WEBVTT 00:00:07.693 --> 00:00:16.386 The Northern Ireland Assembly is debating the Sign Language Bill. 00:00:16.386 --> 00:00:23.989 To help them do this, its Communities Committee asked for feedback from any 00:00:23.989 --> 00:00:35.067 person or group – either via video on WhatsApp or in writing. 00:00:35.632 --> 00:00:43.807 The BDA (NI) submitted a written response and this is a summary of 00:00:43.807 --> 00:00:45.541 what that included. 00:00:45.796 --> 00:00:58.109 BDA fully agrees with the proposed new law with one exception (more on that later). 00:00:58.584 --> 00:01:03.700 However, we are calling for the Bill to go even further and will give more details below. 00:01:10.346 --> 00:01:19.587 1) Do you feel Clause 1 goes far enough in formally recognising BSL and ISL as 00:01:19.587 --> 00:01:21.621 languages of Northern Ireland? 00:01:22.309 --> 00:01:32.124 BDA believes yes Clause 1 of the Bill is strong enough. The Bill will give Sign Language 00:01:32.124 --> 00:01:40.576 the same rights as other spoken languages such as Irish and Ulster Scots while not 00:01:40.576 --> 00:01:45.439 affecting or impacting other important laws that might apply to an individual - 00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:50.592 such as the Disability Discrimination Act or Human Rights Acts. 00:01:51.347 --> 00:02:00.827 The Act will also bring NI in line with other parts of the UK where Sign Language 00:02:00.827 --> 00:02:04.954 is already given equal status. 00:02:11.903 --> 00:02:23.463 2) Do you feel Clause 2 goes far enough in promoting the use of BSL and ISL and 00:02:23.463 --> 00:02:25.653 developing deaf culture? 00:02:26.980 --> 00:02:36.480 BDA welcomes the approach of viewing signing not as a disability issue but a 00:02:36.480 --> 00:02:43.190 linguistic minority matter. However, we notice that decisions 00:02:43.190 --> 00:02:48.660 are often made in relation to deaf services or sign language services without meaningful 00:02:48.660 --> 00:02:57.780 deaf input. We want to see a more robust way of including Deaf signers in 00:02:57.780 --> 00:03:06.180 the process of planning, delivering and evaluating. We want to see a commitment 00:03:06.180 --> 00:03:11.162 to invest in developing Deaf leadership in these areas. 00:03:11.608 --> 00:03:16.940 We also welcome the proposal that sign language classes for families with 00:03:16.940 --> 00:03:21.222 Deaf children will become a statutory provision. 00:03:21.897 --> 00:03:32.359 BDA advised on the need for Deaf signers to be able to use technological advances, 00:03:32.359 --> 00:03:45.461 in the same way VRS became crucial during the Covid pandemic and increased 00:03:45.461 --> 00:03:57.771 use of BSL/ISL in the media and schools. We also repeated the importance of 00:03:57.771 --> 00:04:03.796 Deaf signers being involved and leading at all stages of the introduction of these 00:04:03.796 --> 00:04:07.438 new ways of working. 00:04:08.980 --> 00:04:14.293 We also said the Department for Communities should support members 00:04:14.293 --> 00:04:19.241 of the deaf community to develop their skills and capacities towards taking 00:04:19.241 --> 00:04:26.515 leadership roles in designing and delivering policies to implement 00:04:26.515 --> 00:04:29.028 access to sign language. 00:04:37.711 --> 00:04:48.363 3) Do you think the duty placed on prescribed organisations to make the 00:04:48.363 --> 00:04:52.390 information and services accessible to members of the deaf community 00:04:52.390 --> 00:04:55.457 is sufficient? 00:04:56.779 --> 00:05:06.949 BDA acknowledge the Bill will place a responsibility on “prescribed” government 00:05:06.949 --> 00:05:14.299 departments to draw up Action plans in consultation with Deaf people on what 00:05:14.299 --> 00:05:20.982 should be translated, and in what priority order. We accept not everything 00:05:20.982 --> 00:05:28.112 needs to be or can be translated, but Deaf signers should lead on creating 00:05:28.112 --> 00:05:39.612 clear guidance on what is important. This is particularly true in an emergency 00:05:39.612 --> 00:05:43.150 situation or crisis. 