One of the main issues for Deaf people is equal access to communication and Information; this has been a barrier for many years. English to most of the Deaf community is their second or weaker language. Imagine that you continuously had to communicate, read and write in your second language to fit in with society. Issues like reading web pages, filling in an application form, or trying to tell a bus driver where you want to go is all in English – this is stressful and often makes a Deaf person feel intimidated and appear to be “stupid”.
Yet it is society that makes us feel like this by not adapting to our needs. If information and communication was in our first or preferred language - BSL then we would understand and communicate more fluently. To make access equal for Deaf people, communication and Information is best delivered through Deaf people’s first language (native or through choice) British Sign Language. BSL is not just a translation of English to Sign Language; BSL is a separate language with its own linguistics and grammar, which many people are unaware of.
You might be aware that most websites offer translations in Braille, large text and several different languages such as Urdu or Punjabi. However very few companies offer translations in BSL. You might be thinking “but it isn’t a language”, this is not true. On 18 th March 2003, the Government officially announced that they recognise BSL as a minority language in its own right, yet few companies are aware of this achievement by the Deaf community, and even fewer offer solutions for access for Deaf people in their own Language.
With technological advances in communication and information, combined with cheaper and accessible network services, solutions are now easier to provide, to ensure that Deaf people have equal access to information, communication and services.
For example - Video telephony is on the increase, and quickly becoming an economic and technical reality. Deaf people are using video telephony at home and in the office. This has the potential to significantly alter Deaf-Deaf communication and improve Deaf-Hearing relations. This can be improved through a Video Interpreting service, enabling both Deaf and Hearing people to communicate in their first or preferred language; this would alter relations both socially and professionally.
words by Natalie Smith (Deaf Presenter)
