UK Council on Deafness

British Sign Language/English interpreting

RNID, BDA and DRC would like your comments on the draft Guidance British Sign Language/ English Interpreting.

The Guidance British Sign Language/English Interpreting was jointly produced by RNID, British Deaf Association and Disability Rights Commission.

The aim of the guidance is to give a better understanding of the duty to provide a BSL/English interpreter as a reasonable adjustment under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) to:

• employers
• trade organisations
• service providers

Deaf BSL-users can use this guidance to tell employers, service providers or trade organisations about providing BSL/English interpreters.

In particular your comments on:

• The quality of information
• Is the information provided correct?

Is the information provided sufficient to give employers, trade organisations and service providers a clear understanding how to meet a duty to provide a BSL/English interpreter under the DDA?

The examples: Are the examples given clear?

Do the examples help employers, trade organisations and service providers to understand their duty to provide a BSL/English interpreter, as and when it arises?

A questionnaire has been produced which you may download in pdf format and return by post, or you can complete the questionnaire online.

Background

On 31 October 2000 the Disability Rights Commission sent their formal advice on the recognition of British Sign Language to the Government. The main recommendation was to formally recognise British Sign Language under the Council of Europe's Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. They also recommended producing guidance on providing BSL/English interpreters as a reasonable adjustment under the DDA.

As a result of this recommendation the Guidance BSL/English Interpreting has been developed by RNID in partnership with British Deaf Association (BDA) and Disability Rights Commission (DRC).

The duty to provide a BSL/English interpreter under the DDA is often unclear for employers, trade organisations and service providers. A lot of this comes from ignorance about British Sign Language, and its users. The guidance aims to correct this by providing practical information for employers, trade organisations and service providers about the provision of BSL/English interpreters as a reasonable adjustment under the DDA.

The guidance explains what BSL is, who uses it, and how the provision of BSL/English interpreters can remove some barriers that deaf BSL-users face in society. It describes the elements of the duty to provide a BSL/English interpreter under the DDA, with examples to support a good understanding.

The guidance only covers providing BSL/English interpreters as a reasonable adjustment. It does not provide information on other types of adjustments for people with a hearing loss.

Education is not covered, as the relevant provisions will not come into force until September 2003. Separate provisions apply to schools.

The consultation process:

Comments please by 7 April 2003. After this deadline we will look at all the comments and adapt the guidance where necessary. We aim to launch the finalised guidance in June 2003.

Further copies of this document can be obtained from:

Marije Davidson
RNID Legal and Parliamentary Team
19-23 Featherstone Street London EC1Y 8SL
Telephone: 18002 020 7296 8218 (through BT Text Direct)
Textphone: 020 7296 8218
Fax: 020 7296 8035
E-mail: marije.davidson@rnid.org.uk

The text is also available on:

• www.bda.org.uk
• www.drc-gb.org

For copies of the guidance in alternative formats please contact Marije Davidson

On the BDA website is a short video in BSL to introduce the guidance. Comments in BSL on videotape are welcome and it is possible to arrange a videophone meeting. For more information please contact Marije Davidson.

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