Deaf councillor hails move for British Sign Language option in South Lanarkshire high schools

dailyrecord.co.uk:

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.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android 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.