View Do we need British Sign Language on GOV.UK? (BSL Translation with subtitles) on YouTube.
It's been over a year since we made GOV.UK a live service and made it the official web presence of the UK Government. To date, we've done little to publish content translated into British Sign Language and I wanted to take a few minutes to explain why.
From the beginning of the work to launch GOV.UK, we knew that we wanted to make it the most accessible platform we could. Our users don't typically choose to interact with us, after all, so we owe it to each and every one of them to try and ensure that no-one is being excluded unnecessarily.
We've done a lot of work across both the GDS and the wider government to ensure that each product team has the support they need when designing and building the services they provide. We remain confident that we made the right decision in providing one responsive, accessible platform we could continue to iterate on rather than a collection of separate silos for different user groups. That said, we're still not able to definitively say that we're meeting the needs of our profoundly deaf users.
What's the user need?
I've reached out to various user groups and deaf organisations since I started working for the GDS, but to date I've yet to have the same level of contact I've had with, say, the RNIB. With little input from deaf users or from people representing their interests, I remain unsure whether the user need for us to publish content in BSL is even there.
The Equality Act (2010) states that service providers including government should make reasonable adjustments to ensure that if you are a disabled person, you can access the service as far as is reasonable on the same terms as a non-disabled person.
Because we've rewritten all of the content published on GOV.UK to be more understandable by those with lower literacy levels, it could be the case that our profoundly deaf users are perfectly able to use the site even though BSL is their first language rather than English. We may be meeting the needs of our deaf users perfectly well with our transformed digital services, without the need to provide additional material such as video content.
I'd love to understand whether our lack of BSL content is a real problem for our deaf users. If you could help, as an advocate or as a deaf user of GOV.UK, I'd very much welcome your contribution.
63 comments
Comment by Lily Dart posted on
Very excited about this blog. Not enough people talking about real life accessibility requirements in digital.
Do you have an example of a government site currently using BSL?
Comment by Joshua Marshall posted on
Hi Lily.
We have a few departments that publish videos. The DWP have their own channel for BSL video content here: http://www.youtube.com/user/dwpsign and I'm sure there are more out there.
I've had various conversations with departmental colleagues about making sure we're trying to be consistent about producing and promoting the content. It's an ongoing conversation as far as GOV.UK goes since we're having trouble even working out whether it's needed.
Hopefully this will help shed more light on it.
Comment by Simon Hurst posted on
Hi Joshua. I have some contacts with Manchester Deaf Centre who we could perhaps speak to, they've always wanted to get involved in what we're doing in DWP.
Speaking to advisers there they've advised that plain English wouldn't be enough, no matter how plain we make it- that some BSL people would still require support from someone (assisted digital?).
Perhaps we could do some testing of some services with them?
Comment by Joshua Marshall posted on
Sounds good Simon, I'll stay in touch.
I keep hearing that plain English isn't good enough, hence the push to see what BSL content we needed to consider, but the lack of comments given we've been live for over a year now is making me question whether that's an accepted idea rather than the actual truth.
More than happy to be proven wrong either way, I just want to make sure if the lack of content is a problem for our deaf users, we use that as the basis for providing a lasting fix.
Comment by Simon Hurst posted on
I'll drop you an email tomorrow about my contact and go from there. As you say, interesting nobody has commented on it. Perhaps they've just accepted it as the way things are with Government?
Be good to do some research with this group.
Comment by Jacqueline Girvan posted on
Hi Guys
I am a DEA based in Glasgow and feel that the deaf community would welcome any information on GOV.UK in BSL .I am sure Action for Hearing and Deaf Connections would be happy to assist. I also notice that Glasgow City Council have a website you can click onto for BSL which makes it a little easier for Council Tennants to access info.
I am sure we can do better for our customers.
Comment by Joshua Marshall posted on
Thanks Jacqueline!
