The following is a proposal for a Member Bill tabled during the Sixth Senedd:
Proposing Member:
Title of the proposed Bill:
British Sign Language (BSL) Bill
Policy Objectives of the proposed Bill:
The Bill would make provision to encourage the use of British Sign Language (BSL) in Wales, and improve access to education and services in BSL.
The purpose of the Bill would be to tackle the barriers of inclusion in accordance with the social model of disability.
The Bill would also aim to:
- ensure that the deaf community and people with hearing loss have a voice in the design and delivery of services to ensure they meet the needs of service users;
- establish a BSL national advisory group to empower the BSL community in Wales;
- require the Welsh Government to co-produce and publish a national BSL plan, to establish strategic goals to improve the accessibility of public services, support services and enhance BSL skills across society and audit its capability to deliver services for BSL users now and in the future and establish necessary workforce planning; and
- require public bodies to co-produce and publish their own BSL plan to develop BSL awareness and training, and improve access to frontline services.