WEBVTT 00:00:07.693 --> 00:00:16.386 The Northern Ireland Assembly is debating the Sign Language Bill. 00:00:16.386 --> 00:00:24.869 To help them do this, its Communities Committee asked for feedback from any 00:00:24.869 --> 00:00:42.437 person or group – either via video on WhatsApp or in writing. 00:00:42.997 --> 00:00:51.517 The BDA (NI) submitted a written response and this is a summary of 00:00:51.517 --> 00:00:53.671 what that included. 00:00:54.633 --> 00:01:04.669 BDA fully agrees with the proposed new law with one exception (more on that later). 00:01:05.863 --> 00:01:13.434 However, we are calling for the Bill to go even further and will give more details below. 00:01:20.808 --> 00:01:32.438 1) Do you feel Clause 1 goes far enough in formally recognising BSL and ISL as 00:01:32.438 --> 00:01:34.082 languages of Northern Ireland? 00:01:35.929 --> 00:01:46.859 BDA believes yes Clause 1 of the Bill is strong enough. The Bill will give Sign Language 00:01:46.859 --> 00:01:57.199 the same rights as other spoken languages such as Irish and Ulster Scots while not 00:01:57.199 --> 00:02:04.569 affecting or impacting other important laws that might apply to an individual - 00:02:04.569 --> 00:02:11.129 such as the Disability Discrimination Act or Human Rights Acts. 00:02:11.719 --> 00:02:17.769 The Act will also bring NI in line with other parts of the UK where Sign Language 00:02:17.769 --> 00:02:25.035 is already given equal status. 00:02:32.826 --> 00:02:41.556 2) Do you feel Clause 2 goes far enough in promoting the use of BSL and ISL and 00:02:41.556 --> 00:02:43.746 developing deaf culture? 00:02:44.282 --> 00:02:50.942 BDA welcomes the approach of viewing signing not as a disability issue but a 00:02:50.942 --> 00:02:55.472 linguistic minority matter. However, we notice that decisions 00:02:55.472 --> 00:03:02.012 are often made in relation to deaf services or sign language services without meaningful 00:03:02.012 --> 00:03:08.872 deaf input. We want to see a more robust way of including Deaf signers in 00:03:08.872 --> 00:03:15.512 the process of planning, delivering and evaluating. We want to see a commitment 00:03:15.512 --> 00:03:20.795 to invest in developing Deaf leadership in these areas. 00:03:20.978 --> 00:03:25.848 We also welcome the proposal that sign language classes for families with 00:03:25.848 --> 00:03:31.368 Deaf children will become a statutory provision. 00:03:32.505 --> 00:03:39.607 BDA advised on the need for Deaf signers to be able to use technological advances, 00:03:39.607 --> 00:03:46.099 in the same way VRS became crucial during the Covid pandemic and increased 00:03:46.099 --> 00:03:51.939 use of BSL/ISL in the media and schools. We also repeated the importance of 00:03:51.939 --> 00:03:57.719 Deaf signers being involved and leading at all stages of the introduction of these 00:03:57.719 --> 00:03:59.339 new ways of working. 00:03:59.806 --> 00:04:05.035 We also said the Department for Communities should support members 00:04:05.035 --> 00:04:10.385 of the deaf community to develop their skills and capacities towards taking 00:04:10.385 --> 00:04:18.585 leadership roles in designing and delivering policies to implement 00:04:18.585 --> 00:04:19.937 access to sign language. 00:04:26.164 --> 00:04:36.154 3) Do you think the duty placed on prescribed organisations to make the 00:04:36.154 --> 00:04:41.564 information and services accessible to members of the deaf community 00:04:41.564 --> 00:04:42.621 is sufficient? 00:04:43.890 --> 00:04:51.342 BDA acknowledge the Bill will place a responsibility on “prescribed” government 00:04:51.342 --> 00:05:01.172 departments to draw up Action plans in consultation with Deaf people on what 00:05:01.172 --> 00:05:12.572 should be translated, and in what priority order. We accept not everything 00:05:12.572 --> 00:05:19.592 needs to be or can be translated, but Deaf signers should lead on creating 00:05:19.592 --> 00:05:29.392 clear guidance on what is important. This is particularly true in an emergency 00:05:29.392 --> 00:05:32.850 situation or crisis. 