Comment by Natalya Dell posted on
Very few deaf people use BSL and I believe the government (and associated departments) could do a LOT more to be deaf aware alongside providing BSL translations of content.
1) Look at the language, sometimes I think the language is simplified so far it is actually incomprehensible. HMRC are especially guilty of horribly complex language and poor structure of communications because I believe it's template-o drafting so paragraph X doesn't actually relate to paragraph Y so someone trying to understand the whole is completely lost. I would support the government working with deaf led organisations and providing them with funding to expand so they could perhaps assist with appropriate support. Maybe if BSL interpreting everything is too onerous or indeed delayed it would be worth linking with SignVideo or Team HaDo to have free calls from deaf users to them to use their interpreters to interpret as needed anything a deaf BSL user wanted clarified. This could also be linked in with prioritising what needs permanent BSL translations or what is constantly coming up as "unclear to deaf people". I am tired as a non signer of being told by government organisation officials that they think the language used is perfectly clear and that I must simply be wrong for failing to understand it properly - listen to us, use the data. There could also be funding put into non-signing deaf led organisations in clarifying things those of us who are primarily non-signers but struggling with language accessing services/support.
2) Provide email contacts for all departments. Telephony is not good for many deaf people including myself. Do not barrier systems, processes, access, applications by telephone only/mainly processes. Postal access is not equivalent. It is 2013 - provide email, online forms, direct online chat systems. I would also support using SignVideo and Team HaDo et al again to provide deaf signers with access to government dept advice.
3) Be aware that deafness is not just signing people. Those of us who do not sign still may struggle to access systems which are often difficultly accessible to us. Take a social model approach and genuinely listen to and take on board feedback and critique.
Comment by Joshua Marshall posted on
Thanks for that Natalya, that's really helpful.
Part of the problem for us is just that - I keep asking organisations what we should be doing differently and where we should focus our efforts and we get nothing back. That makes it pretty difficult to engage with organisations, deaf-led or otherwise.
I'll look into SignVideo and Team HaDo. Thanks again for getting in touch.
Comment by Zoe Hebden posted on
Natalya Dell
Very few people use BSL? It has been estimated that 70k Deaf people are BSL users. You can google it or look on this website- http://www.bbc.co.uk/voices/multilingual/bsl_today.shtml
You're right, there are also other Deaf/ HOH people who don't use BSL which is why I think the Government needs to make their website accessible for all types of Deaf people.
I agree with having an email address, BSL interpreting service ie SignVideo or an live online chat like 02, Orange, Insure the Box use. They have been very useful for me and I would love to have option available on all websites especially with the government.
Joshua Marshall- The reason you've not heard from us Deaf BSL users about this is because we were not aware of this. This is the first I've heard of it. I just happened to find it while browsing the Gov.uk website for information on cars!! You can't assume that we do not need this improving/ that we are not interested because we are. Like Martin says go to the BSL Act Facebook group and I guarantee you will be surprised!
Hope you do improve this. It would be fantastic for us Deaf BSL users and for non BSL users. It would make it so much easier for you aswell as you wouldn't have us hassling you for better access.
Comment by lisa posted on
this is the first I have heard of this blog and this was via Facebook. I would be interested in voicing my opinions and advice about government website access. in fact a couple of years ago I volunteered to check out a government website before it went live and the person who was doing the research was very surprised at how I viewed the text and looked for specifics. so it obviously is not just 'plain English' that you need to consider.
(my English is pretty good) it is also how deaf people might search for specific pages or information - so the layout of the pages are important. yes you are right in that not all native deaf people are BSL users.
having the option of using a signed video or not could be useful, as I know a lot of BSL users that avoid using websites without any video. if you did decide to add BSL video on to the website - how will these deaf people know about them?
Comment by Sam Green posted on
When you are making your enquiries to see if you are meeting those of a BSL user, are you asking in written English text? or in BSL ?
