City committed to deaf people
Deaf people in Brighton & Hove will have better access to local services, after the Mayor, Councillor Mo Marsh, and Leader of the Council, Councillor Warren Morgan, signed the British Deaf Association charter for British Sign Language.
The ceremony was held at Hamilton Lodge School & College for Deaf children on Saturday 10 June.
Also signing the charter was Ayeshaa Denny, a student at Hamilton Lodge and Paul Redfern from the British Deaf Association.
The charter signs Brighton & Hove City Council up to three key pledges to improve access to council services and rights for deaf people who use British Sign Language in the city:
- Consult formally and informally with the local deaf community on a regular basis
- Promote learning and high quality teaching of BSL
- Support deaf children and families
The council is also committed to working towards ensuring access for deaf people to information and services, and that staff working with deaf people can communicate effectively using British Sign Language.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Warren Morgan said: “I signed this charter to mark a change for the better in how the council works with deaf people. By being committed to these pledges, we will ensure more inclusion and collaboration with the deaf community in the city.
"Being at the event and signing the charter has also inspired me personally. I am now going to start a British Sign Language course in order to champion the pledge of promoting learning of BSL.”
Signing up to the charter was agreed at the Neighbourhoods, Inclusion, Communities & Equalities Committee in March, chaired by Cllr Emma Daniel, and follows a Fairness Commission recommendation supported by all parties of the council.