Video Relay Service (VRS) Link

[abbott567]

I've raised an issue on the GOVUK backlog around the potential need for an accessible pattern or component for Video Relay Service. DWP offers VRS as a standard channel now, but there are no common interaction design ideas for making it available to users.

Most services just stick a link on the service, but my concern is that some Sign Language users are monoglots. They don't read or write the English language, so we probably need some kind of link which uses iconography. There is a standard sign language icon we could look to implement, and on the GitHub issue, the NHS are apparently working on their own.

My hunch is that this won't be prioritised with GDS for a long time, so raising it here:

1. for transparency
2. incase we have the scope to develop a pattern first and feed it upstream.

Thanks

Edited: Original image commented out to avoid confusion as it is associated with ALS (American Sign Language) rather than BSL, based on NHS research.

Related: Contact preferences (Community Backlog) #426
Contact preferences (Design System board): #244

[jonhurrell]

Hi @abbott567 we discussed this at sprint planning today, short answer is, yes let's do this. Let's get some time booked in to get a bit more detail.

[martinwake]

New NHS discovery research on this pattern: nhsuk/nhsuk-service-manual-community-backlog#4 (comment)

They recommend against using the image above because it's associated with American Sign Language (it means "interpreter" in ASL, not BSL).

Should we also think about whether we need a standard way to do this without an icon (while one is being developed)? For example are the letters "BSL" recognisable as a symbol to BSL monoglots?

[abbott567]

Thanks @martinwake I've commented out the image in the original post to avoid confusion.

[jimhtims]

Worth checking in with Angela Moore, as she organising some work on this at the moment. We've got a few examples on GOV.UK, not just VRS, where we need to direct users to BSL guidance.