BSL:UPTAKE » Blog Archive » The Long and Winding Road – Part 4: The Roadmap and the Working Group

The Long and Winding Road – Part 4: The Roadmap and the Working Group

Page 9 of Roadmap:

2.0 THE ROADMAP AND THE WORKING GROUP

2.1 WHY A ROADMAP?

The roadmap has been developed to contribute to the knowledge the Scottish Government requires in making informed judgements about linguistic access when it is formulating, revising, or implementing policy. It is intended to be a resource for government and whilst it is primarily aimed at central government officials, it should also be of use to other bodies, such as local authorities. Many of the desired outcomes of the Roadmap can only be delivered by other agencies in the community.

Page 10 of Roadmap:

The roadmap is designed to assist policy makers to understand the long-term vision of the British Sign Language and Linguistic Access Working Group (BSL&LAWG) and to help guide the ways they can work towards the desired outcomes. The working group hopes the roadmap will be one way to start a dialogue about the need for change with a wide variety of colleagues across government. The report is set within the current legislative framework but it does not rehearse the legislation, which is the day to day business of officials, except where this seems useful, but the roadmap will contribute to policy makers being able to comply with their legal obligations.

The BSL&LAWG and the Equality Unit of the Scottish Government cannot deliver many of the improvements they know need to be made. Much of what needs to be done is the responsibility of other parts of government such as the directorates for Education, Health and also of other agencies, such as the Scottish Funding Council, Local Authorities and Health Boards. Success in improving linguistic access will be measured as much by how these directorates and agencies integrate linguistic issues into their day to day operations as by practical improvements in delivery. This is because improvements will not be sustained unless they are part of the thinking, planning and operation of all the agencies. It is in the interest of all agencies to devote resources to improving access to their own services. The BSL&LAWG and the Scottish Government will work in partnership with the bodies involved in the hope of bringing about lasting improvements.

Page 12 of Roadmap:

The roadmap begins with a description of linguistic access in Scotland and outlines the history of the BSL&LAWG and the goals of the group for the next three years. Next it sets linguistic access within the context of the Scottish Government and refers to the changing legislative equalities landscape. The report provides an overview of the current situation and of the personnel involved in linguistic access, as these cut across each of the areas which are discussed later under government priorities. Each of the government’s five strategic priorities are then addressed in separate sections in more detail.