00:05:44.644 --> 00:05:54.196 Interpreters should be provided at no extra cost to the Deaf signer and 00:05:54.196 --> 00:05:59.908 this can be a mix of face-to-face and VRS/VRI. 00:06:00.683 --> 00:06:07.738 Finally, again, BDA emphasised the need to involve Deaf people at all stages 00:06:07.738 --> 00:06:15.938 of development and implementation, and for a commitment to develop Deaf leadership. 00:06:22.622 --> 00:06:35.692 4) Do you support the approach taken by Clause 4 that DfC is responsible for 00:06:35.692 --> 00:06:46.715 creating the list of public bodies who the Act will apply to? 00:06:47.747 --> 00:06:54.949 BDA NI believes that the Department for Communities is best placed to do this. 00:06:54.949 --> 00:06:59.559 They have a long history of working with the Deaf sector and will have 00:06:59.559 --> 00:07:04.673 responsibilities over the implementation of the Bill. 00:07:11.932 --> 00:07:19.528 5) Do you support the approach to consultation required in Clause 5 that 00:07:19.528 --> 00:07:31.440 DfC must issue guidance on implementing the Bill through consulting with stakeholders 00:07:33.107 --> 00:07:41.724 It is very important that consultation takes place so organisations are prepared 00:07:41.724 --> 00:07:50.568 to take on their obligations under the Act. Although DfC will have authority to issue 00:07:50.568 --> 00:07:59.855 guidance, and review guidance, BDA wants to see the Bill going further 00:07:59.855 --> 00:08:05.991 by stating how often and when these consultations and reviews should happen. 00:08:06.482 --> 00:08:12.768 We also ask for further clarification on how Deaf communities will be consulted - 00:08:12.768 --> 00:08:17.830 we believe it needs both individual views and those of the 00:08:17.830 --> 00:08:21.286 Deaf community as a whole. 00:08:28.861 --> 00:08:38.002 6) Do you support the approach taken in this clause where DfC should give 00:08:38.002 --> 00:08:45.077 best practice advised to various organisations? 00:08:46.914 --> 00:09:01.745 BDA referred to the Irish Sign Language Act 2017: after three years, 52% of Irish public bodies 00:09:01.745 --> 00:09:08.713 were still not aware of their responsibilities under the Act. To avoid this happening in 00:09:08.713 --> 00:09:19.023 Northern Ireland, BDA recommends a robust programme of best practice guidance. 00:09:19.736 --> 00:09:24.954 This way, all departments should know exactly what they need to do, and their 00:09:24.954 --> 00:09:31.355 actions plans are produced in conjunction with Deaf input and there is availability of 00:09:31.355 --> 00:09:35.774 both BSL and ISL interpreter support across NI. 00:09:43.382 --> 00:09:48.947 7) Do you support the provision for the Department for Communities to 00:09:48.947 --> 00:09:56.607 make further regulations in the future? 00:09:58.769 --> 00:10:08.481 BDA agrees that a flexible approach is appropriate because all organisations 00:10:08.481 --> 00:10:16.148 will be on a learning journey as they navigate this new legislation. 00:10:16.148 --> 00:10:23.963 Identifying issues and putting in regulations to deal with these issues 00:10:23.963 --> 00:10:28.513 is practical and welcomed. 00:10:36.456 --> 00:10:51.574 8) Do you feel the level of consultation required to bring in regulations is sufficient? 