British Sign Language National Plan 2023 - 2029 Consultation
Feedback updated 12 Dec 2023
We asked
We asked for your opinion on the Scottish Government's proposed British Sign Language (BSL) National Plan 2023-2029.
You said
A total of 80 responses were received, 76 of which were submitted through Citizen Space and 4 were sent via email. A total of 43 community consultation events were held in addition to the consultation to allow BSL users to participate in a two-way dialogue in their own language and in a culturally and linguistically appropriate way to express their views. The community consultation events organised by stakeholders took place between 30 June 2023 and 3 September 2023.
The overarching themes raised by both individual and organisation respondents, as well as by BSL and non-BSL users were the following:
- Focus on clear, tangible and measurable actions
- Continuous collaboration with BSL users
- Equal opportunity and inclusion
- Promote BSL as a language and culture
- Inclusion of the whole D/deaf community
A full analysis of the consultation is available on the Scottish Government website
We did
The Scottish Government would like to thank everyone who took the time to provide a response to this consultation. We have taken account of the responses received and the consultation analysis report.
The responses to this consultation have informed the final version of the British Sign Language National Plan 2023-2029
Results updated 12 Dec 2023
Links:
Published responses
View submitted responses where consent has been given to publish the response.
Overview
Ministerial Foreword - Jenny Gilruth MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
British Sign Language (BSL) is a vibrant and important language, with its own grammar, syntax, and vocabulary. It is a language that enables many Scottish Deaf and Deafblind citizens to learn, work, be creative and to make their contribution to our communities, our culture, and our economy. We are committed to making Scotland the best place in the world for BSL users to live, work, visit and learn. But, we recognise that there is more to do to achieve this ambition, and will continue to build to further promote and support BSL in Scotland.
The BSL National Plan 2017-2023 has delivered a range of actions and produced a strong foundation for us to build on as we embark on the new national plan for BSL in Scotland. Key successes include:
- A comprehensive review of BSL/English interpreting in Scotland, carried out in 2019 – Landscape Review – BSL Scotland Act 2015, which led to the current development of a central booking system for BSL/English interpreters, which is on track to launch in Spring 2024
- building evidence on BSL demographics via Scotland’s Census 2022 enabling us to use this data to better inform policy decisions
- prioritising BSL/English interpreting of the daily Scottish Government’s coronavirus briefings to ensure public health messages were inclusive
- Queen Margaret University embedding basic BSL tuition in its Initial Teacher Education provision
- the University of Edinburgh is developing a new Master of Arts in Primary Education and BSL, which will prepare teachers for BSL immersion settings, and for teaching BSL as a language following the 1+2 policy
To develop Scotland’s BSL National Plan 2023-2029, we have established a Short Life Working Group, consisting of organisations representing the deaf, deafblind and BSL communities. I would like to thank the following organisations for their contributions to this group - the British Deaf Association, Deaf Action, Deafblind Scotland, National Deaf Children’s Society, Scottish Ethnic Minority Deaf Charity, and the Scottish Sensory Hub (The ALLIANCE). The collective experience from this group will be invaluable as they develop actions for the plan.
To inform the working group’s thinking, this consultation asks individuals, organisations and communities to offer their views on what actions are required to advance BSL in Scotland. I am committed to developing a six year strategy that sets the right conditions which will lead to an improved quality of life for deaf and deafblind people who live in Scotland.
