Scottish Public Services

Across the Scottish public sector, information and services will be accessible to BSL users

By 2020

Scottish Ministers will

01

Develop and test a new question on the use of BSL in Scotland for potential inclusion in Scotland’s Census 2021. This will give us a more accurate profile of Scotland’s BSL users.

BSL

02

Analyse existing evidence and gather further data about BSL, so that we can establish baselines and measure how we are making progress.

BSL

03

Develop, test and share a set of guidelines to help Scottish public services to improve access to information and services for BSL users. This will include advice on how to involve BSL users in the design and delivery of Scotland’s public services.

BSL

04

Work with BSL users* to agree and begin a programme of work to increase the accessibility of the ‘mygov.scot’ website. This website enables citizens to access a range of public information and services online.

BSL

05

Promote the use of the Scottish Government’s nationally funded BSL online interpreting video relay service (VRS) called ‘contactSCOTLAND-BSL’, which allows BSL users* to contact public and third sector services and for these services to contact them, and explore the potential for its greater use.

BSL

06

Encourage public bodies to access BSL awareness training for staff who may work with BSL users, and signpost to appropriate training.

BSL

07

Review a range of current and on-going Scottish and UK evidence about the BSL/English interpreting landscape (for example the UK Market Review of BSL and communication provision, and the Scottish Government funded review of the Scottish Association of Sign Language Interpreters (SASLI).

BSL

08

Analyse the learning from actions we are taking forward in health, education and justice (referred to in this plan) to strengthen Scotland’s interpreting profession.

BSL