OpenLegislation

Section 6 Best practice to be in guidanceI1I2

Northern Ireland

(1)

Guidance under this Chapter is to—

(a)

give advice on—

(i)

the implications for public bodies, including prescribed organisations, of the recognition by this Part of British Sign Language and Irish Sign Language,

(ii)

what may be (or is to be) viewed as amounting to reasonable steps as required by this Part to be taken by prescribed organisations, and

(iii)

how prescribed organisations should develop plans to be called sign language action plans, and

(b)

set out for prescribed organisations advice on best practice for interacting with people who rely for communication on British Sign Language or Irish Sign Language.

(2)

Advice as to best practice as set out in guidance by virtue of this section may include recommendations on how to—

(a)

offer or facilitate communication in British Sign Language and Irish Sign Language, and

(b)

accommodate the particular needs of the various categories of people within the deaf community (including by taking account of the different forms of British Sign Language and Irish Sign Language).

(3)

Recommendations included in guidance by virtue of this section on how to offer or facilitate communication in British Sign Language and Irish Sign Language may refer to arrangements through which people can avail of—

(a)

accredited interpreters for communication in British Sign Language or Irish Sign Language in person or on screen (including by appointment on request), or

(b)

some web-based or technological means for on-site or remote interaction (including by setting up on request).

(4)

The reference in this section to public bodies includes persons or groups exercising functions of a public character.

Annotations

Commencement

I1

S. 6 not in operation at Royal Assent, see s. 15(1)(b)

I2

S. 6 in operation at 23.9.2026 by S.R. 2026/162, art. 2(e)