Ambitious plans to raise attainment and increase access for people with hearing loss

Scotland’s hearing loss community is to gain new rights under Scottish Government plans.

Measures include the greater integration of British Sign Language into everyday life and a plan to boost the number of deaf teachers in schools.

It is also likely to address "fair and equal access" to employment opportunities, including apprenticeships and internships.

Mark McDonald, minister for childcare and early years, is to visit the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow today (24 October), which offers the UK's only degree course for deaf performers.

It is thought to be the first initiative of its kind in the UK.

Other ideas in the draft plan published earlier this year included better provision for BSL users on public transport.

It highlighted the need to allow better communication with transport operators when things go wrong during a journey.

At the time of its publication, McDonald said: "BSL is a language in its own right, with its own grammar, syntax and vocabulary.

"It has its own dialects and rich variation.

"Most importantly, it is a language which enables many of our Deaf and Deafblind citizens to learn, work, parent, be creative, live life to the full, and to make their contribution to our communities, our culture and our economy."