Campaigners welcome new BSL bill

A bill to make British sign language (BSL) formally recognised as a language has been lodged by Labour MSP Mark Griffin.

The British sign language Scotland bill makes provision for a BSL national plan for Scotland and will require certain authorities to prepare and publish their own strategies by law.

Although BSL is the main language of deaf people in Scotland, it hasn’t been treated as such.

Campaigners have been pushing for legislation to formalise the language saying official recognition would make it far easier for deaf andf hearing impaired people to get fairer access as well as placing an obligation on statutory authorities to provide BSL interpreters.

Janis McDonald, Scottish Council on Deafness’s (SCoD) chief executive, said: “I’m thrilled that the bill in now a reality after so many years of discussion and now we see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Hopefully we will see a Scotland where Deaf people will have the same linguistic access as those whose first language is English or Gaelic - Janis McDonald

“Hopefully we will see a Scotland where Deaf people will have the same linguistic access as those whose first language is English or Gaelic.

“SCoD is looking forward to collaborating and working closely with the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government in taking the bill forward and to the bill becoming legislation”.

Labour MSP Mark Griffin said getting access to basic information in BSL can be incredibly difficult.

“Simple things that so many of us take for granted such as arranging a medical appointment or reporting a crime are incredibly difficult for those who communicate in BSL.

“This has to change.”

The bill and associated papers as well as the BSL version are available on the Scottish Parliament website.