BSL-73 Sara Rhys-Martin
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:
Sara Rhys-Martin | Evidence from: Sara Rhys-Martin
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.
Although
written English is my first language, BSL is my preferred language
and communication. We need our language to be recognised as an
equal language as Welsh and English in Wales and to have equity
with other languages and cultures in Wales. The way BSL is not
being respected or recognised in Wales is not dissimilar to how
Welsh language was treated by the English in Wales e.g. W.N signs
and being marginalised and punished for using mother language.
Question 2: Do you agree or disagree with the goals that the
Bill seeks to achieve? Please provide reasons for your answer.
Yes, I fully
agree with the goals that the Bill seeks to achieve.
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?
Question 4: Do you agree that the Bill should support the
various Welsh regional dialects of BSL?
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.
Some hearing
children and adults of Deaf adults (CODAs) are more comfortable
communicating in BSL than in spoken languages.
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.
Although not
all deaf people use BSL, in my experience, both personally and
professionally, Deaf BSL users or signers are usually
audiologically deaf.
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
agree.
Same reason
for any ethnic groups, any decisions regarding a cultural and
linguistic group has to have people from that cultural and
linguistic group involved in any decision making for that specific
group.
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.
Question 8: Are there any specific communication methods used
by deaf people that you would like the Bill to
reference/include?
Same answer as
previous answer.
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.
Deaf BSL
signers face daily battles every time they go out in the
community.
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.
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
strongly recommend a Deaf BSL signer to take on the role of the
Commissioner in the same way a Welsh speaker to take on the role of
Welsh Commissioner for Wales.
Question 12: Do you agree that the BSL Commissioner and the BSL
Advisory Panel members should be fluent users/signers?
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.
All are
essential priorities and Deaf people are amongst the most under
served groups in Wales and experience highest risk for mental
health problems and health issues.
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 not
been recognised as a culturally equal group in Wales and need to
feel valued, same as other and hearing cultural groups.
Question 15: Are there any other issues that you would like to
raise about the Bill and the accompanying Explanatory
Memorandum?
Question 16: Anything else?
No only please realise that
Deaf BSL signers in Wales are experiencing similar discrimination
as Welsh speakers in the past in their own country.