Derbyshire County Council signing the Charter for Deaf People

Details:

Text transcript:

Hello and welcome to Derbyshire County Council and the BDA video.

We wanted to let you know about the BSL Charter and what this is! The BSL Charter is aimed to ensure that Deaf people that use Sign Language have better access to Public Services. Public Services are the Council, Health providers etc. Under the Equality Act 2010 they have a duty to ensure that public services meet all equality needs.

The Charter aims to support these organisations to reduce discrimination either direct or indirect. Empower Deaf people to have the confidence to access public services.   For public services to become aware of BSL – British Sign Language, what it is and understand how to support you.  Also for Deaf children to have a good standard of Education.

The charter itself has 5 pledges

1. Ensure access to information and services. This could be through a Deaf person wanting an appointment with the Council, the Council has to provide a registered interpreter or you have some information that you don’t understand and you can ask for this to be translated into BSL.
2. To promote the learning of BSL in the community – by ensuring BSL tutors are qualified and teaching to a high standard.
3. To support Deaf children and their families through the teaching of sign language to the family at courses for Deaf children to meet with other deaf children and talk in their own language, and that staff that support deaf children have a high standard of BSL.
4. Staff that work with Deaf people e.g. Social Workers or support workers who work with deaf people in the community their BSL levels must be of a high standard,
5. Lastly but more importantly regular consultation with the deaf community. Not now again but on a regular basis.  Through Deaf forums, open meetings or visiting various community groups to talk to them and find out their views and feelings about accessing services and how things can be improved.

We are very pleased to inform you all that Derbyshire County Council have agreed to sign the BSL Charter.

Derbyshire County Council has agreed to sign the Charter and I want to let you know about an upcoming event.  This will happen on Tuesday 23rd September, we need you all to be there between 4:00 and 4.30 pm.  It will be held at Matlock, at Derbyshire County Councils offices, County Hall based in Matlock.

The event is open to anyone, Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Carers, family members, friends, community groups, deaf clubs and anyone that supports Deaf people in Derbyshire are welcome to attend.

There will be BSL interpreters available, Speech to Text and the room has an Induction Loop.

When you arrive there will be light refreshments provided.

County Hall is a big building with a car park and the bottom – just to let you know it can be difficult to park here so arrive in good time to find a space.  When you have parked walk up to the right hand side of the building and reception is there.  They will direct you to the Member’s Room which is where the Charter will be signed.

If you are keen and want to come or want more information please let us know.  There are two ways to do this via email and the address is on the poster to find out more information or Derbyshire County Council has set up a text message service and you can text.  To use this you need to text DEAF – ‘your name’ to let them know you are coming or want more information.  The number is 86555. 

Hope we will see you all there.

Thank you. 

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