00:05:34.666 --> 00:05:41.436 Interpreters should be provided at no extra cost to the Deaf signer and 00:05:41.436 --> 00:05:52.248 this can be a mix of face-to-face and VRS/VRI. 00:05:54.448 --> 00:06:02.748 Finally, again, BDA emphasised the need to involve Deaf people at all stages 00:06:02.748 --> 00:06:10.642 of development and implementation, and for a commitment to develop Deaf leadership. 00:06:16.532 --> 00:06:27.182 4) Do you support the approach taken by Clause 4 that DfC is responsible for 00:06:27.182 --> 00:06:33.796 creating the list of public bodies who the Act will apply to? 00:06:34.989 --> 00:06:43.719 BDA NI believes that the Department for Communities is best placed to do this. 00:06:43.719 --> 00:06:47.719 They have a long history of working with the Deaf sector and will have 00:06:47.719 --> 00:06:51.052 responsibilities over the implementation of the Bill. 00:06:58.468 --> 00:07:08.858 5) Do you support the approach to consultation required in Clause 5 that 00:07:08.858 --> 00:07:21.778 DfC must issue guidance on implementing the Bill through consulting with stakeholders 00:07:23.525 --> 00:07:29.985 It is very important that consultation takes place so organisations are prepared 00:07:29.985 --> 00:07:40.785 to take on their obligations under the Act. Although DfC will have authority to issue 00:07:40.785 --> 00:07:49.485 guidance, and review guidance, BDA wants to see the Bill going further 00:07:49.485 --> 00:07:59.260 by stating how often and when these consultations and reviews should happen. 00:08:00.078 --> 00:08:06.788 We also ask for further clarification on how Deaf communities will be consulted - 00:08:06.788 --> 00:08:13.748 we believe it needs both individual views and those of the 00:08:13.748 --> 00:08:17.998 Deaf community as a whole. 00:08:24.692 --> 00:08:35.312 6) Do you support the approach taken in this clause where DfC should give 00:08:35.312 --> 00:08:39.312 best practice advised to various organisations? 00:08:42.164 --> 00:08:55.105 BDA referred to the Irish Sign Language Act 2017: after three years, 52% of Irish public bodies 00:08:55.105 --> 00:09:02.765 were still not aware of their responsibilities under the Act. To avoid this happening in 00:09:02.765 --> 00:09:10.313 Northern Ireland, BDA recommends a robust programme of best practice guidance. 00:09:10.918 --> 00:09:18.198 This way, all departments should know exactly what they need to do, and their 00:09:18.198 --> 00:09:25.388 actions plans are produced in conjunction with Deaf input and there is availability of 00:09:25.388 --> 00:09:31.258 both BSL and ISL interpreter support across NI. 00:09:37.797 --> 00:09:47.357 7) Do you support the provision for the Department for Communities to 00:09:47.357 --> 00:09:50.494 make further regulations in the future? 00:09:51.315 --> 00:09:57.601 BDA agrees that a flexible approach is appropriate because all organisations 00:09:57.601 --> 00:10:04.331 will be on a learning journey as they navigate this new legislation. 00:10:04.331 --> 00:10:10.901 Identifying issues and putting in regulations to deal with these issues 00:10:10.901 --> 00:10:14.901 is practical and welcomed. 00:10:21.003 --> 00:10:34.549 8) Do you feel the level of consultation required to bring in regulations is sufficient? 00:10:36.224 --> 00:10:46.321 Yes, BDA is clear that both individuals and organisations representing the 00:10:46.321 --> 00:10:50.321 Deaf community should be included in this. 00:10:57.013 --> 00:11:06.663 9) Do you think evaluating the impact of the Bill in a report every five years is 00:11:06.663 --> 00:11:10.043 an appropriate length of time? 00:11:11.599 --> 00:11:17.879 BDA carefully considered what would be the most appropriate amount of time. 00:11:18.913 --> 00:11:25.333 We took into account experience from both Scotland and Ireland’s implementation 00:11:25.333 --> 00:11:32.833 of their legislation. We believe 5 years is a reasonable time period, but we think 00:11:32.833 --> 00:11:41.843 there should be annual reports submitted to DfC during this 5 year period 00:11:41.843 --> 00:11:49.503 to highlight any issues and allow remedial action. 