Reducing health inequalities for the Deaf community

Over 4000 people in Wales use the Welsh dialect of British Sign language (BSL) as their first or preferred language, and as a linguistic and cultural minority group, Welsh sign language users have long contributed to enriching and expanding the country’s language and cultural identity. 

However, as a minority group, they also face a number of challenges with respect to representation, recognition of rights, and access to resources.  One area in particular has been with respect to their over health and well-being; Members of the BSL using  community unfortunately face numerous problems concerning health inequities and inequalities compared with English and Welsh speakers.

This can include anything from inconsistent interpretation services, poor communications which can and often lead to misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis and treatment, or being at greater risk of underdiagnoses and under-treatment of chronic diseases and as a result, tending to have poorer health and health outcomes than the general population.

Imagine facing a health issue only to face added barriers when healthcare appointments, supporting information or wellness-based activities are not available in your language. 

Members of the Deaf community can also be twice as likely to experience mental health problems as the general population.

Added to this, Deaf people also face barriers when wanting to enjoy the great outdoors, such as our amazing national parks and national coastal path, due to materials not being available in BSL. 

I’ve been working with members of Deaf British Sign Language-using Communities in Wales for over five years. As a member of an interdisciplinary team, co- led and co-directed by BSL using members of the Deaf community, we have researched and identified factors that impact the Welsh Deaf BSL using community’s health, wellbeing and access to health information, services and resources.  This work has now led to a £1m three-year project funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC). It is one of a number of a programme of grants which aim to tackle entrenched and long-standing health inequalities in Britain’s poorest communities by exploring how health systems can collaborate more effectively with communities. 

This project was designed to be collaborative, community-led and most importantly Deaf-led; all the partners will be co-constructing, co-designing, implementing and evaluating solutions to known health inequities and inequalities. The project aims to improve health and healthcare services facing Deaf people using British Sign Language (BSL) in Wales.

We will also be developing an online dictionary and resources to help interpreters, service providers and those interested in signed languages and signed language research. We are also developing a range of tools, such as video guide apps for better access to heritage sites and video guide apps to improve access to our National Parks.

This is an area of research that has historically been underfunded, so we are hopeful that this will begin to make an impact and provide real changes for the BSL using community in Wales and beyond our borders.

As we start out on the project, we are eager to hear from members of the BSL using community who wish to take part. You can find more information on our research website.
Dr Christopher Shank
Senior Lecturer in Linguistics

School of Arts, Culture & Language, Bangor University