We share the long-term goal for all Scottish public services 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.
We will:
- Direct BSL users to accessible health and social care information in visual and tactile BSL through our various NHS, Council and Health and Social Care Partnership communication channels, including websites and social media. Additionally, develop complementary information in BSL and tactile BSL as needed.
- Improve how we provide social care services to BSL users, both in residential settings and at home, to make them easier to access and more effective.
- Ensure that any local work to tackle social isolation explicitly considers the needs of BSL and tactile BSL users.
- Consider the socio-economic impact of being a BSL user and how this may affect financial wellbeing and ability to access services.
- Continue to adopt a person-centred approach to healthcare, ensuring fair and equitable access to all our services. Recognising the importance of treating each individual uniquely, empowering BSL users to access the information and services they need to make informed health choices.
- Continue to highlight the importance of specialised mental health and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) services tailored to the needs of the Deaf community, recognising the importance of ensuring accessibility for BSL users within existing services.