Deaf People and the Legal Profession

Alison Bryan

Under disability discrimination legislation, the Law Society's Code of Practice, one would have thought disabled people would have no problem accessing the profession.

As a Deaf person, I completed my LL.B. back in 1997, mainly out of textbooks because DSA at that time was not enough to cover interpreting support. I wanted to move onto postgraduate study, but statutory funding was not in place, to cover a rather large interpreting bill. All solicitors will be aware, participation and attendance for your LPC is compulsory.

Given this, I opted to work in the voluntary sector so I could at least campaign for change, and change came with a rather tokenistic extension of postgraduate DSA to £5k, and the Royal Assent of the Special Education Needs and Disability Act 2001 to cover disability discrimination in education.

Whilst both these measures are a significant step forward, the 'reasonable adjustment' stance, still leaves Deaf trainees out in the cold. Is the £70,000 interpreting and notetaking bill reasonable, bearing in mind an institution has stated that it is only willing to financially cover adjustments up to the course fees, around £8,000?

Since then, I've started my LPC twice, and I've had to subsequently withdraw due to funding issues. The interpreting bill for my foundation course alone amounted to £7000. My LL.B is now outdated and I am unable to complete the LPC. This is due to lack of financial support for Deaf Law students at postgraduate level.

For institutions to comply with SENDA, the government pumped £56 million into the sector, and most adjustments will have been spent on physical changes e.g. wheelchair ramps and lifts. Access for Deaf people usually comes in the form of higher ongoing costs, which institutions are financially unable or unwilling to match.

Equal access is unfortunately still a dream.

John Savva

As a BSL user. I have yet to achieve my dream to become a barrister. It has been something I've always wanted to do, and yet obstacles have always been placed in my path: I was even told that I couldn't do a law degree.

Determined nevertheless, I obtained a place at the University of Wolverhampton and completed my LL.B in 2000. I was fortunate to be able to share with other students the costs of BSL/English Interpreters by way of the Disabled Students' Allowance.

I carried out a search for interpreting costs to determine just how much I need to pay for two qualified BSL/English Interpreters for the BVC. The Sign Language Bureau quoted £60,000 to £80,000 for a one year full time course.

The DfES only provides £5.500 per year. The Law School has refused to pay more than the cost of the course. When am I going to get the support I need?