Comment by Joshua Marshall posted on
Sam, I'm not a speaker of BSL so it's been in English. That said, given the websites of these organisations are published in English, I'm not massively convinced that would be a reason for not getting in touch at all? Especially given I'm doing it based on a desire to improve access for their users.
Comment by Alison posted on
very good point ! ...first I have heard about asking if we want information in BSL ....oh yes please! ...it is a nightmare trying to get through the .gov.uk website !
In Derby we even had to ask DWP to do a presentation on PIP this week with BSL interpreters
I am happy to organise a focus group if you want more examples of the difficulties we have
Comment by Martin posted on
I am sure that British Deaf Association would love to respond this.
However, it would be good if you could organise BSL version of your blog and then post it to the facebook group called 'Spit the Dummy and campaign for BSL Act' (https://www.facebook.com/groups/bslact/) where they have 11,000 members who are campaigning for better BSL access.
I would guarantee that you will get good number of response from this group!!
Finially I wonder if you already have liaised with the Govt's All Party Parliamentary Group on Deafness?
Comment by Joshua Marshall posted on
Martin, I wish they would - the BDA are one of the groups I've contacted who haven't so far been in touch!
I'll see how quickly I can get this translated and uploaded, but in the meantime I've joined the Facebook group. Look forward to hearing your thoughts on the subject.
I've not been in touch directly with the All Party group, but they've been mentioned in meetings with colleagues. I'll raise it with them and see what happens from there.
Thanks so much for getting in touch.
Comment by Paul Lennon posted on
Joshua
The new website is a lot different from the old less information thus meaning that people still need to access other services for more information.
Meaning for a deaf person they have to seek advice from a local advice service in the hope they provide BSl interpreter. Most of the time they do not breaching he equality act which in itself is a farce of a law in my opinion.
Secondly the language is still not accessible. Many BSL grass root user still find it hard. This is further more compounded by the amount of EU nationals exercising their rights by coming to work in the UK. English is usually their 3rd or 4 th lanaguage after BSL thus making it further more difficult. I feel if the government want to set a precedent of the equality act they need to make all their services accessible. Their are services which they do not which is in fact a breach of the rule of law which is the foundation of this great country.
BSL videos would be a small step in the right direction of what the equality act stands for and and it's purpose
Comment by Joshua Marshall posted on
Thanks Paul, much appreciated.
Comment by Barbara De Lacy Savage posted on
Hello I'm a step mum of an adult who has been deaf from birth. I spend a lot of time translating letters for him to Bsl. I think it is important to understand that BSL grammar is different to English language grammar. Therefore using plain English is not enough. Such an important site needs to be accessible to all.
Comment by Joshua Marshall posted on
Thanks for the comment Barbara.
I'll make sure your voice is heard when we discuss this further.
Comment by David Buxton posted on
Hello this is David Buxton from the BDA - can you please forward your email that you did send to the BDA - ceo@bda.org.uk thank you and I shall follow up
Comment by Joshua Marshall posted on
Will do, thanks David!
Comment by Curlecaz posted on
You definitely need to give access in BSL. It's a misconception that Deaf peoe are OK with plain English. Due to the vast difference in Grammatical structure it's often the case ( and I have seen this regularly in a college ) that some Deaf BSL users can read the words perfectly well, but meaning is completely lost.
When considering the translation of website material please make sure you use a Deaf Translator, rather than a hearing interpreter. There are a few Registered Sign Language Translators (RSLT) and numbers are growing following the launch of a degree level qualification a few years ago.
I agree you need to put this blog request for opinions in BSL and take responses that way also. Maybe you could use an RSLT to translate these for you? In order to gain an adequate response from the BSL Community you need to speak their language!
Comment by Mike posted on
Lower literacy may be suitable for BSl users I may have misinterp this you are saying that this is what we BSL users need reading it may be fine but when we want to ask question or clarification who and how to get it is the problem . Digital BSL will be much better and to get the answer back in BSL way better
Comment by Lisa Baldock posted on
Oh yes there is a huge great need without it us deafies would be lost
Comment by Joshua Marshall posted on
Curlecaz, Mike, Lisa - thanks for getting involved.
