Information Bulletin 2 from Deaf Sector Partnership
The Scottish Government have funded six deaf organisations to take forward the work on the British Sign Language (Scotland) Act. The group of organisation are part of the Deaf Sector Partnership (DSP)
The work will focus on two primary outcomes:
1. Engaging with the Deaf/Deafblind BSL communities (including Deafblind people who use tactile BSL) so they can contribute to the development of BSL plans required by the Act; and
2. Supporting public bodies to better understand/meet the needs of Deaf and Deafblind BSL users.
Each organisation collaborates and works in partnership with the other five organisations as well as the Scottish Government and the Voluntary Action Fund.
The six deaf organisations each have areas of responsibility and are delivering on the following;
The British Deaf Association (BDA) are responsible for engaging with the Deaf BSL community across Scotland and for the effective communication of information, ensuring it is accessible in BSL. They manage, monitor and promote the DSP Facebook group.
They are supporting the selection process for the BSL National Advisory Group and will support Deaf BSL users putting themselves forward. They are developing practical resources, including the BSL (Scotland) Charter, to support public bodies meeting their legal requirments.
Deaf Connections are engaging and consulting with individuals and groups with protected characteristics, including members of minority ethnic groups, to ensure they have an equal opportunity to make significant contributions to the BSL National Advisory Group. They will raise awareness of the barriers to inclusion facing these target populations.
They are creating an “Inclusion Policy” which will provide and champion an inclusive environment where diversity is encouraged and all individuals feel able to make a valued contribution. The Inclusion Policy will be part of the resources made available to public bodies.
Deafblind Scotland are supporting Deafblind BSL users to be engaged and involved. The project is supporting members of the Deafblind BSL community to be represented on the BSL National Advisory Group and are ensuring that all process, procedures and information is accessible for the community and meet the needs of individuals.
They are providing support and guidance for partner organisations and public bodies on the requirements that need to be in place for Deafblind people.
Deaf Action are providing BSL awareness training for national public bodies covered under the national plan. The training also includes Deafblind awareness and is part of a toolkit of resources available for public bodies to enable them to meet their requirements.
They are engaging with young people (10-30) across Scotland. The project provides accessible information, support and a programme of training/workshops for young people and will ensure that they are represented on the BSL National Advisory Group.
Scottish Council on Deafness (SCoD) have a role to co-ordinate, monitor and evaluate the work of the partnership, including reporting on progress and capturing learning from the partnership. They ensure that information is communicated effectively between all partners, local Deaf groups and forums and the wider community. The project sits on many strategic and steering groups to share learning and inform practice and policy.
They are working closely with public bodies to ensure they are able to meet the requirements of the BSL (Scotland) Act and are offering support and guidance for the development of the BSL National Advisory Group. SCoD acts as secretariat for the work.
Nation Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) are supporting families with Deaf babies/children and enabling representatives to be actively involved in the BSL National Advisory Group. They offer the Family Sign Language programme which provides parents, carers and families with the opportunity to learn BSL. They work closely with Deaf Action, ensuring materials and information is accessible for young people.
They provide support and guidance for member organisations on the requirements of parents with Deaf children.