Access to Public Services for Deaf Sign Language Users
User Forum Project Report

British Deaf Association Northern Ireland and RNID would like to thank the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure for providing the funding to enable us to take forward this research project, and for their support throughout.

The project aimed to further define BSL and ISL users' experiences of using specific public services across Northern Ireland and identify solutions which can then be implemented by local public service providers.

This project further aimed to provide Government Departments with an opportunity to receive direct feedback on their services from BSL and ISL users through a series of user forums / focus groups. This feedback and any responses received to that feedback is recorded in this report.

It is hoped that the outcomes of this direct consultation with BSL and ISL users will contribute to each Department's business plan in relation to access to their range of services. This may involve a commitment to deaf awareness training or sign language training for staff, the establishment of protocols for the booking of sign language interpreters or other such reasonable adjustments, as recommended by service users themselves.

The launch of this report will be held during Learn to Sign Week on 8th October 2009 at the Holiday Inn, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast from 10am to 12pm.