In-person BSL interpretation to be provided at all major press conferences and briefings by the Government from Spring 2024.
The Disability Action Plan aims to make “this country the most accessible place in the world for disabled people to work and thrive”. Through communication with individuals on the BSL Advisory Board, the Government has stated that their priority is to “learn directly from disabled people” as they “know better than anyone else what matters most to them”. The commitment towards communication “is led from the very top, with Number 10 making new commitments to further increase the use of British Sign Language (BSL)”.
With this approach, “Number 10 Downing Street will work to provide in-situ BSL interpretation for all major press conferences and briefings from Spring 2024 onwards”. Indeed, adjustments like this are crucial for making our society as inclusive and accessible as possible. These steps forward will put an end to deaf individuals being excluded from accessing vital information. The announcement comes years after this issue was signposted by Lynn Stewart-Taylor during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Lynn’s campaign was coined the ’Where is the Interpreter’ campaign. Lynn raised concerns regarding the lack of no in-person interpreter available. Having no in-situ interpreter resulted in deaf BSL users not gaining full access to information to know how to protect themselves and those around them. Ultimately this government announcement will maximise accessibility for individuals who rely on BSL interpretation. Through interpreted broadcasting, a broader audience will benefit, which is a positive step towards ensuring equal access for deaf BSL citizens.
Number 10 has also stated its commitment to “increase the use of BSL in other communications. The government will be publishing a second report on the use of BSL in government communications by 31 July 2024”. We look forward to learning more about the Government’s efforts to making our society one that is readily accessible to all individuals within the community.
Commenting on the announcement, Lindsay Foster, Executive Director at Signature said, “It is great to see our government making a commitment to improve communication accessibility. Having in-situ interpreters will ensure clarity and trust in communication between the government and deaf BSL users”.
If you think that you could use your BSL skill set and knowledge to become an interpreter, our Signature centres are here to provide you with the necessary training and expertise. A registered interpreter will use their skills and knowledge of two languages, and their understanding of cultural differences between those whom they are interpreting, to transfer a message in one language into the other language. In order to register as an interpreter, individuals will need:
- Level 6 Certificate in British/Irish Sign Language
- Level 6 Diploma in Sign Language Interpreting and Translation
Here at Signature, we hope that this is one of the many steps that will be made by our government to make our society wholly inclusive and equal.