The General Election on the 8th June is one of the most important elections in our time.
Like the BDA’s Manifesto, many Political parties have made sure their Manifestos are accessible in BSL.
However, the Conservative party, to date, have declined, even after repeated requests to have a BSL interpretation of their Manifesto, thus denying Deaf people who use sign language the right to be informed and to have full access to information on what the Tory policies are on a wide range of issues they are presenting to the COUNTRY
This is a clear breach of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD)
ARTICLE 29
Participation in political and public life
(i) Ensuring that voting procedures, facilities and materials are appropriate, accessible and easy to understand and use;
(b) To promote actively an environment in which persons with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in the conduct of public affairs, without discrimination and on an equal basis with others, and encourage their participation in public affairs.
BDA strongly feels Democracy is the cornerstone of our society and we all have the right to vote for whom we please.
Information is a Right
Knowledge is a Right
Democracy is a Right
We want to have the RIGHT to have informed information in our chosen language, BSL, in order to make an informed decision on 8th June
We demand Equality
Enough is Enough.