BSL-77 Karen Jefferies

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: Karen Jefferies | Evidence from: Karen Jefferies

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.

Most definitely  I often find myself in situations where my rights as an individual are undermind by the fact I have to rely on others to communicate for myself because my voice have no rights to be heard  as an equal.

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

Most definitely agree.

I want to have the same Equivalent rights as my hearing family friends and colleagues.

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.

Don't know.

xxxxxxxxx use Bsl too and as such are signers  I'm a user but rely on many people that would be signers.

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.

Personally I am Deaf a user and signer of bsl  this is just words to try make a divide.

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 have absolutely no say in any service I accessor can't access currently.

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 should have the same rights as any speaking person has in the services they can access.

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

British sign language.

Captioning/ subtitles.

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.

RecreationLack of true Bsl in the schools lack of education in its fullest form selective teaching of subjects or a watered down version.

Lack of Bsl interpreters being booked for appointments, phone calls to deaf people,

Making appointment, failing to see a Dr as the nurse can't telephone triage you, lack of deaf awareness, having surgery for an injury not knowing what is about to happen or when, being ignored because they can't be bothered with the communication barries.

Lack of trained staff in the social care, most staff aren't even trained in deaf awareness !!!! It's shocking ( I work in care )

Train announcements screens dont always working, missed stops,

Changes to platform

Job centres refusing to sort interpreter,

Fire safety checks in the home with no interpreter when you have booked as a deaf person,

Council office giving you numbers to call or calling you rather than replying ( unofficially told they don't like to reply in writting as this is then paper train which is why phoning is preferable

Training not being given in a format that I can access or easily understand, lack of Deaf awareness

Cinema theatre restaurants banks leisure centres gyms ( not all deaf can read written English, many leave school with a reading age of about 9 to 11 yrs age)

No information is accessible in my language

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.

Yes so it can be monitored and after all you have this for Welsh language.

Everything needs to be accountable.

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 people know best what deaf people signers need

Hearing children have access to language from birth why shouldn't a deaf child.

A deaf child has the right to the same opportunities to learn and reach their full potential and any hearing child by providing education in British sign language this would be provided.

Interpreters in public services would give me the same information as my hearing  neighbours, imagine going to the council and not being able to get across what you needed to.

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.

The Welsh Government do an annual report on the Welsh language bill .why should we expect any less or different.

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

The Welsh speakers have for the Welsh language bill, having fought for their language to be protected why should the British sign language community be any different.

Question 16: Anything else?

We just don't won't be treated as third class citizen,

Please apply the passion that you have for your language to ours.