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: Elizabeth Steele | Evidence from: Elizabeth Steele
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.
Yes, there is definitely a need for this legislation. Wales needs to follow suit with England and Scotland and provide protections and considerations for BSL.
Yes I do agree with the goals that the Bill seeks to achieve. Efforts to remove barriers for deaf people across all areas of society and to champion and empower the voices of the deaf community are much welcomed and needed.
Yes
Yes
Yes.
BSL signers is more reflective of the method of communication. For spoken languages, you would say 'Welsh speaker' so it makes sense to present BSL as BSL signers. However, whatever the accepted, inclusive and preferred terminology results in, I will accept and use.
Yes.
Yes - striving towards inclusion and equality means using inclusive language. The cultural implications and distinctions associated with medically/audiologically deaf people (who also sign) can lead to feelings of isolation and lack of acceptance by the deaf community. Individuals who are medically/audiologically deaf may not have proper opportunity to develop their deaf identity or learn sign language (i.e., as an adult), thus potentially not having a strong association with deaf culture but this is something that can be developed (speaking from experience). Using more inclusive language such as deaf BSL signers that reflects all members of the deaf community will support the acceptance and integration of medically/audiologically deaf individuals.
Strongly disagree.
I do not think that deaf communities currently have a voice in the design and delivery of public services in Wales. So many things in society are inherently visual, or would benefit from visual input, and the deaf community are one of the best placed groups to inform and develop visual and communicable infrastructure within public services.
Strongly agree.
As mentioned above, deaf communities are well placed to inform public services and policy so having a formalised voice to embed this would be well received. User-led consultation and development will yield more successful and impactful results which will have greater sustainability over time.
Ensuring that BSL would be the primary communication method stated in the Bill is paramount. It is pertinent to acknowledge other communication methods that are used e.g., deafblind tactile signing and Sign Supported English.
Makaton should not be referenced anywhere in the Bill as a communication method as it does not employ the same breadth and nuance as BSL and is taken from BSL itself. Legitimate signing communication methods (as the ones mentioned above) should be championed within the Bill.
Education; Health; Social Care; Transport; Other Public Services used by deaf people and their families; Workplace.
There are significant barriers for deaf communities across all of these areas that all need addressing and reducing/removing as a result of the BSL Bill. Here are some barriers for some of the areas.
Education: There are no D/deaf only schools in Wales, only specialist units within mainstream schools (meaning that some D/deaf children must travel far to attend a suitable school). This inherently provides barriers for young and developing D/deaf and Hard of Hearing children as it does not provide a fully inclusive environment that enables individuals to thrive amongst other D/deaf children. For those children where BSL is their primary language, if there are few or no other children that also communicate in BSL, there are fewer opportunities for socialisation, effective communication and integration with other children which has potential profound impacts on the child.
Health: Developments have taken place within the health sector to improve access for D/deaf individuals, e.g., the implementation of the BSL 999 app which supports in an emergency environment. However, significant work needs to take place around providing regular and regulated interpreters across health care settings to reduce/eliminate the need for family/friends to neutrally interpret medical information. There are many stories whereby family members have had to deliver important and serious medical information which is beyond the responsibility of the family member. Also, providing interpreters when asked to is paramount to ensure access.
Transport: There is an overreliance on auditory announcements within the transport sector which creates a significant barrier for D/deaf individuals, and they may miss important announcements (e.g., a platform change) which can impact the journey and cause undue stress and anxiety. By providing clear visual displays with both written plain English and BSL overlay to support the delivery of transport announcements would reduce the barriers faced by D/deaf people within the transport sector.
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
Yes I agree with the proposed remit of the Commissioner. More frequent reports would be better i.e., every 2-3 years opposed to every 5 years as this will give a better idea of progress and provide scope for further development/change where needed.
Yes
Early years language support for deaf children and their families;; Improving BSL provision in education; Enabling deaf users/signers to lead the development of policies and implementation of services for BSL users/signers; Access to interpreters in public services.
Again, all of these are key areas that should be prioritised within the Bill but two areas I personally need think need significant development are 'Early years language support for deaf children and their families' and 'Improving BSL provision in education'. Ensuring that the future generations of deaf communities have equitable access to appropriate language support at the start of their education will significantly impact their future and prospects. Providing greater access to BSL across education - whether that is in integrated or separate environments - will create greater awareness and use of BSL on an every day basis, meaning that it will become more natural and present across other areas of society outside of education.
Yes.
An annual report will hold Welsh Government accountable and ensure that the BSL Bill is being delivered effectively.
N/A
N/A