00:11:55.921 --> 00:12:06.711 10) Do you support the creation of a scheme for accrediting BSL and ISL teachers? 00:12:10.331 --> 00:12:16.761 There is a need for a scheme for BSL/ISL teachers and assessors. 00:12:17.645 --> 00:12:26.115 We recommend it is based on one of two successful models already in existence: 00:12:26.115 --> 00:12:34.715 the Association of British Sign Language Teachers and Assessors (ABSLTA); 00:12:34.715 --> 00:12:42.955 or the National Registers of Communication Professionals Working with Deaf and Deafblind 00:12:42.955 --> 00:12:53.765 (UK) (NRCPD). A separate scheme for supporting deaf teachers would be very 00:12:53.765 --> 00:13:04.760 valuable. This can offer networking, sharing of ideas, support etc. 00:13:05.561 --> 00:13:14.761 Creating a list of qualified teachers that could identify if they teach ISL or BSL, 00:13:14.761 --> 00:13:22.361 what levels, what ages etc would be very useful for people, schools, 00:13:22.361 --> 00:13:24.762 and families seeking this service. 00:13:26.757 --> 00:13:36.617 *Do you support the creation of a scheme for accrediting BSL and ISL interpreters? 00:13:37.183 --> 00:13:42.603 This is the one area mentioned in the introduction where BDA does NOT 00:13:42.603 --> 00:13:50.723 support the suggested wording. This is because it implies creating a whole 00:13:50.723 --> 00:14:00.653 new scheme for accreditation. BDA says there is already a system that 00:14:00.653 --> 00:14:07.953 covers the whole of the UK and is fit for purpose - the National Registers of 00:14:07.953 --> 00:14:15.073 Communication Professionals Working with Deaf and Deafblind People (UK) (NRCPD). 00:14:15.461 --> 00:14:24.991 Creating a second new scheme specifically for Northern Ireland is an unnecessary duplication 00:14:24.991 --> 00:14:27.321 which could cause confusion. 00:14:34.571 --> 00:14:44.181 11) Do you agree with the definition of the deaf community provided for in the Bill? 00:14:45.171 --> 00:14:52.821 BDA is conscious of the sensitivity in use of language here. There is no formal 00:14:52.821 --> 00:15:01.871 definition of ‘deaf community’ and no deaf person has to view themselves as part of it. 00:15:02.315 --> 00:15:09.064 For the purpose of this Bill, we believe the proposed wording is appropriate. 00:15:16.848 --> 00:15:28.638 12) Do you agree with the definition of BSL and ISL provided for in the Bill? 00:15:29.953 --> 00:15:33.953 Yes, BDA agrees with the definitions. 00:15:41.065 --> 00:15:51.125 13) Do you agree with the definition of “everyday reliance” provided in the Bill? 00:15:52.538 --> 00:15:59.299 BDA supports the proposed definition. But we want to make it clear that many 00:15:59.299 --> 00:16:07.269 deaf people face barriers every day stemming from communication issues. 00:16:07.912 --> 00:16:15.242 These issues exist even within families, for example where deaf children are born 00:16:15.242 --> 00:16:20.622 to hearing families. The importance of programmes such as Family Signing 00:16:20.622 --> 00:16:30.232 in the Home is absolutely critical for giving the best start to the next generation 00:16:30.232 --> 00:16:38.826 of deaf children and importantly, for supporting their families too. 00:16:39.411 --> 00:16:45.481 NI Deaf communities have a wide and rich range of variations in personal 00:16:45.481 --> 00:16:53.021 circumstances and in their individual language journeys, and BDA agrees the 00:16:53.021 --> 00:16:56.241 definition is inclusive for all.