We recognise that BSL communities are underrepresented across organisations and services in Scotland. We want to promote and develop sustainable approaches to ensure that BSL users have access to opportunities and services impacting on their daily lives, ensuring they have information in the right format and at the right time.
BSL Accessibility
Our long-term goal:
To remove accessibility as a barrier for BSL users in all aspects of life, recognising the importance of having accessible information in the right format at the right time, utilising technology and increasing people’s awareness of communication tools.
By 2029
Scottish Ministers will
Action 6
Improve accessibility of the Scottish Government website for BSL users. Information should be in a readily accessible format and be consistent across the
platform. We will strengthen our guidance and share our learning across the wider public sector to help increase accessibility standards for BSL users.Action 7
Ensure that deaf and deafblind BSL users are included in the See Hear strategy as part of the wider group of deaf people, with a focus on living a good life, and the BSL National Plan continues to address equal access to BSL in all spheres of service delivery.
Action 8
Continue to promote the use of Contact Scotland BSL, Scotland’s BSL online interpreting Video Relay Service, making improvements to this service to ensure it meets the needs of BSL users.
Action 9
Implement SignPort and promote its use as an online portal for BSL/English interpreter bookings which will be launched for public use, within the Scottish Government and other public bodies. SignPort is expected to be launched for public use in Spring 2024.