Events
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Community Consultation Event - British Deaf Association
From 5 Aug 2023 at 12:00 to 5 Aug 2023 at 14:00Aberdeen Deaf Club
21 John Street
Aberdeen
AB25 1BT -
Community Consultation Event - British Deaf Association
From 8 Aug 2023 at 11:30 to 8 Aug 2023 at 13:30Kirkcaldy Deaf Club
Wemyssfield House
Wemyssfield
Kirkcaldy, FY1 1XN -
Community Consultation Event - British Deaf Association
From 10 Aug 2023 at 10:30 to 10 Aug 2023 at 12:30Tayside Deaf Hub
23 Brown Street
Dundee
DD1 5EF -
Community Consultation Event - British Deaf Assocation
From 12 Aug 2023 at 11:30 to 12 Aug 2023 at 13:30St Vincents Deaf Club
144 West Regent Street
Glasgow
G2 2RQ -
Online Community Consultation Event - British Deaf Assocation
From 15 Aug 2023 at 10:00 to 15 Aug 2023 at 12:00Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89065312794?pwd=bGoyQjNtZEtablBiV29nV2Nnck53UT09
Meeting ID: 890 6531 2794
Passcode: 352775 -
Community Consultation Event - British Deaf Association
From 16 Aug 2023 at 10:00 to 16 Aug 2023 at 12:00Falkirk Deaf OAP Club
Forth Valley Sensory Centre
Redbrae Road
Camelon
Falkirk FK1 4DD -
Community Consultation Event - British Deaf Assocation
From 19 Aug 2023 at 13:00 to 19 Aug 2023 at 15:00The Stove Network Café
100 High Street
Dumfries
DG1 2BJ -
Community Consultation Event - British Deaf Association
From 22 Aug 2023 at 11:00 to 22 Aug 2023 at 13:00Hamilton Deaf Afternoon Club
St John’s Church of Scotland
10-14 Duke Street,
Hamilton ML3 7HT -
Online Community Consultation Event - British Deaf Association
From 23 Aug 2023 at 18:00 to 23 Aug 2023 at 20:00Deaf LGBTQIA+
Contact Avril Hepner on avril.hepner@bda.org.uk for further details. -
Community Consultation Event - Deaf Action
From 24 Aug 2023 at 10:00 to 24 Aug 2023 at 12:00Community clients and carers
This session will be facilitated by Matthew Fenlon at:
Blackwood Bar
Deaf Action
49 Albany Street
Edinburgh
EH1 3QY -
Online Community Consultation Event - NDCS
From 24 Aug 2023 at 17:00 to 24 Aug 2023 at 18:00This event is for deaf young people aged 8 to 18 who live in Scotland, please email: cyp@ndcs.org.uk to sign up.
-
Online Community Consultation Event - British Deaf Association
From 24 Aug 2023 at 18:00 to 24 Aug 2023 at 20:00Contact Scotland BSL focused session
Contact james.barnes@bda.org.uk for further details -
Community Consultation Event - Deaf Action
From 25 Aug 2023 at 19:00 to 25 Aug 2023 at 20:30LGBTQIA+
This session will be facilitated by Carri Neilson at:
Brennan Room
Deaf Action
49 Albany Street
Edinburgh
EH1 3QY -
Community Consultation Event - British Deaf Association
From 26 Aug 2023 at 13:00 to 26 Aug 2023 at 15:00Inverness Deaf Café
Spectrum Centre
1 Margaret Street
Inverness
IV1 1LS -
Online Community Consultation Event - British Deaf Association
From 28 Aug 2023 at 18:00 to 28 Aug 2023 at 20:00Deaf LGBTQIA+
Contact Avril Hepner on avril.hepner@bda.org.uk for further details. -
Online Community Consultation Event - Deaf Action
From 29 Aug 2023 at 10:00 to 29 Aug 2023 at 12:00BSL Tutors
Contact Joanne Anderson for more details at: joanne.anderson@deafaction.org -
Online Community Consultation Event - British Deaf Association
From 30 Aug 2023 at 10:00 to 30 Aug 2023 at 12:00Contact Scotland BSL focused session
Contact james.barnes@bda.org.uk for further details -
Community Consultation Event - British Deaf Association
From 31 Aug 2023 at 11:00 to 31 Aug 2023 at 13:00Lanarkshire Deaf Club
105 Roman Road
Motherwell
ML1 1EA -
Community Consultation Event - Deaf Action
From 1 Sep 2023 at 19:00 to 1 Sep 2023 at 20:30LGBTQIA+
This session will be facilitated by Carri Neilson at:
Katies Bar
17 John Street
Glasgow
G1 1HP
Interests
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- Equality, Welfare and Rights
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