Investigation of Access to Public Services in Scotland using British Sign Language

This study was designed to assess the extent of access to public services in sign language (BSL) by Deaf people. Eighty-nine people selected from 142 who completed preliminary interviews, were interviewed in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness, Kirkcaldy, Stornoway and Lerwick. A Deaf researcher completed a video-recorded interview and returned later for a group interview. All data was analysed in BSL by Deaf researchers. Deaf people have very limited access to public services in BSL. No public services are currently provided in BSL and the use of interpreters is limited, due to insufficient numbers of interpreters, the cost of interpreters and concerns about privacy. Few examples of any sort of good practice were found. Attempts at communication commonly left Deaf people feeling frustrated, annoyed and embarrassed and they often withdrew from such situations.