Follow on from today's Ministerial statement at the Scottish Parliament, an ambitious national plan for British Sign Language has been unveiled which will ensure deaf and deafblind BSL users are fully involved in all aspects of daily and public life.
The session, opened in BSL by Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, Ken Macintosh, reviewed a range of key actions to be implemented by 2020.
Minister for Childcare and Early Years, Mark McDonald, said:
“Our long term aim is ambitious - we want to bring about change that has a real, practical impact on the day to day lives of BSL users and which puts Scotland right up there as the best place in the world for BSL users to live and visit.
This plan, which has been developed in partnership with the BSL National Advisory Group, reflects the priorities of deaf and deafblind BSL users in Scotland and I am confident that it will help us to make substantial progress towards achieving that ambition.
The clear, measurable actions that are laid out in this plan for the next three years demonstrate our commitment to celebrating the value, richness and diversity that BSL and those who use it contribute to our country.
In attendance at today's Parliament Session was BDA Chair, Dr Terry Riley OBE:
“The Scottish Government’s first BSL National Plan sets a brilliant example for the rest of the United Kingdom to follow. Scotland’s approach to promoting and supporting BSL has been highlighted as exemplary by the United Nations, and the Scottish Government is to be congratulated.
You can watch the full news release in BSL above (created by the Scottish Government), or download a copy of the plan below.
