Statement from the BDA: Televised Sign Language interpretations

Statement from the British Deaf Association, 356 Holloway Road, London, N7 6PA
Wednesday 1st April 2020

Dear BDA member, colleagues and friends,

Re: Sign Language Interpretations during the CoViD-19 Crisis

The British Deaf Association sent the below email to the Prime Minister yesterday, 31st March 2020.

We are sending this to you for information.  The email is relayed in sign language by the Chair of the BDA, Linda Richards.

Thank you.

The Right Hon. Boris Johnson,
Prime Minister,
10 Downing Street,
Westminster,
London, SW1A 2AA

31st March 2020

 

Dear Prime Minister,

Re: Sign Language Interpretations during the CoViD-19 Crisis

The British Deaf Association writes to request that, in accordance with the UN’s CRPD and the UK’s Equality Act 2010, your office puts in place the following actions and directives (including funding where necessary):

  1. That the existing provision of sign language interpretations of the UK Government's news briefings which can be seen live on BBC News 24 is also broadcast live on BBC1 as this will reach far more Deaf people.
  2. That the feed is shared to other broadcasters with the strict proviso that it may not be cropped to remove the in-vision interpreter.  This protects the sanctity of the official message/s from the Prime Minister and others involved in imparting critical and potentially life-saving information to the nation's Deaf and deafblind citizens.
  3. That each of the other Home Nations - Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - each agree and appoint a designated broadcaster for the transmission of live sign language interpretation of their respective First Ministers’ briefings.
  4. Such provision from designated broadcast studios ensures safe standards in terms of broadcast quality, appropriate lighting, and with the interpreter in a fixed position on the screen. Knowing there is a set position and size on the screen - such as on BBC News - is extremely helpful for those members of our Deaf Community who have Usher or deafblindness.
  5. There is already a precedent for this. Her Majesty the Queen’s Christmas Speech to the nation is recorded and shared to other channels.  Extend this concept to the current crisis, transmit it live on BBC1, instruct that the live feed is shared to all broadcasters as stated above, and, ensure comparable delivery from broadcast studios in all the Home Nations as stated above.
  6. We note that the BBC has removed one of its signed news bulletins in the morning and appears to have allocated that time to the official briefings in the afternoon/evening. We deplore the reduction of this service and trust it is not a cost-cutting exercise or due to some misguided notion that the BBC only needs to transmit 5% of its output in accordance with OfCom regulations. The BBC, and everyone else, should be doing more - not less - to ensure we are all informed.
  7. The British Deaf Association has consistently advocated the government’s position about staying at home, washing one’s hands, and, keeping one’s distance. Having an interpreter in situ with officials within No. 10 or other government office contradicts this information, and, potentially puts them and others around them at risk.

We advocate the above actions as the safest means of relaying information at minimal risk to all and the easiest solution which will accord full access to Deaf people who use sign language.  We look forward to seeing this enacted on your instructions.

Thank you.

Linda Richards
Chair, British Deaf Association

 

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