A move to roll out British Sign Language (BSL) as a language option in South Lanarkshire schools has been hailed a "significant milestone" by Scotland's first deaf councillor.
At the local authority's Equal Opportunities Forum on June 14, it was announced that Calderside Academy in Blantyre would pilot BSL as a language option this August when the schools return from their summer break.
The announcement comes after East Kilbride Councillor Grant Ferguson, the first ever deaf BSL user to be elected in Scotland, presented a motion ‘BSL in Education’ to South Lanarkshire’s Equal Opportunities Forum where chairman Councillor Mo Razzaq and members agreed to investigate this with education resources officers.
Councillor Ferguson told Lanarkshire Live: "There are an estimated 6000 deaf BSL users in Scotland who depend on interpreting services and there are only 50-60 qualified BSL interpreters in Scotland. This equates to approximately one interpreter for every 109 deaf BSL users.
"Booking an interpreter in advance isn’t always feasible. BSL users experience problems with bank accounts, need emergency appointments with their dentists, GPs, lawyers, funeral services or can be invited to work-related online meetings at short notice. If an interpreter isn’t available then BSL users cannot attend, they need to reschedule or face exclusion.
"This has been a significant milestone for South Lanarkshire education to have BSL as part of the curriculum. I believe that through time, this will address the significant problems with interpreter shortage and improve the quality of life for deaf BSL users in Scotland."
In December 2021, a party conference passed a resolution to grow BSL interpreters in Scotland by adding BSL to the language options in high schools. The resolution, ’BSL in Education’, was voted for unanimously.
After passing the resolution at the conference, Aberdeenshire MSP Karen Adam, who is a child of a deaf adult, took this to the Scottish Government and asked the First Minister at Question Time if BSL could be added to the curriculum.
Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon stated that it would be incorporate into BSL's National Plan.
Commenting on the decision, Councillor Razzaq said: "This is what the Equalities Forum is all about. We need to be continuously reviewing and monitoring to ensure that South Lanarkshire is a progressive and inclusive council.
"We are proud of the diversity in our communities and will work to guarantee that everyone feels connected and an important member of South Lanarkshire."
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