00:10:51.574 --> 00:10:58.963 Yes, BDA is clear that both individuals and organisations representing the 00:10:58.963 --> 00:11:01.463 Deaf community should be included in this. 00:11:08.429 --> 00:11:15.893 9) Do you think evaluating the impact of the Bill in a report every five years is 00:11:15.893 --> 00:11:22.843 an appropriate length of time? 00:11:24.173 --> 00:11:33.532 BDA carefully considered what would be the most appropriate amount of time. 00:11:33.532 --> 00:11:37.943 We took into account experience from both Scotland and Ireland’s implementation 00:11:37.943 --> 00:11:46.873 of their legislation. We believe 5 years is a reasonable time period, but we think 00:11:46.873 --> 00:11:55.393 there should be annual reports submitted to DfC during this 5 year period 00:11:55.393 --> 00:12:02.714 to highlight any issues and allow remedial action. 00:12:09.647 --> 00:12:18.131 10) Do you support the creation of a scheme for accrediting BSL and ISL teachers? 00:12:18.131 --> 00:12:23.155 There is a need for a scheme for BSL/ISL teachers and assessors. 00:12:23.155 --> 00:12:33.785 We recommend it is based on one of two successful models already in existence: 00:12:33.785 --> 00:12:45.075 the Association of British Sign Language Teachers and Assessors (ABSLTA); 00:12:45.075 --> 00:12:51.995 or the National Registers of Communication Professionals Working with Deaf and Deafblind 00:12:51.995 --> 00:13:00.765 (UK) (NRCPD). A separate scheme for supporting deaf teachers would be very 00:13:00.765 --> 00:13:10.731 valuable. This can offer networking, sharing of ideas, support etc. 00:13:11.270 --> 00:13:18.001 Creating a list of qualified teachers that could identify if they teach ISL or BSL, 00:13:18.001 --> 00:13:26.861 what levels, what ages etc would be very useful for people, schools, 00:13:26.861 --> 00:13:29.157 and families seeking this service. 00:13:31.169 --> 00:13:43.109 *Do you support the creation of a scheme for accrediting BSL and ISL interpreters? 00:13:44.214 --> 00:13:48.883 This is the one area mentioned in the introduction where BDA does NOT 00:13:48.883 --> 00:13:56.723 support the suggested wording. This is because it implies creating a whole 00:13:56.723 --> 00:14:09.663 new scheme for accreditation. BDA says there is already a system that 00:14:09.663 --> 00:14:14.141 covers the whole of the UK and is fit for purpose - the National Registers of 00:14:14.141 --> 00:14:19.361 Communication Professionals Working with Deaf and Deafblind People (UK) (NRCPD). 00:14:19.361 --> 00:14:26.616 Creating a second new scheme specifically for Northern Ireland is an unnecessary duplication 00:14:26.616 --> 00:14:28.311 which could cause confusion. 00:14:32.595 --> 00:14:47.091 11) Do you agree with the definition of the deaf community provided for in the Bill? 00:14:49.053 --> 00:14:59.069 BDA is conscious of the sensitivity in use of language here. There is no formal 00:14:59.069 --> 00:15:11.425 definition of ‘deaf community’ and no deaf person has to view themselves as part of it. 00:15:11.425 --> 00:15:20.171 For the purpose of this Bill, we believe the proposed wording is appropriate. 00:15:27.946 --> 00:15:39.282 12) Do you agree with the definition of BSL and ISL provided for in the Bill? 00:15:40.493 --> 00:15:45.145 Yes, BDA agrees with the definitions. 00:15:52.758 --> 00:16:05.071 13) Do you agree with the definition of “everyday reliance” provided in the Bill? 00:16:06.611 --> 00:16:16.732 BDA supports the proposed definition. But we want to make it clear that many 00:16:16.732 --> 00:16:23.193 deaf people face barriers every day stemming from communication issues. 00:16:23.902 --> 00:16:30.302 These issues exist even within families, for example where deaf children are born 00:16:30.302 --> 00:16:39.557 to hearing families. The importance of programmes such as Family Signing 00:16:39.557 --> 00:16:46.597 in the Home is absolutely critical for giving the best start to the next generation 00:16:46.597 --> 00:16:51.995 of deaf children and importantly, for supporting their families too. 00:16:52.906 --> 00:17:03.471 NI Deaf communities have a wide and rich range of variations in personal 00:17:03.471 --> 00:17:12.161 circumstances and in their individual language journeys, and BDA agrees the 00:17:12.161 --> 00:17:15.141 definition is inclusive for all.