Welsh BSL Bill is “vote in favour of progress”

The Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy – Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS – has spoken of her "unreserved support" for a legislative proposal which was brought forward by her Welsh Conservative colleague, Mr Mark Isherwood MS/AS, with regards to a British Sign Language (BSL) Bill for Wales. 

The proposed Bill seeks to ensure that the deaf community and people with hearing loss have a voice in the design and delivery of services to ensure that they sufficiently meet the needs of service users. Proposed actions included the establishment of a new BSL National Advisory Group. 

Highlighting her support, Janet said:  

“I wholeheartedly agree with Mark’s proposal to introduce a requirement that public bodies co-produce and publish their own BSL plan to develop awareness and training, as a means to improve access to frontline services for the 7,500 people who use BSL in Wales.  

“It is an inclusive step that I have looked to implement in my own office, especially after the Petitions Committee took such striking evidence from Deffo!, which called for the improvement of access to services in BSL as a means to improve the quality of life for D/deaf people of all ages. 

“Importantly, the RNID has made plain that a BSL Bill would crucially act as a platform to ensure improved services for the deaf community and people with hearing loss. By improving the support offered, it will empower people to fully engage in things like employment and education. 

“I can see no better way of achieving this parity of opportunity than through the proposed Bill, and establishment of a BSL national advisory group. BSL is a language in its own right and deserves recognition. This was a crucial vote in favour of progress, and the proposal has my unreserved support.” 

ENDS 

Notes to Editors:  

  • The BSL (Scotland) Act was passed in 2015, marking a new era in the deaf community’s campaign for the legal recognition of BSL across the UK. The Northern Ireland Assembly has also recently re-commenced preliminary legislative work on both British and Irish Sign Languages. 

You may also be interested in