In Deaf Awareness Week, North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called for a report from the Welsh Government on support for Deaf people and people who are hard of hearing.
Speaking in yesterday’s Business Statement, Mr Isherwood, who is himself a hearing-aid wearer, said while support for deaf people and people who are hard of hearing has improved in some areas, little progress has been made in others.
As Patron of the Centre of Sign-Sight-Sound (COS), based in Colwyn Bay, Mr Isherwood also referred to their project on Deaf Awareness for children, and the many activities they're taking part in across North Wales this week to mark Deaf Awareness Week.
He said:
“Could I call for a report on support for deaf people and people who are hard of hearing in Wales? Because this is Deaf Awareness Week - 6 to 12 May. We know that, for instance, the Department for Work and Pensions's Disability Confident campaign is encouraging Disability Confident employers to boost their deaf awareness by checking out Action on Hearing Loss's Employers' Hub.
“We know that Remploy Cymru's Work and Health Programme in Wales includes people who are Deaf or with hearing loss who need support. I was contacted this weekend by COS, the Centre of Sign Sight Sound, based in Colwyn Bay, of which I'm Patron, talking about their project on Deaf Awareness for children, and the many activities they're taking (part in) across North Wales this week.
“And we also know - a few weeks ago, we debated the Deffo!, the voice for Deaf youth in Wales, petition. They stated that in 2003 the UK Government and in 2004, this place, the Assembly, recognized British Sign Language as a language in its own right. But ‘16 years later, we have made little progress in some areas, and our education a whole generation later is still failing our deaf young people. It has to stop, and we have to do something about it’.
“Given all these areas, the progress achieved, the good news, the third sector working, but also the problems that continue to be highlighted, I call for a Statement recognizing Deaf Awareness Week accordingly.”
In her response the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd, Rebecca Evans AM, said the Health Minister will write with an update on the support for people who are deaf and who are hard of hearing across the range of issues outlined by Mr Isherwood.
Mr Isherwood added: “It is encouraging to see COS – the Centre of Sign Sight Sound - out and about all week celebrating Deaf Awareness Week across North Wales, with events in Wrexham Maelor Hospital, the new Conwy Council building in Colwyn Bay, Bangor Hospital, the Older People's Event in the Kinmel Manor Hotel, Tesco in Llandudno Junction and Ysgol Glancegin in Bangor”.
ENDS