Faced with increasing pressure to do more with less, all kinds of organisations are looking at ways to work smarter and local government is no exception.
Plans to improve use of BSL at government departments
The government has launched five-year plans to improve the use of British Sign Language in individual departments, in a bid to remove barriers for Deaf ad disabled people.
The BSL Act requires the government to publish a report every three years to show how ministerial departments have promoted the use of BSL in communications. The latest report shows an increase in the use of BSL by government departments in public-facing communications since the first report in 2023.
The government has committed to publishing a report every year up to 2027.
The government has also said it will develop and publish a new ‘Plan for Disability’, setting out a clear vision to break down barriers to opportunity for Deaf and disabled people as part of its ‘Plan for Change’. This will support departments to consider how and where they can better work together to boost opportunity, and ensure the views and voices of Deaf and disabled people are considered.
Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms MP, said: "This government wants to ensure disabled people’s views and voices are at the heart of all we do and government communications being accessible to Deaf and disabled people is essential in achieving this.
"We will continue to work with the BSL Advisory Board, Deaf people and their representative organisations, and with Ministers across government to make tangible improvements for the Deaf community.
"Our new Plan for Disability will also be a key step forward in ensuring that regardless of your background, disability is never a barrier to success."
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