Inclusive society

Action on Hearing Loss Scotland welcomes the Scottish Government’ s British Sign Language National Plan ( your report, 25 October) which is a massive development for the 13,000 people who use BSL in their homes, want to participate equally in Scottish society and have increased opportunities to learn about and share deaf culture.

We hope the plan will be a starting point in removing the communication barriers which affect the everyday lives of people who are deaf in Scotland and ensure that vital services become fully accessible for BSL users.

Many people who use Action on Hearing Loss Scotland’ s specialist transitions, employment and social security advocacy services tell us about their communication needs not being met as BSL interpreters have not been provided when they’ve been looking for support at job centres, in benefits inter views or during health appointments.

To gather information about best practice in terms of accessibility as well as where there could be room for improvement, we are encouraging deaf people throughout Scotland to complete our charity’s Access to Health Services survey which has BSL interpretation at www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/access

The National Plan is a great first step towards raising much- needed deaf awareness and will hopefully provide the stimulus for more frontline public service staff to be trained in how to use BSL.

DELIA HENRY ( DIRECTOR) Action on Hearing Loss Scotland

Empire House West Nile Street, Glasgow