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<p>The UK Government is committed to making sure that online government services are
accessible to all citizens, and that they offer an appropriate alternative channels
where citizens are not online. This includes British Sign Language as part of any
reasonable adjustments needed to access services. <br> <br>The Government Digital
Service (“GDS”) provides guidance to help departments make their online services and
information accessible. Accessibility is one of the standards against which the GDS
assesses the development of central government digital services and our accompanying
guidance makes it clear that people with disabilities have to be included in user
research and usability testing. <br> <br>The new Public Sector Bodies (Websites and
Mobile Applications) (No.2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 aim to improve access to
online public services for citizens. This will include best practice advice enabling
website owners to develop accessibility statements which meet the needs of their users.
It will be for individual website owners to determine whether it is appropriate to
provide additional content or additional mechanisms such as Video Relay Interpreting
Systems, depending on the size of the organisation and the number and demographics
of their users. <br> <br>HM Revenue & Customs includes routes to Video Interpreting
Service and British Sign Language captioned video resources on GOV.UK in support of
those with additional needs. In January, the Department for Work and Pensions launched
a Video Relay Service to make it easier for Deaf BSL citizens to call their helplines
through a BSL video interpreter and, from April, BSL interpreted calls can be made
to the department’s Personal Independence Payment (PIP) helpline.</p>
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