The National Assembly for Wales has been shortlisted in Action on Hearing Loss Cymru's Excellence Wales awards.
The awards are organised to recognise success in providing deaf-friendly services to the 530,000 people in Wales who are deaf or have a hearing loss.
The Assembly is one of seven organisations shortlisted and the winners will be announced at a Gala dinner at the Hilton Hotel, Cardiff on Friday 15 May.
"I am proud of our record in providing support to those who are deaf or have a hearing loss in accessing the work of the Assembly," said Presiding Officer, Dame Rosemary Butler AM.
"For democracy to work properly it must reach everyone across Wales and the Assembly, as Wales' law-making body, must show leadership in breaking down barriers that bar some groups within our society from participating in the democratic process."
The National Assembly provides:
- Deaf awareness training to staff;
- British Sign Language training to some staff;
- Loop amplification systems for all official meetings of the National Assembly and meetings in public areas of the Assembly's estate;
- Reasonable adjustments for staff who are deaf or have a hearing loss;
- Weekly videos of BSL interpretation of First Minister's Questions;
- Flashing beacons for fire alarms.
"I want to see the work of the National Assembly for Wales being accessible to all," added Sandy Mewies AM, the Assembly Commissioner with responsibility for equalities issues.
"A key part of that is providing support services to people who are deaf or have a hearing loss and I would like to say thank you to the Assembly's Equalities team for once again delivering exemplar services that are recognised by external partners."
Richard Williams, the director of Action on Hearing Loss Cymru, said, "We'd like to congratulate all shortlisted entrants, who are recognised for the steps they are taking to be accessible to the 530,000 people in Wales who are confronting deafness, tinnitus and hearing loss. We hope that more organisations across Wales will see them as role models of how to provide accessible services.
"We're very excited to be launching this award for the first time and we hope in future years we'll be able to expand the criteria to reward more organisations which are doing well in Wales."