Three months ago, Toby Dawson wrote an article for this site about how Scottish independence would be an opportunity for Scotland’s Deaf people.
However, there is doubt about just how engaged Deaf people are with the independence debate, with an article on the BBC website revealing that just 29 copies of the White Paper (in BSL) have been sent out to Deaf people.
Here’s an extract:
John Denerley, from charity Deaf Connections, believes not enough has been done to inform and engage with those who are unable to hear.
He spoke after the BBC found just 29 copies of a sign language version of the White Paper had been sent out.
Mr Denerley said it was a ridiculously low number for Scotland’s 5,000 British Sign Language (BSL) users.
The people of Scotland will be going to the polls on 18 September to vote in the independence referendum.
They will be asked the “Yes/No” question: “Should Scotland be an independent country?”
‘Frankly embarrassing’
The Scottish government, and both the “Yes” and “No” campaigns, said they were engaging with voters who were disabled.
BBC Scotland made a Freedom of Information (FoI) request to find out the alternative ways people had of accessing the Scottish government’s White Paper on independence.
It found that, as well as the 29 sign language DVDs, there had been eight ordered in Braille along with 54 audio copies.
Mr Denerley said: “It’s ridiculous, shocking, and frankly embarrassing only 29 copies have been ordered.
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Lesserpawn
May 21, 2014
I saw this story was on Newsnet Scotland (a pro-independence site). They highlighted that there are groups such as Sign4Scotland and Scottish Deaf Independence producing videos and content for Yes supporters. The Scottish Government also created a BSL version of the White Paper on Independence (Scotland’s Future) which has been viewed over 500 times.
What was disappointing about the BBC article was that they didn’t check how many Sign Language versions of UK Government reports against independence had been sent out. It would have been nice if they had challenged both sides to do more.
Linda Richards
May 21, 2014
I agree – both sides could do more.
The pro Union group are producing something in BSL.
However, the question still remains (as I posted in my main comment), what do we (Deaf people) want from such translations? Can the resources be used better?
Linda Richards
May 21, 2014
It was difficult to get these. I ordered 10 of these (29) DVDs. So actually, only a possible maximum of 20 people have requested this DVD.
I kept two and gave the surplus copies to BDA Scotland. (BDA Scotland have been, and is still, organising information sessions about the Scottish Referendum for Deaf people in various parts of Scotland).
Had to explain via several emails why I wanted 10 copies, then when it was agreed, had to wait quite a while for the DVDs to arrive.
The BSL translation of the summary of the White Paper runs for 2 hours 21 minutes. (That’s just the summary!)
In the absence of anyone with any understanding of Deaf issues and of the business of BSL translation within the Scottish Parliament, I believe the production company has a responsibility to advise on production, accessibility and distribution.
There have also been a number of points about the accessibility of this material on social media sites.
It is time for a review of what Deaf people want from such translations. Only then will there be true access to information. And, as we all know, information is power.
Toby Dawson
May 21, 2014
The article is quite misleading unfortunately as we do live in a modern world, it’s an era of where people are more interested in streaming their films and so on.
The article failed to point out that the fact that there have been more than 500 hits on the BSL’s version of the White Paper via
You often do see newspapers articles on a sensational video receiving several hits on YouTube for example, it’s a different world that we are living in pushing away from the DVD’s era.
It’s disappointing that John Denerley was allowed to use Deaf Connections as a platform to attack the Scottish Government as he is a staunch supporter of the Better Together.
He is fast becoming the deaf version of Better Together’s Alistair Darling and making several mistakes.
At the Scottish Deaf Independence Referendum, he made several errors, and the most notable being that the BDA is going to be 150 years old next year when it will be only 125 years old.
He hasn’t been positive at all in his speech or claims, and the one that shocked me the most was that he claimed that the Deaf Village in Ireland should be renamed Hearing Village instead.
The Scottish Government have been positive as they funded the video to be made for Deaf people’s information.
Deaf Charities seems to be reluctant to get involved in the Scottish Independence Referendum out of fear perhaps.
What does John Denerley expects the Scottish Government to do? To go out and lobby all the deaf organisations to vote Yes then they would have been accused of using taxpayers’ money to influence the deaf organisations.
Surely the BDA Scotland could have made all deaf organisations aware of the DVDS if they had the DVDs?
