Where’s The Interpreter?! Campaign (#WTI) Press Release from A Deaf Hub Wales
Since the arrival of Cov19, daily government briefings have been crucial in helping populations understand what is happening, and thus minimising illness or death.
The Welsh Government has been providing British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters to make its information accessible to the Deaf community in Wales. Scotland, Northern Ireland and many countries around the world are doing the same.
Yet the English government has continually refused to do this, putting tens of thousands of lives at risk. This is in breach of the Equality Act of 2010!
Lynn Stewart-Taylor, a Deaf activist, has been campaigning for a BSL interpreter to be ‘live and on platform’ for all briefings. She is being supported by several Deaf organisations.
Lynn and fellow organiser Mark Hodgson had been planning for several weeks to walk from Cardiff to Downing Street to try to compel the government to fulfil its duties.
Cardiff was chosen because the Welsh Government is acting as a role model for doing the right thing and respecting Deaf citizens.
Due to the announcement of a new lockdown in Cardiff from Sunday 27th September, however, they will now be starting their walk from Gloucester.
We at the Deaf Hub are seeking support from the Welsh media and public to help to shame the English into action.
The recent Covid restrictions in South Wales are a stark reminder that the virus has not gone away and that daily accessible briefings are vital to ensure Deaf people obtain access to information that could save their lives!