Summary of Deaf Communication report

“About 1 in 5 adults have low literacy skills. Deaf adults are twice as likely to have literacy problems as hearing adults” (RNID)

Kenneth Macintosh MSP, Vice Convenor of the Cross Party Group on Deafness and Member of the Education Committee, launched the Deaf Communication Report at Donaldson’s College at the start of September. The report was commissioned by The City of Edinburgh Council Community Education Service, Edinburgh’s Further Education Colleges and Donaldson’s College and was funded by CLAN Edinburgh.

Janet Allan, Principle of Donaldson’s College, welcomed everyone to the college and underlined how pleased Donaldson’s was to have supported the research project.

Angus Whyte from CLAN thanked Fiona Henderson, the author of the report, and was keen to emphasise that the launch of the report was only the start. He said, “For many people this might be the end of the effort, but we will be meeting with the steering committee and Fiona to look at her recommendations … I am certain they will show us the way forward … we will push for further development from the report, so watch this space”.

Kenneth Macintosh underlined the importance of access to education for all. He reported that a recent national debate on education in Scotland revealed, “… anyone who has a barrier to learning in this country does not get the best start in life, they are held back and develop low self esteem … there is an opportunity gap”.

He highlighted the following recommendations from the report
• the need for an increase in the number of trained Deaf British Sign Language tutors of literacies
• an increased number of BSL interpreters
• greater awareness of Deaf issues and culture
• raise awareness within the Deaf community that some hearing people also have problems with literacy
• deaf adult learners can study in a learning situation with other deaf learners and be involved in shaping the learning programme

In conclusion, Kenneth said, “This is a good time for deaf learners … working at a time when there is a great deal of awareness and resources available. The change in the Disability Discrimation Act in October will wake up providers to the practical steps they can take for people who have barriers to learning … I hope we can put a number of these recommendations into practice”.

Fiona Henderson and the steering group look forward to seeing the recommendations of this report being taken forward by CLAN to ensure that Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in Edinburgh are given the same literacy/numeracy learning opportunities as hearing people.