Comment by Sean Nicholson posted on
We translate a lot of content for websites into BSL and also provide a video interpreting service along similar lines to sign video. If you think we can be of help please have a look at our services http://www.signsolutions.uk.com . I think to understand the issues of access and lack of what you see as engagement you first need to undertake some deaf awareness to gain an appreciation of the linguistic , community and cultural issues involved here.
Comment by Joshua Marshall posted on
Thanks Sean.
Honestly, I think we have enough of an understanding of the linguistic and cultural issues already. What we don't have is a clearer picture of what we need to provide to meet the needs of our deaf users, and what we need to publish in BSL especially.
This conversation and the ones I'm currently having in various Facebook groups is really helpful though, so thanks for getting involved.
Comment by Sean Nicholson posted on
In that case why not translate everything and make all your communication accessible .It is relatively cheap and easy to do so these days. We translate all correspondence for a number of organisations, including the Financial Ombudsman Service, into BSL and then at least people have the option to have the information in what is Britain's officially recognised fourth language.
Comment by Joshua Marshall posted on
"why not translate everything and make all your communication accessible"?
Because doing that isn't a trivial thing when you're publishing as much information as we are. Yes there are organisations that can help us with translation services, but that's not the only thing to consider. How much of that is actually needed or wanted by our BSL-speaking users?
We currently have all Ministerial departments, plus another 102 organisations publishing content via GOV.UK with another 200+ organisations to follow. The vast majority of which is published in plain HTML rather than locked into inaccessible formats. Are you suggesting that every single piece of content that is published by the government via our platform has a BSL version? That all of our tools and services need the same translation?
I'm not arguing that there isn't a need for publishing some of our content in BSL. I am arguing that a blanket "publish everything" model isn't going to be sustainable unless we can prove that it's needed and wanted.
Just as the needs of our deaf users are varied and diverse, our response to those needs should be too. Understanding and responding to those needs is what I'm trying to do here.
Comment by Sean Nicholson posted on
I do understand what you are saying, however why not as a starting point look at it from this perspective:
If you were working for the Welsh assembly would you consider asking the Welsh people how much of the content really needs to be translated into Welsh. Let's face it most Welsh people can speak very good English anyway, so surely you could save a lot of money by doing only a token amount just to let them know you accept their indigenous language.
Politically inappropriate perhaps? So add to this the fact that many deaf people really struggle with written English, having never heard the spoken form, and then add the requirements of the Equality Act 2010. Do you actually want people to access the information or not?
Comment by Joshua Marshall posted on
We already do that Sean. We publish some content in Welsh, but what we publish is based on user need - we have analytics data that says that certain content is expected in Welsh so we make sure we publish a Welsh version.
We don't have anything similar for BSL because we simply haven't had people asking for it in sufficient numbers to gain any useful analytics to say what's needed. We're stuck in a catch-22 situation where we have no content to show to prove there's a need, and asking which content we should focus on first gets us "publish everything!" comments.
I have a theory of how we can initially meet the need of providing BSL, but unless the community I'm trying to help will engage with us and help me understand what they _actually_ need, I'm stuck.
This conversation is a great starting point, but us publishing something isn't the problem. Knowing what the right thing to publish is.
Comment by Graham Turner posted on
Sounds disingenuous to me. If you've been as keen as you claim to get views, couldn't you by now have trialled some content and sought feedback on it? It's obviously dodgy logic to say "no-one has looked at our impenetrable (to them) website and written to us to say which bits are impenetrable, therefore our hands are tied". And it really wouldn't have been a terribly arduous leap for a doubtless well-educated and well-intentioned person like yourself to have PROACTIVELY approached
Comment by Joshua Marshall posted on
Hi Graham. Thanks for getting involved.
