Applications open for UK Government’s BSL Advisory Board

Applications to join the UK Government’s British Sign Language (BSL) Advisory Board have now opened, as work on implementing the BSL Act continues.

The Act, which passed through its final parliamentary stage in April and came into force in June, legally recognises BSL as a language of Great Britain, requires the UK Government to produce reports on work done to ‘promote and facilitate’ BSL, and issue guidance on its use in wider society.

While not included in the BSL Act, the Department for Work and Pensions committed to setting up an advisory board to assist with work on the law’s objectives.

Launching the recruitment for the board, Minister for Disabled People Chloe Smith MP said: “The British Sign Language Act is helping to remove barriers faced by Deaf people in daily life and the Advisory Board is a key element of this important work.

“The Board will help deliver better outcomes for the Deaf community by advising Government on how to tackle key issues facing Deaf people, such as how to increase the number of BSL interpreters and making sure BSL is at the heart of Government policy.

“I would urge anyone with a passion for helping us create a more inclusive and accessible society to consider applying for a position on the Board.”

The announcement from the Government Equalities Office (GEO) also confirmed a previous report from The Limping Chicken, which said the board would have at least 16 members in addition to two co-chairs – one being an independent chairperson and the other being a senior civil servant.

The UK Government said it is looking for individuals with an experience of BSL – either as their first language as a Deaf person or as their second language as a parent to Deaf children or a CODA.

 

This is in addition to those who work or have worked as a registered BSL interpreter; for an organisation supporting BSL signers; with Deaf children and young people as a teacher using BSL; or uses tactile or hands-on BSL as a first language.

Monday’s announcement also stated one member of the board will be from Wales and another will be from Scotland, with a GEO spokesperson confirming to The Limping Chicken that one space will be reserved for a tactile signer, as previously reported.

Board members will be expected to share their “lived experience of being a BSL signer and the challenges [they] may have faced”, advise on “how to improve government communications for BSL signers” and work on the “development of guidance for ministerial departments” – in addition to other duties.

Essential criteria for the role states: “[Members must have a] knowledge of BSL as a language, its role in enabling the inclusion of Deaf people and its cultural importance; an understanding of Deaf culture and the Deaf community, and the barriers faced by Deaf people; and a willingness to work with fellow members to help government be more accessible”.

 

Meanwhile, expectations of the independent co-chairperson include “[setting] the agenda for meetings”, “[representing] the Board and its work at other government meetings as required” and being “an advocate for the Board in their professional and personal life”.

Involvement in the Deaf community through a local or national organisation, chairing experience and the ability to facilitate effective discussion are all essential for the role, the person specification reads, while use of BSL or tactile BSL – “preferably as their first language” is desirable.

Board meetings will take place four times a year in a mixture of in-person and online sessions, running on a weekday with a typical duration of between two to three hours. They will be held in both BSL and English.

While none of the roles are paid, “reasonable meeting expenses” will be reimbursed. A “reserve list” may also be set up in case any vacancies arise during the board’s term, the first of which will run from 2022 to 2025.

The closing date for applications is 5pm on 2 September, with more information available on the GOV.UK website.

Photo: Equality Hub/YouTube.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is an award-winning Deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.

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Update – 19/07/22 – 10:30: Sharing news of the application process getting underway on Twitter, the British Deaf Association wrote: “The BDA are pleased to share their recruitment pack, and we strongly encourage Deaf people to apply.”

This piece has also been updated after a GEO spokesperson confirmed a space on the board would be reserved for a tactile BSL user.