British Sign Language plan 2024 to 2030
This is the second British Sign Language (BSL) Plan which covers a six-year period 2024 to 2030. The plan reflects the goals of the National BSL plan 2023 to 2029 published by the Scottish Government and is a requirement of the British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015.
The plan sets out the actions we will take to promote and support BSL in Highland. Key aims of the plan are to:
- Better promote the use and understanding of BSL in Highland, and
- To improve access to information and services for local BSL users.
This is a joint plan with NHS Highland given the shared areas for action and joint approach to the delivery of these.
The plan has been developed following engagement with the Deaf and BSL community, and the actions contained within it reflect the areas for action identified from that engagement.
We worked with other local public bodies to gather views from local BSL users to inform and prepare the plan.
We will monitor the plan and report on progress.
We use the term BSL users to cover deaf people whose first or preferred language is BSL, including Deafblind people who receive the language in a tactile form due to sight loss.
Contact for comments and further information
We welcome comments on the Highland Council’s BSL Plan at any time. To comment or find out further information about the BSL Plan, email equal.opportunities@highland.gov.uk.
BSL users can also use Contact Scotland BSL.