British Sign Language (BSL) Action Plan 2018 - 2024
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
British Sign Language (BSL) Action Plan 2018-2024
Introduction
This is the BSL Plan for Queen Margaret University (QMU), as required by the BSL (Scotland) Act. It sets out actions we will take over the period 2018-2024. It follows the BSL National Plan, published on 24 October 2017, which was developed through extensive engagement with Deaf and Deafblind BSL users and those who work with them. It is framed around the same long-term goals as the national plan, where these are relevant to the work of this organisation.
At QMU, we are highly committed to protecting and promoting BSL. In our organisational structure, we have the HR department and the Disability Service that work towards ensuring that BSL users[1] at QMU are properly supported.
We have experience of supporting BSL users as students and occasional staff on programmes within QMU and ensuring they are fully supported during their studies. We are committed to building on this.
QMU has already established an MSc programme for registered BSL/English interpreters, which is a unique provision to upskill interpreters in specialist fields of work. The strategic importance of this has been recognised by the Scottish Government through the ‘Promoting Equality and Cohesion Fund’ as it aligns directly with actions 8, 47 and 62 from the BSL National Plan. However, the programme indirectly promotes many of the other actions within the plan.
QMU is also developing further opportunities for BSL awareness-raising at undergraduate and postgraduate levels through the employment of a part-time lecturer who is a BSL user. These developments will help embed an understanding of the issues affecting BSL users.
We are committed to an action plan, which is ambitious, responsive, builds on our progress and which is continually shaped by national initiatives, local needs and the priorities of BSL users. Our actions will be embedded into our Inclusive Learning and Teaching Materials Policy and feedback sought continually from students and staff through informal and formal mechanisms, including staff development and workshop sessions.
QMU will commit to contributing to the National Progress Report in 2020 through submission of data analytics and information requests as required to enable us to build on our progress and take us closer to the national long-term goals.
1 Wherever we refer to ‘BSL users’ we mean D/deaf and/or Deafblind people (those who receive the language in a tactile form due to sight loss) whose first or preferred language is British Sign Language.
Name and contact details of lead officer
Dr Iliyan Stefanov
Head of Student Services
Queen Margaret University Edinburgh EH21 6UU
T +44(0)131 474 0000
Email : Dr Iliyan Stefanov
Website QMU Website
Where to find the BSL version of this plan
You can find our BSL Action Plan on the QMU You Tube Channel at
on the QMU website at BSL Action
Short Summary of the Plan
Our QMU Action Plan focuses on improving access, removing barriers, improving experience, and removing obstacles through addressing the following nine key National themes:
- Across all our services – Public Services
(Ensuring information and services are accessible to BSL users) - Family Support, Early learning and Childcare (GIRFEC ‘Getting it right for every child’ approach)
- School Education (Reaching full potential through continual support)
- Post-School Education (Receive the support BSL users need to do well)
- Training, Work and Social Security (Skills development to reach potential and improve progression)
- Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing (Information access to enable informed choices)
- Culture and the Arts (Access to existing services but ability to shape and share with others)
- Justice (Equal access)
- Democracy (Active and informed citizens)
In doing so, we set out our aims, commitment and the associated actions to ensure that our D/deaf and Deafblind students are supported in their ability to learn, work, be creative, live life to the full and to make their contributions to our communities, our culture and our economy. We commit to playing our part in the shared Scottish Government vision that Scotland be the best place in the world for BSL users to live, work and visit.
Our associated key actions centre around heightening awareness within QMU, training staff (particularly front of house staff) and students, consulting with and responding to BSL users"
Our Actions
By 2024, we will:
Make progress toward the long-term goal for family support, early learning and childcare through
- Continue and build on current provision within Audiology and SLT education, which emphasises the importance of BSL and Deaf Culture in habilitation.
- Delivering specialist training for BSL/English interpreters on working with BSL users in nursery education through the MSc module on Interpreting in Educational Settings.
- Developing and delivering opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate students at QMU to undertake study on working with BSL users and the implications for their professional practice.
- Using interpreters where relevant so that family who use BSL are able to be involved with public events such as open days and graduation.
