start and help now.

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.

important to keep up to date and any reports from Deaf people to help improve for future

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

Technology, we cannot hear on phones and some deaf people cannot understand written English if they are BSL signers.

Question 16: Anything else?

home letters, some deaf people don't understand letters, maybe more places for deaf people to learn from if they have missed school or college.