BSL Draft Plan for Edinburgh 2018-24 Consultation

Overview

Welcome to the British Sign Language (BSL) Draft Plan for Edinburgh 2018-24 Consultation pages.

The BSL National Plan was launched by Scottish Government in October 2017. By October 2018 all Local Authorities must also produce their own plan to improve services for BSL speakers.

The City of Edinburgh Council and the Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership are producing a joint plan. The plan will be scrutinised by the Council's Corporate Policy & Strategy Committee on 2 October 2018.

Our Draft BSL Plan for Edinburgh is available in both written English as well as BSL at the link below:

BSL version of Draft Plan for Edinburgh

Why your views matter

We are gathering your views to help shape the BSL Draft Plan for Edinburgh 2018-24 and the actions we'll take to improve services for BSL speakers. This consultation opens on 27 July 2018 and will run for six weeks until 7 September 2018.

We are interested in understanding the views of BSL speakers from a range of backgrounds, eg. deaf BSL speakers (incl. Deaf/Blind), their parents or families, views of interpreters, professionals or academics working with BSL and businesses that may recruit BSL speakers or train their staff to use BSL.

We have already held a weekend walk-in event in the city centre and established a Reference Group of BSL speakers. Information has been pushed out via social media and a closed BSL Plan Facebook Group has been set up, Search "BSL Plan Edinburgh" on Facebook.

You can feedback to us:

• Using this online form by clicking on 'BSL Online Survey' below
• By email: StrategyandBusiness.Planning@edinburgh.gov.uk
• Speak to David Craig via ContactSCOTLAND
• Through Twitter or Facebook, search "BSL Plan Edinburgh".

You can give us your views in written English or by recording a BSL video on your home phone or tablet. You can also arrange to meet us face to face if you prefer (we'll arrange an interpreter).

What happens next

Your feedback will be collated and reviewed and, where appropriate, incorporated into the BSL Plan for Edinburgh 2018-24. Progress made on the plan will be reported in 2020 and every two years after that. The plan will be regularly reviewed within that time to ensure it is fit for purpose and delivering its commitments.