British Sign Language (BSL) Plan 2024 - 2029

Scottish Government Long Term Goal:

To improve the outcomes for BSL users by embedding BSL in relevant Scottish Government policies, plans and strategies to develop solutions to the barriers faced by BSL users in their daily lives.

By 2029, we will:

• Work collaboratively with the college’s EDI Committee and Digital Accessibility Group to establish a BSL Working Group to help us to oversee the actions within this plan and progress BSL equality at NCL.
  
  
• Work with North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire councils, FE/HE sector and the BSL community to establish best practice, share knowledge and improve the development and implementation of our BSL Plan, as required by the British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015.

Publish a progress report on the actions in 2026, the midway point for this plan. As a living plan, this will enable us to reflect on what further actions are required to help us meet our longer-term goals and overall vision for BSL at NCL.

Scottish Government Long Term Goal:

To remove accessibility as a barrier for BSL users in all aspects of life, recognising the importance of having accessible information in the right format at the right time, utilising technology and increasing people’s awareness of communication tools.

By 2029, we will:

• Review college learning materials to ensure that the needs of BSL users are being met including preparing audio materials with closed caption and/ or subtitles.
  
  
• Continue to consult with Communication Support Workers on guidance to improve information available to BSL users, including website resources.
  
  
• Improve accessibility of the NCL website for BSL users by ensuring information will be in a readily accessible format and be consistent across the platform.
  
  
• Consider Artificial Intelligence and the potential opportunities new technologies could have to enhance communication and learning for BSL users.
  
  
• Raise Deaf Awareness within both Professional and Academic Services. Basic BSL training to be offered to all staff.
  
  
• Continue to promote the use of Contact Scotland BSL, Scotland’s BSL online interpreting Video Relay Service, which allows BSL users to contact public and their sector services and for these services to contact them.
  
  
• Work collaboratively with the college’s EDI Committee and Digital Accessibility Group to ensure needs of BSL users are being addressed.
  
  
• Deliver Continuous Professional Development to all staff via the Staff Development Academy. This will equip staff with everyday BSL so they can greet and welcome BSL users to the college and classroom environment.
  
  
• Review opportunities to deliver BSL within the Students Association as part of the Induction process for Student Presidents, Department and Class representatives.
  
  
• Continue to provide interpreting services at NCL College open days, evenings and ceremonial events.

Scottish Government Long Term Goal:

The Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) approach will be fully embedded, with a deaf or deafblind child and their family offered the right information and support at the right time to engage with BSL. We will strengthen partnerships between relevant organisations to overcome barriers for BSL users and deaf/ deafblind children to ensure they have the support they need at all stages of their learning, so that they can reach their full potential.

By 2029, we will:

• Facilitate the building of partnerships and effective working relationships between NCL and BSL providers and continue to deliver BSL to schools’ groups via Local Authority partnerships.
  
  
• Engage with key stakeholders across Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire to identify and mobilise a network of BSL providers.
  
  
• Continue and explore further opportunities to deliver short courses to NHS and local partners to highlight the importance of BSL as a language.
• Seek further opportunities to expand delivery within the Early Years department and work with the Innovation team to explore creation of Deaf Awareness/Introduction to BSL which can then be delivered across relevant departments as part of the Digital Credit delivery.
  
  
• Continue to deliver BSL as part of the NQ Introduction to Teaching course design up to SCQF level 4. Create opportunities to expand delivery within other department areas via taster sessions, short courses or appropriate SQA unit delivery.

Scottish Government Long Term Goal:

BSL users will receive person - centred support to develop their skills, consider what route to employment is right for them and enter the workforce so that they can fulfil their potential, and improve Scotland’s economic performance. They will be provided with support to enable them to progress in their chosen career.

By 2029, we will:

• Develop opportunities for BSL users to learn about transitioning into college life, helping them understand the support available to them and develop their skills. This will include how to work with BSL interpreters.
  
  
• Prospective staff can continue to state their need for BSL support at interview.
  
  
• Offer pre-exit guidance and involve local specialist employment agencies when a BSL student is progressing on to employment.

Scottish Government Long Term Goal:

BSL users will have access to the information and services they need to live active, healthy lives, and to make informed choices at every stage of their lives.

By 2029, we will:

• In line with the NCL’s Mental Health strategy, we will work to improve equality, inclusion and diversity training for staff and students, including promoting existing BSL training to the college community.
  
  
• Promote and support the learning of BSL as a second language for hard of hearing, deafened people and people at risk of a second sensory loss.
  
  
• NCL will ensure that health/mental health services (including advice and counselling services) within the college are accessible to BSL users.

In line with our college values, ensure BSL users have access to appropriate and relevant services.

Scottish Government Long Term Goal:

BSL users will have full access to the cultural life of Scotland, and equal opportunities to enjoy and contribute to culture and the arts and are encouraged to share BSL and deaf culture with the people of Scotland.

By 2029, we will:

• Take action to ensure that extracurricular/recreational activities offered within the college are accessible to students who use BSL.
  
  
• We will endeavour to have BSL representation within our class and department representative systems to ensure BSL users are represented within the Student Association.
  
  
• Consult with our BSL users to see if they would like to see a BSL & Deaf Culture Event within our College calendar.

Scottish Government Long Term Goal:

To strengthen the evidence and data on the BSL community in Scotland to better inform decision making in public policy and service design.

By 2029, we will:

• Work with our BSL partners, including FE/HE sectors to map out existing sources of evidence available within their organisations and networks, understand the barriers to evidence gathering and agree on the specific and priority gaps in the current evidence base.
  
  
• Analyse existing evidence we have about students and prospective students who use BSL in our college; identity and fill key information gaps so that we can establish baselines and measure outcomes for BSL users.

Scottish Government Long Term Goal:

BSL users will have safe, fair and inclusive access to public transport and the systems that support all transport use in Scotland.

By 2029, we will:

• Ensure that students are aware of Scotland-wide concessionary travel passes and offer help to apply if this is appropriate.
  
  
• Offer deaf awareness training to contracted transport providers.
  
  
• Ensure that travel arrangements are discussed with students at the pre-entry interview to ensure no barriers are present.

Scottish Government Long Term Goal:

BSL users will be fully involved in democratic and public life in Scotland, as active and informed citizens, as voters, as elected politicians and as board members of our public bodies.

By 2029, we will:

• Encourage and support BSL users to become members of the Students Association and to campaign for elected positions.
  
  
• Encourage and support BSL users to become class representatives.