Day 4 of International Week of Deaf people focuses on ‘Building Resilient Deaf Communities’. Specifically, the World Federation of the Deaf encourages individuals to build on the capacity of deaf communities on emergency preparedness and response to mitigate disaster risks and reduce deaf communities’ vulnerability in the face of disasters. Today, we are encouraged to sign up for sign language rights by demonstrating partnerships between deaf communities and emergency responders.
In the face of disasters, marginalised communities such as deaf and hard of hearing are often disproportionately vulnerable due to communication barriers and a lack of tailored emergency strategies. It is crucial that emergency announcements are provided in a way that is accessible to Deaf people, as well as hearing people.
Ultimately, this is something that lacked in the United Kingdom during the Covid-19 Pandemic. The government briefings, which became a daily watch for the nation, lacked accessibility due to the lack of an interpreter at the briefings. The briefings, which concerned the needs of both deaf and hearing people by communicating important information about the virus, public health guidelines and lockdown measures, did not consistently include on-screen BSL interpreters. Indeed, this led to increased vulnerability for Deaf people who are BSL users. The government dismissed the Equality Act of 2010 which mandates reasonable adjustments to ensure accessibility. The lack of interpreters was a breach of these rights, effectively discriminating against the deaf community by excluding them from essential information. On the 28th of July 2021, the #WhereIsTheInterpreter won a key argument in the Judicial Review, where the judge agreed that the Government had discriminated against Kate Rowley, who led the campaign after feeling excluded during daily briefings. Indeed, this was a great result, however, it should have never of had to be a discussion, it should have been a given.
Overall, the fourth day of International Week of Deaf People encourages us to advocate for sign language rights within these moments of crises. Sign language is not just a means of communication; it is a fundamental human right for deaf individuals. Ensuring that sign language is integrated into disaster risk management systems is a critical step towards ensuring maximised accessibility and equality.