We have trialled some content and gotten feedback on it. Back in February of this year our friends at Remark UK translated two guides into BSL for us, and we user tested the resulting approach in the design we had at the time.
It left us understanding that it wasn't as simple as just putting some videos on a page, but that it was something we definitely needed to do properly.
Getting the point where it's technically feasible involved a lot more developer time than we had in the months leading up to our launch, though. With limited resources we had to consider what was most important to be prioritised, and the BSL needs were bumped further down the list. Down it, most definitely not off it entirely.
Since then we've discussed with other departments across government the best way for us to get it prioritised in a sustainable way and produce content in the best way to help our deaf users. BSL is just a part of that. I've also spent months trying to talk with the various deaf interest groups across the country to get a more formal view of what they think our solutions should include. We've also had talks with the technical and product teams across the GDS to scope the full nature of providing the content.
Just because you still don't see anything on the site, it doesn't mean we're not working hard to understand the problem and to find workable solutions. We've been very pro-active about finding out what the actual user needs are here, this post is just part of that.
Comment by Lisa Head posted on
Hi there.
I am sure that there is many of deaf people don't read English that's why they had asked their parents or friends or interpreters to translate the English into BSL. Which is why this has not been heard or voiced for. I am pro foundly deaf since birth my parents doing everything for me to make sure I understand and now I am a parent of two hearing kids, it is most difficult for me and the communication is the most difficult to come across as well, I am using sign language full time and I don't speak much. I understand those people thinks deaf people can understand English well but it is not which is why we are fighting for our rights to have the case to be reviewing by government. For an example, a lady herself is hard of hearing who don't use BSL whatsoever is thinking that I can hear but I can't hear a thing and don't need an interpreter but I do need an interpreter to translate everything what needs to be saying. It would be an ideal if the website have BSL versions to explain invididual questions or information we, deaf people, wanted to know and includes us into the system where everything to be equally as hearing so we won't miss out on information and currently we are missing out on those information that are so important to us and didn't hear about it. I hope some of this helps you? I know it might be not great at explaining but at least I have tried.
Comment by Joshua Marshall posted on
That's brilliant, thanks so much Lisa.
Comment by Louisa posted on
I think society excludes deaf people too often, so I'm really happy to see this blog post. Good luck! I'm sure it will be awesome, whatever you do.
Comment by Simon Hurst posted on
This response is brilliant, do you win a prize for most feedback on a blog Joshua?
Comment by Duncan posted on
Joshua,
Can I please get in touch with you directly to discuss this in further detail?
Thanks,
Duncan
Comment by Joshua Marshall posted on
Sure!
I'm @partiallyblind on Twitter if you'd prefer, or you can email me at joshua.marshall@digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk.
Thanks Duncan
Comment by Simon Hurst posted on
Again, lots more really useful information here.
I'd be interested to take a look at any sites that BSL users and deaf/HoH find particularly good and easy to understand. I'd also welcome any examples of where sites have been translated into BSL.
Comment by Gareth Foulkes posted on
I'm on the Isle of Man so Equality Act doesn't apply here (I live in hope of IoM having a similar Act in the future, in the meantime d/Deaf and disabled folk and supporters have to keep lobbying). As it is a small island we only have 25 profoundly d/Deaf people here. Of these 5 are fluent in BSL and 9 have some BSL signing skills. But each and everyone of them has a right to information available from the Government here and departments and agencies performing functions on behalf of the Government. Even when you have a major medical operation or are arrested or appear in court you cannot be sure you will get fair and equitable access to information or the right of freedom of expression. There are also 12,500 hard of hearing and deafened people (some with additional needs) who should be able to access moderately phrased information in English. But for the 14 Deaf people on IOM who rely on sign, access to information in BSL is a human right and not an option. This includes Govt websites. Good luck in the UK with this and keep an eye on us in the IOM please. We need your support!
