Devon Charter for British Sign Language (BSL)

Equality and Diversity

Devon Charter for British Sign Language (BSL)

NEW January 2008: Sign Vision Conferences Report

Sign Vision Conferences Report (400KB - pdf help) tells the story of Sign Vision events (1,2 and 3) and the Devon Charter for British Sign Language.

A BSL version of the report will be available here after it has been interpreted. Please contact us if you need the report in any other format.

Introduction

This Charter contains a series of pledges that are aimed at improving the lives of Deaf people in Devon – providing a framework for organisations on how to ensure Deaf people access services and education fully and have their language needs met on contact.

The Charter contains a number of commitments which organisations will either have in place, or will be working towards achieving within a reasonable timescale (where there are significant problems with ‘internal’ resources or ‘external’ provisions such as BSL tuition in the area). Organisations signed up to the Charter can achieve a ‘Working Towards’ or ‘Achievement’ award for the pledges.

It is expected that the Charter will give Deaf people, who use BSL, a basis on which to assert their rights to receive a minimum standard of service from an organisation. It translates the legal duties of the Disability Discrimination Act into practical, meaningful solutions.

It is expected that the Pledges will be achieved in full by the following deadlines: Pledge 1 – April 2007; Pledge 2 – April 2010; Pledge 3 – April 2012; Pledge 4 – April 2012; Pledge 5 – April 2007. However, organisations are still encouraged to sign up to the Charter even when these deadlines pass, and make every effort to meet their pledges in a reasonable timeframe.

This Charter has been developed for the people of Devon, by the Devon BSL Charter Group. It is based upon the British Deaf Association’s Charter for British Sign Language.

The Charter, and those who have signed up to the Charter, will undergo a review on an annual basis. Further pledges may be developed as a result. The core group, known as the Devon BSL Charter Group, will carry out the monitoring and review role.

The Devon BSL Charter

BSL Videos (with voiceover):

Part 1 (includes Introduction)
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

English versions:

Tell us if you're committed to the Charter!

We would like to know if your organisation is committed to the Devon BSL Charter. Please let us know.

An Award and process for 'sign up' is being developed. Organisations who have signed up to the Charter, or achieved any of the Pledges will receive an award. Organisations will have to provide an action plan/project plan as evidence of their commitment.

Organisations 'signed up' to the charter:

(This list is under development with many organisations in the process of signing up).

Devon County Council
North Devon Deaf Children's Society - Pledges 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
East Devon College - Pledges 1 & 5.
Plymouth Theatre Royal - Pledge 1
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue - Pledges 1 & 5
Equata, the South West Disability Development Agency
Honiton Primary School - Pledges 1 & 3.
Torbay Council - Pledges 1, 4 & 5
Torbay Care Trust - Pledges 1, 4 & 5
Teignbridge District Council - Pledges 1 & 5

Devon Charter Group

Current members of the Devon BSL Charter Group are representatives from: Devon County Council, Living Options Devon, ASLI (Association of Sign Language Interpreters), Devon Fire and Rescue, Devon and Cornwall Police, Exeter City Council, Teignbridge District Council, Primary Care Trust, Devon & Cornwall Connexions, Royal Academy for Deaf Education.

Sign Vision

Sign Vision 3 took place on Saturday 6th October 2007. Sign Vision brings together organisations and Deaf people and has a focus on the Charter and how to meet the commitments. Event information and booking form. (76KB - pdf help)

Affordable Warmth - BSL Video

National Energy Action (NEA) is a charity working to end fuel poverty. NEA provide information and advice on how to keep warm and well and have produced an Affordable Warmth video in BSL. Following requests at SignVision3, where NEA gave a presentation, we have made this video available through our website.

Interpreting Services Group

Devon County Council along with partners has supported research into Interpreting Services for BSL users across Devon led by Living Options Devon Deaf Project. The Interpreting Services Group looked at ways of responding to the recommenations of the report and as a result a new Interpreting Agency is operating in the area.

Summary report - An Investigation of Sign Language Interpreting in Devon 2006. (124KB - pdf help)