The University of Edinburgh BSL Plan

The University of Edinburgh has developed a plan for supporting the use of British Sign Language in University activities.

British Sign Language Plan

Below you can see the 10 headings of the BSL plan. When you select a heading you can then view a BSL video about that section, with the action points in English below.

First British Sign Language plan for the University of Edinburgh

British Sign Language (BSL) plan 2018-2024 – November 2018 (PDF)

We will commit to the following strategies and evidence of progress

A. Information and services in BSL

We share the long-term goal for all Scottish public services set out in the BSL National Plan, which is: "Across the Scottish public sector, information and services will be accessible to BSL users."

B. Family support, early learning and childcare

We share the long-term goal for all Scottish public services set out in the BSL National Plan, which is: “The Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) approach will be fully embedded, with a deaf or deafblind child and their family offered the right information and support at the right time to engage with BSL”

C. School education

We share the long-term goal for school education set out in the BSL National Plan, which is: “Children and young people who use BSL will get the support they need at all stages of their learning, so that they can reach their full potential; parents who use BSL will have the same opportunities as other parents to be fully involved in their child’s education; and more pupils will be able to learn BSL at school”

D. Post-school education

We share the long-term goal for post- school education set out in the BSL National Plan, which is: “BSL users will be able to maximise their potential at school, will be supported to transition to post-school education if they wish to do so, and will receive the support they need to do well in their chosen subject(s).”

E. Training, work and social security

We share the long-term goal for training, work and social security set out in the BSL National Plan, which is: “BSL users will be supported to develop the skills they need to become valued members of the Scottish workforce, so that they can fulfil their potential, and improve Scotland’s economic performance. They will be provided with support to enable them to progress in their chosen career.”

F. Health, social care, mental health and wellbeing

We share the long-term goal for health, mental health and wellbeing set out in the BSL National Plan, which is: “BSL users will have access to the information and services they need to live active, healthy lives, and to make informed choices at every stage of their lives.”

G. Transport

We share the long-term goal for transport set out in the BSL National Plan, which is: “BSL users will have safe, fair and inclusive access to public transport and the systems that support all transport use in Scotland.”

H. Culture, science, social science and the arts

We share the long-term goal for culture and the arts set out in the BSL National Plan, which is: “BSL users will have full access to the cultural life of Scotland, an equal opportunity to enjoy and contribute to culture and the arts, and are encouraged to share BSL and Deaf Culture with the people of Scotland.”

I. Justice

We share the long-term goal for justice set out in the BSL National Plan, which is: “BSL users will have fair and equal access to the civil, criminal and juvenile justice systems in Scotland.”

J. Democracy

We share the long-term goal for democracy set out in the BSL National Plan, which is: “BSL users will be fully involved in democratic and public life in Scotland, as active and informed citizens, as voters, as elected politicians and as board members of our public bodies.”