Unseen and unheard: how the Future Generations Act is not addressing the needs of the Welsh deaf community

Abstract

The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 places a duty on public bodies to consider the impact of their decisions on future generations and to work towards achieving the seven well-being goals. Using doctrinal, socio-legal and autoethnographic methods, this article seeks to ascertain whether the needs of the Welsh deaf community have been considered. The Act does not explicitly mention them, and there is no evidence that public bodies have taken their needs into account when implementing the Act. The Welsh deaf community is marginalised in Welsh society, and this has been exacerbated by the closure of deaf schools and the decline of deaf clubs. The Welsh Government and the Future Generations Commissioner have a responsibility to ensure that the well-being of the Welsh deaf community is considered in the implementation of the Act and recommendations and thoughts are put forward on how they can achieve this.