Comment by Joshua Marshall posted on
Thanks Gareth. Best of luck.
Comment by Jo posted on
HMRC website has too much text. I asked about accessible material when I interpreted a phone call for a Deaf person. The HMRC staff had no idea what was available. They said "Have you tried the online seminars?" (The information is all spoken English!) I pointed this out, reply was "Um, well we could send you a full English transcript?" Still not accessible. So the Deaf person said could they come to a live seminar, would HMRC provide an interpreter? The answer was we don't do that. Dead end. Happens all the time to Deaf people who are BSL users. Some great talent out there, but government information, or lack therof is a hindrance.
Comment by Joshua Marshall posted on
Thanks Jo. We're looking at all the solutions we might need to provide, not just BSL translation of certain content, so your points are really helpful.
Comment by Linda Parkin posted on
Hi Joshua - I am with Royal Association for Deaf people (RAD) - we provide accessible services for Deaf people: mainly BSL users. I don't think we have heard from you. I see some of my colleagues and trustees have commented already, and cross-posted to our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/157419114078/
We gathered a lot of feedback on accessibility issues for Deaf people when we were developing our new website - if you would like to make contact I'd be happy to share with you.
Comment by Joshua Marshall posted on
Hi Linda.
I have sent messages to the info@royaldeaf.org.uk account, but sharing your feedback sounds fantastic. What's the best way to reach you?
Thanks so much.
Comment by Irene melo posted on
I have to admit I fail to see a robust business case to justify the cost and effort required to incorporate BSL into the website.
I believe that if BSL is to be incorporated, it ought to be done at the same quality standards as the default content. This means that regular user testing and changes would occur, which would be costly.
Here's my reasoning:
- most user 'search' for what they are looking for. How would BSL users with no written English skills be able to do that?
- even if the BSL-only users were able to find the page they were looking for, how would they then be able to complete a transaction?
- what is the percentage of BSL-only citizens in the UK? Is is significant enough to justify the cost of making every GOV webpage BSL friendly?
- wouldn't that money be better applied in improving the accessibility of other channels that would enable these users to perform and end-to-end transaction?
As yourself, I have no data or evidence, so my assumptions might well be all wrong. As such, I am happy to be proved wrong.
As an accessibility lead myself, I find that sometimes it takes a lot of time and effort to try and meet a certain need, and then I have no evidence that people are actually benefiting from, or using it.
In an environment where money and time are tight, I have decided to focus more on improving the areas that I have evidence that are really improving people's access to digital services.
I'd be very interested in knowing the opinions or reading on any research that has been done on the subject, so if you come across any, please do share.
I have engaged with users with users with other disabilities and it was eye opening. I've never been in touch with BSL users though.
I.
Comment by Joshua Marshall posted on
Hi Irene.
You fail to see a "robust business case to justify the cost and effort required"? How about our deaf users having just as much of a right to access the information as other citizens? How about the Equality Act putting the burden upon us to make reasonable adjustments for those users?
Part of our responsibility as a provider of information and services is to ensure that we're not excluding those users where we can take practical steps to provide that content in more suitable formats.
I consider BSL to be a reasonable part of providing that solution to our deaf users.
We wouldn't be looking to translate every piece of content we publish, more to provide relevant information around certain topic areas which impact our deaf users particularly, and to describe other channels more appropriate to them if they're not comfortable with the written content across GOV.UK.
For other areas, especially like transactions, we might rely more on things like video relay services, but it's still incumbent upon us to provide the most realistic and cost effective ways of meeting the very diverse needs of our deaf users.
That feels robust enough to satisfy me.
Comment by Thomas Giddens posted on
Hello Joshua
I am with the Greater London Deaf Association – we provide better lives for Deaf people who live in London and South-East: mainly BSL users. We are working on giving a better accessible for Deaf people to raise their awareness about equal and valued citizens in wider society.