Isn’t that what the BDA is all about? Supporting deaf people, and they have been funded to the tune of several thousand pounds by the Scottish Government’s Equality Unit.
To be fair, they have arranged a few meetings / debates around in Scotland giving Deaf people who lives in Scotland the opportunity to see from both sides and that is without any bias.
Why didn’t the BDA make the details about the DVD more public? That is an interesting question.
Whereas Better Together have produced zilch versions of BSL to be made accessible for Deaf people so far!
Apparently they are making something but today is 112 days left until the vote, and we now all know what they think of Deaf people, a linguistic minority that doesn’t need to know until the last minute!
It’s a pity that John Denerley didn’t lobby against Better Together’s HQ, Westminster, where they have made inhumane cuts against the disabled, the poor and the vulnerable.
It was hilarious to see a claim from Better Together’s spokesman saying that they have something available via their hyperlinks on their website, and I checked, no BSL videos at all!
For a much more balanced story – http://www.newsnetscotland.com/index.php/referendum/9218-campaign-group-challenges-bbc-scotland-claims-of-lack-of-indyref-material-for-deaf
Linda Richards
May 22, 2014
I don’t have any position on this other than the importance of accessible information for Deaf people.
To broaden my knowledge and understand the issues being raised by both sides, I signed up to both the Yes Scotland and Better Together campaigns and receive emails from both. I read newspapers and have been following TV programmes on the subject. I dip into Sign4Scotland and other Facebook pages on the subject. I will add newsnetscotland to my list. (Thanks Toby!). I have also clicked onto the BSL version of the White Paper several times as have others as it is too much to absorb in one viewing so 500 hits does not represent 500 different individuals. That is the nature of online material of this kind in terms of content and duration.
I have told friends and colleagues about the DVD and online versions and given them the links or contact addresses. I made my copies available to BBC See Hear when they filmed the recent BDA Scotland independence debate. I have seen comments about the BSL version of the White Paper and am sure there will be comments about the pro Union BSL video when it is available.
I have interpreted at several of BDA Scotland’s information sessions for both sides without bias. As I don’t have a vote in Scotland, I have a neutral position at these events. Interestingly, representatives of both sides at these talks did not know there was a DVD/online version until they were told by Graham Duff of BDA Scotland.
Incidentally, only one speaker out of all these BDA Scotland information sessions made it clear that if the vote for independence was successful, it did not mean that Scotland would be truly ‘independent’ with full control the next morning, 19th September 2014. It would have to wait until a General Election in May 2016 before there would be a party (or coalition) in charge of an independent Scotland. I really liked her. She was an SNP member and pro independence and was speaking honestly and fairly. It is this kind of information that has been thin on the ground – the reality of how the country will be run should the vote be for independence. As said, I don’t have a vote so I don’t have a view. What I do have a view about is the lack of information for Deaf people.
It could be argued that the production company could have arranged to publicise the DVD/online version of the White Paper. Indeed, some Deaf people said this on Facebook.
It could be argued that the Scottish government should have distributed the DVD/information about the BSL version to Deaf organisations and Clubs in the way the old Openi videos were distributed.
It could be argued that the umbrella organisation of Scotland’s Deaf charities and organisations could have obtained copies for distribution or made the information available to their members. Perhaps they did. I haven’t seen their website lately.
It could be argued that both sides should have been pressed into making information available in BSL by various local, regional and national Deaf organisations in Scotland.
All kudos to Sign4Scotland for their efforts and may others follow their example.
I believe that all parties must make sure Deaf people have access to information in order that they may make an informed choice. Some will do it better than others but certainly, the lack or paucity of accessible information is unforgivable.
The key questions for Deaf people and Deaf organisations remain unanswered by both groups. Two examples: What will happen with the BSL Bill? What impact will there be on funding for Deaf organisations after the referendum? (We already know some funds have been cut by 50%). Both of these questions are important whichever side one supports.
I would love to see clear answers and commitments but I don’t think they will be forthcoming because Deaf people haven’t been seen as vote winners so the focus has been on popular issues rather than those which would directly benefit and enhance our position as Deaf people in Scotland.
I believe the campaigns will intensify in the next few months and that we will see issues addressed more fully.
