Great to know lives are much improved
One of the questions I am often asked when I meet with groups – from folks of all ages – is: What’s it like to work as an MSP?
Well, my response to that is that it is like most other jobs – some good times, some awful times and most of the time it’s just getting on with the day-to-day work that’s expected in your profession.
A common complaint received is that MSPs just argue all the time, and the question is posed as to why we don’t work together, regardless of party persuasion.
Well, actually, what we see on television etc is selective reporting.
This understandably focuses on the theatre that is First Minister’s Questions on a Thursday – and the day-to-day point scoring that I cannot deny.
The reality is, though, that much work is done collectively.
A good example of that came to fruition earlier this week.
Two years ago the Scottish Parliament passed the legislation to promote the use of British Sign Language.
And last week the UK’s first and only BSL National Plan was unanimously agreed by MSPs of all parties in our parliament.
This has been consulted upon and shaped by over a thousand individuals and dozens of organisations that participated.
The Scottish Government has agreed actions over the next three years to make sure that deaf and deafblind British Sign Language users will be fully involved in daily and public life in Scotland.
A couple of years ago now, my office hosted a deaf intern, paid through a Scottish Government backed scheme hosted by Inclusion Scotland.
Maurice worked in both Holyrood and East Kilbride with us and it was a learning experience for all of us involved.
For Maurice, it was about becoming used to working in a public-facing office environment where people are not always aware, or indeed sympathetic, to the particular needs of those who cannot hear.
For those of us working directly with Maurice, it was a challenge to our own misconceptions and a recognition that we were not in fact aware of how difficult this could be and how much effort was required from everyone to make sure that all employees were working from a basis of equality. There was no script. The National Plan, as well as raising awareness, has concrete steps and actions: for families and carers, for teachers and education authorities, colleges, universities and the workplace.
Parents will be offered support to learn to sign with their child, provision of information, advice and support services in BSL will be increased for deaf parents and carers of babies, children and young people from birth and throughout childhood and adolescence.
We want more children to be able to learn BSL in schools – children enjoy learning BSL and new qualifications will be developed to make it an attractive subject choice.
Advice and guidance will be provided to support career and learning choices and the transition from school to further/higher education or the workplace.
As well as education and career initiatives the availability of relevant health information in BSL will be increased and NHS staff able to tap into learning and awareness-raising training.
There will be actions to improve access to information and services in transport; in culture, leisure, sport and the arts; and in justice.
Participation in democracy and public life is important, too – the Scottish Government has already committed to provide funding to enable deaf BSL users and people with disability-related costs to stand for election to our parliament in 2021.
There is much more I could say about this very welcome legislation and National Plan for Scotland which puts an obligation on all public bodies answerable directly to the Scottish Government to formulate their own plans – local authorities, NHS boards, colleges and universities etc.
Alas, space is tight – so please get in touch if you would like more information.
Meantime, yes, working as an MSP is a great privilege and a job that I am thankful to have.
The good times, the very special times, are when you are part of something that you know really will make a difference to people’s lives.