We can have some feedbacks from them on accessibility issues for Deaf people when we were developing our new upcoming talks – if you would like to make contact I'd be happy to share with you too.
Comment by Joshua Marshall posted on
Thanks Thomas, that'd be useful.
Comment by curlecaz posted on
Response for your request for BSL interpreted vids:
CAB examples:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-rweDNoGMU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDIxQqdjBB0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbSZ57cXs3A
I prefer the fully accessible ones BSL with subtitles.
College example
http://www.walsallcollege.ac.uk/employers/our-business-services/british-sign-language-bsl-website-translation-serv/
British Museum - one example but they have 18 videos on their site!
http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/aes/t/the_rosetta_stone.aspx
Remember when dismissing translation of all content. Govt websites can be quite wordy, or even when in plain English can 'waffle'.
BSL is not sign for word tranlsation.
BSL translation involves translation and communication of meaning.
What looks, in English, like a lot of words which take a lot of time to read, BSL doesnt need that many signs to translate it.
Meaning is communicated not only through the hands but through non manual features such as body language, movement, facial expression, even eyebrow movement.
BSL takes less time to say things for those that are fluent.
Under Equality Act 2010, whats reasonable to one person is not necessarily the same as whats reasonable to another!
Equality should mean equal access for all.
Sadly the reaonable adjustment clause enables businesses, services and public bodies like you to automatically deem it unreasonable to make everything accessible in BSl even when your research is not yet finished (see your earlier reply comment above), so whats the point of calling it 'equal'?
I realise Joshua that you are only one man and cant change the law, so.....
Instead of translating everything, why not BSL tranlsate a summary of every page/topic with tranlsation of key points. Give the BSL Community a service where they can send in a BSL video letter if they need more information in their language?
You get the video letter translated.
Translate the info they need into BSL and email it to them. If you set it up correctly you may even be able to reuse the video translation and build a BSL video information library which you could then publish on one page similar to the British Museum in the above link.
Just a thought....
Potentially, getting everything available in BSL so everything is accessible and BSL users have equal access to information would be better. In both mine and the Deaf Communities 'Utopia' 😉
Comment by Joshua Marshall posted on
Thanks for that curlecaz.
What I'm currently thinking is that we should provide some BSL videos to explain the subject areas we publish content under, along with an explanation of what GOV.UK is, with a specific focus on areas most applicable to our deaf users. Alongside that we should provide some sort of video relay service so that users who need more specific help can get it in a more useful format.
I don't think I need to change the law - as far as I'm concerned it's good enough at setting the expectation that people shouldn't be excluded from services or information, even if it's government doing the publishing.
Comment by Jason Sharpe posted on
That good but I use iPad I try click BSL video still not open video same iPhone. I have do go get my laptop... You need open BSL video on iPad and iPhone or other too..
And head find out where BSL video too
Thank you
Comment by Joshua Marshall posted on
Sorry Jason! We can't embed YouTube movies on our blog platform just yet but it opens fine on my iPad and phone.
Comment by Jason Sharpe posted on
I forget we need BSL videos on gov.uk please...
Thank u
Jason Sharpe
Comment by Joshua Marshall posted on
Thanks so much for the comment Jason.
Comment by Vita posted on
Thanks for this information. Sure need with BSL, for me that is important. BSL more clear information.
Comment by CJ posted on
There should be BSL only for Deaf, sorry but I fall behind when hearing people are there at college's.
Im desperate guy.
CJ
Comment by Joshua Marshall posted on
Thanks CJ
Comment by City Free posted on
When I initially commented I clicked the "Notify me when new comments are added"
checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get three e-mails with
the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me
from that service? Appreciate it!
Comment by Joshua Marshall posted on
Whoops, sorry about that. I've requested that your address be removed, but let me know if you still get them and I'll chase. Apologies.
Comment by Winnie posted on
Very interesting discussion. Is there any update on where gov.uk stands on British Sign Language?