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South Wales Argus
6 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Proposed BSL Act in Wales risks increasing isolation
Despite claims that this legislation is necessary to support deaf Welsh sign language users, the evidence suggests otherwise. Only 1 per cent of deaf BSL users in the UK are qualified in BSL (BDA-based statistics), highlighting a significant gap between those who could benefit from support and those who can access it. Additionally, there are approximately 300,000 people with hearing loss in Wales (RNID Cymru statistics), many of whom may receive no benefit or inclusion from this Act. The legislation's restrictions limit support solely to individuals who sign or are willing to learn BSL. This approach risks discriminating against deaf individuals who may use, or prefer alternative communication methods, thereby excluding most from essential services. Not every child can acquire sign language. The consultation was buried on the Senedd website, making it virtually impossible for the public to respond meaningfully. The proposed support model relies heavily on tiered approaches supported by single, charity-driven initiatives—essentially, it's a carbon copy of the Act proposed in other UK regions. The Act overlooks all aspects of Welsh language, needs, and opposes English grammar. Mr. Isherwood provided no relevant statistical data specific to Wales to demonstrate the Act's potential effectiveness. The Act appears to be aimed solely at bolstering charitable organisations' funding and employment, rather than genuinely improving support for deaf people. Wales has no deaf school, no BSL curriculum, and teachers are not being trained due to disagreement between BSL purists and educational mainstream inclusion approaches. Mr. Isherwood's proposal offers little benefit to deaf children as it stands, until some agreement shows itself. Currently, it's impossible to fill a class with deaf children to make deaf schools viable. He failed to do his homework; his input seems influenced by vested charitable interests, which themselves are not inclusive. Welsh support in health and social care is above the UK average for BSL users. The culture minister in the Senedd has already described the BSL Act as an unnecessary distraction from deaf inclusion. Support for the majority of those with hearing loss is urgently needed. Six out of seven health boards and two out of three trusts fail to provide adequate alternatives to BSL support. Patients are offered support that they cannot use. The legislation appears driven by a desire to integrate deafness into mainstream settings but faces strong opposition from cultural deaf activists who argue it undermines deaf identity, language, and independence. Rather than promoting inclusion, the Act risks fostering isolation—a factor that historically contributed to the closure of deaf schools and instances of abuse within such settings. The campaign for a Welsh BSL Act is not truly Welsh-led; it largely contains proposals from Scotland and England, driven by the British Deaf Association, with minimal grassroots Welsh support and limited consultation with local deaf communities. Mr. Isherwood relies on English and Scottish data to justify enacting a Welsh BSL Act. This one-size-fits-all approach is inappropriate. Enacting legislation in Wales without considering Welsh-specific needs would be ineffective, potentially discriminatory, and could increase isolation. The focus should instead be on developing inclusive, evidence-based support systems that respect the diversity within the deaf community—rather than legislation driven by external organisations with limited local backing. Yours sincerely, Mervyn James, Newport
Western Telegraph
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Senedd cross-party support for backbench sign language bill
Mark Isherwood formally introduced his British Sign Language (BSL) bill in the Senedd on July 16, nearly seven years after calls were first made for legislation in Wales. Mr Isherwood, a disability rights campaigner for decades, explained the bill would introduce legal requirements to promote and facilitate the use of BSL in Wales. He warned: 'Too often, deaf people are unable to access vital public services because they cannot communicate in their first language. 'This denies them their rights and places them at a significant disadvantage – whether in health care, education, employment, transport or otherwise." He told the Senedd: 'BSL plays a crucial role in enabling communication and promoting inclusivity in everyday life – for many deaf individuals, BSL is their primary language. 'Deaf BSL signers in Wales cannot access services in their first language and this is unacceptable. As one individual undergoing major surgery shared 'throughout the whole time, I did not understand anything'.' He added: 'If passed, therefore, this will be the most progressive BSL law in the UK.' Jane Hutt welcomed and supported the bill on behalf of the Welsh Government, which recognised BSL as a language more than 20 years ago in 2004. Wales' social justice secretary, who has worked with Mr Isherwood on developing the proposed legislation, described the bill as a step towards lasting change. The backbench bill would be the first passed by the Senedd in a decade, with bills on mental health, food, education, autism and older people's rights rejected or withdrawn in that time. Concerns have been raised about the Senedd's capacity for legislation brought forward by backbench members who are not a part of the Welsh Government. The BSL bill, as an example, was accompanied by a 113-page explanation and impact assessment. If passed, it would be a first since Liberal Democrat Kirsty Williams introduced a bill on safe nurse staffing levels in 2014, which became law two years later. Labour's Jenny Rathbone chairs the Senedd's equality committee, which she said had 'cleared the decks' to focus on seeing the BSL bill become an Act by May 2026.
