British Sign Language and Linguistic Access Working Group ...

Assessment in BSL ProductionOnly 2 people in Scotland are currently trained to use the BSL Production Test (out of 60people trained throughout the UK), although a training course is due to run via SSC inJanuary 2008. Test administrators must have at least Level 2 BSL and have been ontraining course.Assessment in BSL ReceptionEight BSL Receptive Skills Tests, aimed at children aged 3-11 years, have been sold inScotland since 1999, when the test was published, out of several hundred soldthroughout the UK. There are no training requirements for this test.SQA are currently considering future provision of a PDA in BSL language developmentof preschool children.8.8. RECOMMENDATIONS■ The preschool period is particularly important for language development, both signedand spoken. However, few services provide rich environments in both, and it is notuniversally accepted that both are needed.■■■■Huge strides have been made in the provision of services to facilitate early developmentof spoken language, including significant technological advances and accreditedpostgraduate training for professionals, and yet concerns have been expressed thatsome services do not provide sufficiently rich spoken language environments.Meanwhile there is evidence of low capacity in BSL skills and in provision of BSLassessments and resources among visiting services, despite evidence of benefits indeveloping both languages.There is a need to address evidence about BSL, in the contexts of standpoints basedon the arguments as set out in 8.1. It is suggested that open and honest debate isneeded, about the implications of local authority variations in language approachperspectives and in resources relating to fully informed linguistic choices.In particular, further research and discussion is needed on strategies to maximiseconditions for developing both languages where deafness is diagnosed early,especially where a child receives a cochlear implant in early years.There is a need for Health Boards to address concerns about geographical variationin the provision of UNHS and early intervention services, as outlined in the recentclinical audit of audiology services (Davis et al, 2007).There is a need for more availability of BSL assessments, and more trained staff toadminister them.It would be beneficial if a Scottish version of the Early Support Pack MonitoringProtocol could be developed and implemented within a national framework ofprovision. The development of a specialist PDA and the involvement of professionalBSL consultants would enhance the linguistic balance of such a framework.44