Deaf to needs

Much as deaf people in Scotland will welcome the prospect that the BSL National Plan could make a difference to their lives, many fear Scotland can never be the “best place in the world for deaf people” until they have access to an effective system of education (your report, 25 October).

The deaf people who earlier attended consultation meetings on the draft plan expressed huge disappointment to minister for childcare and early years Mark Mcdonald that the plan did not address the situation of deaf children in the early years and in mainstream education. Concerns expressed over many years about inadequate support to deaf children in mainstream education in 2015 led to the Scottish Parliament Education and Culture Committee holding an inquiry into the attainment of pupils with sensory impairment. The inquiry report stated that more work is needed to improve the prospects of these pupils. The reaction of deaf people to the draft BSL national plan proposal was one of immense frustration that none of the government’s ten long-term goals for BSL in Scotland directly addresses the inadequate provision of pupil additional support needs within mainstream education as highlighted in evidence to the inquiry.

There is ample evidence available that deafness is not a learning disability. Improved access to services by BSL users is one thing, but it will not remove the frustration and mental anguish of deaf people who are aware that the education system in Scotland is designed to work for the service providers and not for those that need it.

IAIN CAMERON Birnam Avenue, Bishopbriggs