Urgent message for the Welsh Sign Language Community

Hello,

My name is David Buxton, and I’m a Trustee of the British Deaf Association and Lead Trustee for the BDA’s BSL Act Campaign.

This is a very important message for Deaf members, friends, supporters and the Sign Language Community in Wales.

Mark Isherwood, Member of the Senedd for North Wales, will introduce a Members’ Proposal for a British Sign Language Bill in the Senedd on Wednesday 24th February 2021. Yes, this Wednesday!

We need your help! Please contact your Member of the Senedd (MS) and ask them to support Mark Isherwood’s Proposal. See attached email which you can send to your MS.

Not sure who your MS is? Click on this link: Find a Member of the Senedd. Type in your home postcode and it will give you the name of your MS and will give their email address too. Then, send an email to your MS – use the template email below. You could also send a BSL video and tweet to your MS/ Ask them to:

Please SUPPORT NNDM7478 - Members' Legislative Proposal by Mark Isherwood, MS for North Wales, for a British Sign Language (BSL) Bill for Wales.

Do it now! And ask your friends, family, neighbours and work colleagues to contact their MSs to support this. Please also send a copy of your email to your MS to me at bda@bda.org.uk

Thank you! Exciting times ahead!

Email Template

Download (.docx)

Dear ….

Please SUPPORT NNDM7478 - Members' Legislative Proposal by Mark Isherwood, MS for North Wales, for a British Sign Language (BSL) Bill for Wales. 

I am writing to you as my MS to ask you for your support.

There will be a Members’ Proposal this WEDNESDAY 24TH FEBRUARY 2021 by Mark Isherwood, MS for North Wales, for a British Sign Language (BSL) Bill for Wales.

Mark Isherwood’s Debate will propose that the Senedd:

  1. Notes a proposal for a Bill that would make provision to encourage the use of British Sign Language (BSL) in Wales, and improve access to education and services in BSL.
  2. Notes that the purpose of the Bill would be to:
    a) 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;
    b) establish a BSL national advisory group to empower the BSL community in Wales;
    c) require the Welsh Government to co-produce and publish a national BSL plan, and to establish strategic goals to improve the accessibility of public services, support services and enhance BSL skills across society.
    d) require public bodies to co-produce and publish their own BSL plan to develop BSL awareness and training, and improve access to frontline services.

This is very exciting news and support for it would lead to a BSL (Wales) Act similar to the successful BSL (Scotland) Act 2015. The Labour Party, Plaid Cymru and Liberal Democrats have already committed to supporting a BSL Act in their General Election manifestos. Whatever your political views, your support for this Proposal is vital.

It’s a very important time for Wales and the Welsh Deaf Community, and, a long-overdue step towards equality, recognition of our language and rights similar to those of the Welsh Language Act of 1993.

Please confirm you will support the Proposal.

If you wish to know more about the BSL (Scotland) Act 2015, our ongoing work with its National and Local Plans, and, other BSL campaigning work for an Act in Northern Ireland, please do not hesitate to contact David Buxton at the British Deaf Association (BDA).  David oversees the BDA’s BSL Act campaign work and can be reached by email at: davidbuxtontrustee@bda.org.uk.

I look forward to hearing from you.  Thank you.

 

Yours sincerely,

Your name

Your address and postcode

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