It is exactly a year since disability advocacy groups requested “simple measures” to improve accessibility to the inquiry. The Covid inquiry began hearing evidence in June and has failed to appoint a BSL interpreter for any part of its proceedings.
A written submission from Disability Rights UK, Disability Action Northern Ireland, Inclusion Scotland and Disability Wales dated 27 October 2022 reads: “Simple measures can be instituted which have a profound effect on disabled people’s access and by extension participation in public proceedings.”
An additional request was made in person during a preliminary hearing in March that suggested “the provision of a British Sign Language communicator for preliminary and evidential hearings on the YouTube screen,” as it “would be an important adjustment, including for those who understand sign language but do not necessarily read subtitles or transcripts”.
The Covid inquiry’s hearings are live-streamed on YouTube with automatically-generated subtitles, and there are side rooms at the inquiry itself that include transcriptions on screen.
However, charities say that this is not an adequate substitute as English is a second language for many BSL speakers, and the automatic subtitles can be error-strewn.
The inquiry is considering the request and said it would provide an update in the new year – more than 14 months since the groups’ first submission, and after the conclusion of two key modules.
A spokesperson told openDemocracy: “The inquiry ensures that its proceedings are as accessible as possible, takes its accessibility responsibilities very seriously, and currently meets all legal requirements.
“It has engaged with disability groups to understand requests concerning BSL and will confirm its position before the start of the next phase of hearings.”
Disability charities say the issue is non-negotiable. “[During the pandemic] there was no BSL on the briefings from the government, leaving thousands of BSL speakers without important information,” Kamran Mallick, chief executive of Disability Rights UK, told openDemocracy. “It is important that we don’t repeat this throughout the inquiry.
“Making the public inquiry accessible is the right thing to do, and ensuring BSL interpretation is available is a key part of this.”
The Covid inquiry is currently hearing evidence for its second module, which examines political governance and decision making in England.