British Sign Language Act and national/local plans

Published 06/04/2021. Last updated 04/01/2024

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The Scottish Government’s British Sign Language (BSL) Act (2015) and National Plan has several long-term goals for BSL in Scotland which include early years and education. One of these goals is to help parents who use BSL to be fully involved in their child’s education. Further information on the BSL Plan is available on the Scottish Parliament website.

Local Authority British Sign Language Plans

Aberdeen City Council

Aberdeenshire Council

Angus Council

Argyll and Bute Council

The City of Edinburgh Council

Clackmannanshire Council

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Dumfries and Galloway Council

Dundee City Council

East Ayrshire Council

North Ayrshire Council

North Lanarkshire Council

Orkney Islands Council

Perth and Kinross Council

Renfrewshire Council

Scottish Borders Council

South Ayrshire Council

South Lanarkshire Council

Stirling Council

West Dunbartonshire Council

Contact Scotland

Contact Scotland is a Scottish Government service that connects Deaf BSL users across Scotland with all of Scotland’s local authorities, voluntary organisations and the private sector. The online BSL interpreting video relay service (VRS) means that Deaf BSL users can contact any service that relies on telephone contact with their service users or customers. It also means that local authorities, voluntary organisations and the private sector can use this easy and flexible way to interact with Deaf BSL users who access their services.