Just to end, and as i have said, I don’t have a vote in Scotland. I currently live there to be near family. I work there. I buy products, pay taxes and pay for other stuff like food, petrol and utilities in Scotland as well as having family and friends in Scotland so I do have an interest in how people will vote on 18th September 2014. I studied Government and Politics and Economic History at A level and have always had an interest in both these subjects and find this campaign fascinating though am sad there is so little for Deaf people.
I wish everyone well in their decisions. And I hope everyone will still be friends!
Toby Dawson
May 23, 2014
Hello,
Interesting balanced read from you and I respect that.
I can understand a couple of points, and I did say that before that deaf people do tend to face similar issues from all around the world, although it can varies from country to country.
It’s an interesting comment that you have made about the funding situation for deaf organisations.
The Scottish Government have funded over £500,000 via their Scottish Equality Unit to the BDA, Donaldson’s and SCOD –
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Equality/Funding/EF
With the mismanagement of the economy by successive Westminster Government, the big issue in Scotland is the massive disappointment on the lack of an oil saving fund, Britain and Iraq are the only two countries in the world not to have a saving fund, and despite being advised by Professor McCrone to do so, and he also advised that Scotland would have one of the hardest currency in the world if it became independence and that was back around 1974.
If Scotland votes no, then it is very likely that they will see the Barnett’s formula being axed, and end up receiving less of their own revenues, or if the Barnett’s formula remains and the NHS in England ends up being privatised, then Scotland will also receive less of their revenues, a lose, lose situation for Scotland,
That would mean a knock on affect for future funding in Scotland, potentially affecting future funding for deaf organisations in Scotland.
I read an interesting story about cuts, the Tories have committed to further cuts beyond the UK General Election in 2015, and Ed Balls of Labour said the same thing.
In an independent Scotland, there will be cuts but good ones, such as the nuclear programme being stationed in Faslane next to Scotland’s biggest city – Glasgow, saving billions of pounds and something that would be very welcome by the majority of the people who are living in Scotland.
No more funding the House of Lords, something that is costing Scotland £50 million pounds a year, and the HS2 train project costing billion of pounds, and the furthest north it is going to reach is Manchester, and Scotland share would be a total of under £4 billion pounds.
They are many more good cuts that can be brought to mind, and the money can be spent in a better way for the people of Scotland.
The good thing about the current political party that is in power at the moment, they are a centre, left leaning political party, and Scottish Labour would be freed from the ever drifting right wing New Labour party, and I think that can only be a good thing for deaf people in Scotland in general.
Scottish Independence will be good for the RUK as well, forcing RUK to change the balance of the power, and that is in the south east, (no disrespect meant to whoever is living there)
One wee example, not the greatest but Scotland led the way with the smoking ban in pubs, and as a result it applied to the rest of the UK, I am not saying that Scotland was the first country in the world to do so, but it can set examples and I am sure other countries will set examples to an iScotland in the future too.
Looking at Norway, the typical response is that they have a high tax system, but most people don’t seems to realise that when it is adjusted to UK’s living costs, Norwegians takes home far much more than the average UK wages, and of course they have a good education system for deaf children in Norway.
Norway, Sweden, and others countries across the Scandinavian have a very good healthy relationship, and of course the ever growing number of countries involved with the Nordic Deaf Association.
I think Scotland need independence to be able to respect herself then therefore become able to respect other countries, that would be a lot more healthier than the current political system.
The British Isles will always be there, just like the Scandinavian but with a healthier relationship, and moving away from the past, looking forward to the future.
I liked this – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-27442022 looking at how Scotland can maximise their own resources and opportunities.
I wonder if anyone has made a vision for the future of deaf people in an iScotland? Who will be the first Deaf TV presenter on Scottish TV? Who will be the first Scottish Deaf athletic to win the gold medal for Scotland in the Deaflympics?
Linda Richards
May 24, 2014
Hi Toby,
I wish I lived nearer to you! I would enjoy discussing politics with you!
One of the cuts I was referring to was for BDA Scotland’s Advocacy Project. That was cut by 50%. Other organisations had, like BDA Scotland, to wait a long time before hearing about their funding applications, risking projects and posts and were only told at the very last minute and then told of reduced funding.
Will look forward to the next few months!
All the best,
LMR