BSL-96 Individual

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: Unigolyn | Evidence from: Individual

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, because BSL speakers still cannot access relevant information through the medium of BSL as a speaker of Welsh or English would. As a non-written language, there are several more barriers to accessibility which disenfranchise BSL-speakers disproportionately.

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

Yes

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.

No.

The proposed substitute "BSL signers" is not adequate either. BSL is a language. The term is "BSL speakers" where "speaker" is used in a metaphorical sense.

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.

No.

Not all D/deaf speakers are the same. Deafened speakers face other realities than speakers who were born deaf or lost hearing in infancy or young age.

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.

BSL speakers were clearly not involved when Welsh government rolled out the plan to introduce Makato to primar schools, which effectively is a signing system based on cultural and linguistic appropriation. BSL speakers have frequently come out against the use of Makaton.

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.

BSL speakers are Welsh citizens. As such, they need to be heard and have their requirements met in order to contribute to their full potential. At present, this is not happening. For example, there has to this date not been a single D/deaf AS which clearly demonstrates how D/deafness is dismissed in the public sphere.

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

I can't answer this question.

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; Workplace; Other Public Services used by deaf people and their families.

There is virtually no barrier-free access to most services as they presume that the applicant can hear.

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.

The BSL Commissioner for Wales needs to be a proficient BSL speaker and the BSL Advisory Panel must draw its members from the BSL and D/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.

As Welsh citizens, BSL-users have a right to be fully integrated into society. This includes all aspects of life, starting in infancy.

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.

"Do you agree or disagree" cannot be answered with Yes or No. I agree there is a duty on Welsh Government to prepare and publish an annual BSL report on principle.

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

It is disappointing that Welsh Government has to be forced by way of law to treat BSL-speakers as full Welsh citizens.

Question 16: Anything else?

No.