Support petition to improve registration, regulation and oversight of Deafblind interpreters/communicator guides (BSL)

A petition has been launched by Sarah Reed to improve registration, regulation and oversight of Deafblind interpreters and communicator guides. You can support the petition here.

It says:

There is a crisis in UK support for deafblind people. There are only 8 names on the deafblind interpreter register in the whole country and currently no way to gain qualifications to become registered. This is creating dangerous situations for deafblind people who experience long delays in their medical appointments and care causing harm to their health and mental wellbeing.

Deafblind people are hugely vulnerable and currently those who work with them are unregulated and unregistered. There is no accessible complaints procedure and deafblind people are left vulnerable to financial, physical and emotional abuse as there are no checks on their criminal history.

I am reaching out to you all in the UK to ask for your support.

I am Deafblind myself and have dedicated over three decades of my life to the Deafblind community through teaching, training, and research, my commitment does not wane in retirement and I am determined to see changes.

In my everyday life, I depend on Communicator Guides, whose roles are vital for my interactions with the world. They help me to communicate and to get around. Without them I am stuck in my house. I am deeply concerned about the current lack of regulation and I am not alone in this, many within our community share these concerns about safeguarding and our safety. There is also a lack of clear guidelines about the professional role of a communicator guide and how they should behave.

The most pressing issues is the lack of registration and regulation of Communication Guides. The current system is failing in its purpose, leaving many Deafblind and Usher individuals without appropriate, professional support as we cannot find suitable people to employ leading to a detrimental effect on their quality of life and hindering their ability to access information, communicate effectively and moving around.

It is crucial that we push for a comprehensive review and update of Deafblind interpreter registration and communicator guide regulation. This will not only benefit Deafblind and Usher individuals but will also enhance the quality of employment for Interpreter Guides and Communication Guides by raising service standards.

This issue cannot be overstated. We call upon the relevant authorities including the Minister for Disabled, the Rt. Hon Sir Stephen Timms, the BSL Advisory Board, NRCPD, Signature, SENSE and Deafblind UK to take our concerns seriously and ensure that the necessary registration and regulatory changes are initiated promptly.

Please support the UK Deafblind community by signing this petition and amplifying our voice in demanding improved regulation and oversight of Deafblind and Usher support professionals.

To support the petition, click here.