Cambrian News
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Cambrian News
Cross-party support for backbench sign language bill
Mr Isherwood said the bill will ensure policymakers and service providers consider the needs of deaf BSL signers, and the barriers they face, when designing and delivering services.
South Wales Guardian
20-07-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Senedd cross-party support for backbench sign language bill
Mark Isherwood formally introduced his British Sign Language (BSL) bill in the Senedd on July 16, nearly seven years after calls were first made for legislation in Wales. Mr Isherwood, a disability rights campaigner for decades, explained the bill would introduce legal requirements to promote and facilitate the use of BSL in Wales. He warned: 'Too often, deaf people are unable to access vital public services because they cannot communicate in their first language. 'This denies them their rights and places them at a significant disadvantage – whether in health care, education, employment, transport or otherwise." He told the Senedd: 'BSL plays a crucial role in enabling communication and promoting inclusivity in everyday life – for many deaf individuals, BSL is their primary language. 'Deaf BSL signers in Wales cannot access services in their first language and this is unacceptable. As one individual undergoing major surgery shared 'throughout the whole time, I did not understand anything'.' He added: 'If passed, therefore, this will be the most progressive BSL law in the UK.' Jane Hutt welcomed and supported the bill on behalf of the Welsh Government, which recognised BSL as a language more than 20 years ago in 2004. Wales' social justice secretary, who has worked with Mr Isherwood on developing the proposed legislation, described the bill as a step towards lasting change. The backbench bill would be the first passed by the Senedd in a decade, with bills on mental health, food, education, autism and older people's rights rejected or withdrawn in that time. Concerns have been raised about the Senedd's capacity for legislation brought forward by backbench members who are not a part of the Welsh Government. The BSL bill, as an example, was accompanied by a 113-page explanation and impact assessment. If passed, it would be a first since Liberal Democrat Kirsty Williams introduced a bill on safe nurse staffing levels in 2014, which became law two years later. Labour's Jenny Rathbone chairs the Senedd's equality committee, which she said had 'cleared the decks' to focus on seeing the BSL bill become an Act by May 2026.
South Wales Argus
19-07-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Senedd cross-party support for backbench sign language bill
Mark Isherwood formally introduced his British Sign Language (BSL) bill in the Senedd on July 16, nearly seven years after calls were first made for legislation in Wales. Mr Isherwood, a disability rights campaigner for decades, explained the bill would introduce legal requirements to promote and facilitate the use of BSL in Wales. He warned: 'Too often, deaf people are unable to access vital public services because they cannot communicate in their first language. 'This denies them their rights and places them at a significant disadvantage – whether in health care, education, employment, transport or otherwise." He told the Senedd: 'BSL plays a crucial role in enabling communication and promoting inclusivity in everyday life – for many deaf individuals, BSL is their primary language. 'Deaf BSL signers in Wales cannot access services in their first language and this is unacceptable. As one individual undergoing major surgery shared 'throughout the whole time, I did not understand anything'.' He added: 'If passed, therefore, this will be the most progressive BSL law in the UK.' Jane Hutt welcomed and supported the bill on behalf of the Welsh Government, which recognised BSL as a language more than 20 years ago in 2004. Wales' social justice secretary, who has worked with Mr Isherwood on developing the proposed legislation, described the bill as a step towards lasting change. The backbench bill would be the first passed by the Senedd in a decade, with bills on mental health, food, education, autism and older people's rights rejected or withdrawn in that time. Concerns have been raised about the Senedd's capacity for legislation brought forward by backbench members who are not a part of the Welsh Government. The BSL bill, as an example, was accompanied by a 113-page explanation and impact assessment. If passed, it would be a first since Liberal Democrat Kirsty Williams introduced a bill on safe nurse staffing levels in 2014, which became law two years later. Labour's Jenny Rathbone chairs the Senedd's equality committee, which she said had 'cleared the decks' to focus on seeing the BSL bill become an Act by May 2026.
