Charity claims new sign language law means deaf people choosing to live in Scotland will have better access to education, health care and jobs

Deaf people from England could choose to move to Scotland for access to better services, a national charity has suggested.

The British Deaf Association says those living south of the border could migrate north after MSPs unanimously backed the British Sign Language (BSL) (Scotland) bill introduced by Mark Griffin MSP.

It places a requirement on the Scottish Government and other relevant public authorities to develop a national plan setting out how they will improve access to information in BSL.

This, the British Deaf Association (BDA) says, will lead to deaf people living in Scotland, in comparison with the rest of the UK, having better access to education, health care and jobs.

The historic landmark will work towards improving the daily life of the Scottish deaf population and could shake up where the deaf community choose to call home.

A spokesperson for the charity said: “The British Deaf Association is delighted to acknowledge a historic landmark, which will work towards improving the daily life of the Scottish deaf population and could shake up where the deaf community choose to call home.

“BSL users in Scotland from the cradle to the grave will be greatly affected by the BSL (Scotland) bill. This recognition of their first and preferred language will improve their access, inclusion and sense of belonging in Scotland.

“In terms of education, the younger generation of the deaf community will now be entitled to equal opportunities, and therefore be able to cultivate similar beliefs about their future to their hearing peers which is a very important goal for BDA.

“In terms of health, deaf people will have better access to medical care, for example, hospital information leaflets will have to be translated into BSL.

“From a jobs and employment perspective, more deaf people will be able to access work as BSL, and the use of BSL interpreters, becomes more visible and more employers learn about relevant support programmes.”

The bill will now be submitted for royal assent and, once granted, it will become an Act of the Scottish Parliament.

Avril Hepner, the BDA’s community development manager in Scotland, added: “I am proud, as a Scottish person, to see my country leading the way in making the first ever BSL Act in the UK.

“We look forward to working with the Scottish Government to implement this and hope the rest of the UK follows suit.”