The Just Ask! website has been re-launched as Community Legal Service Direct. This website provides extended information in relation to Community Legal Services.

It is a shame that BSL still has not been properly addressed by the Legal Services Commission. A BSL search under the directory, currently provides 2 matches (nationally): the DRC and the Disability Law Service.

I personally regard both these services are not currently accessible to BSL users. Unless of course you book BSL/English Interpreters, in which case, all advice services should come under this requirement, by virtue of reasonable adjustments under the DDA. Why single out two here, unless you are providing direct BSL advice, with the right competency.

Otherwise, to contact the DRC, you have to go through their helpline, which will invariably mean that you have a good command of English. Their publications and website is not available in BSL. So how can the DRC claim to provide advice accessible to this group? I would expect a higher standard from the DRC anyway, due to its position, and this leaves a lot to be desired.

Where is the monitoring from the LSC here? Would they know what to look out for in the first place? Somehow I very much doubt it.

Where is the funding streams for specialist legal services in BSL, from the LSC? There is also no recognition that Deaf people as a group, can fall outside traditional advice funding streams, due to their geographical spread, which has implications that go further than economies of scale. Such issues should be looked at, and a recognition that one size does not fit all.

In terms of engagement of minority groups, such as Deaf people, and be more proactive towards inclusion, the LSC has a long way to go.