Deaf teen who won fight for interpreter hails classroom reform for BSL users
Niamdh Braid, 16, has been deaf since birth and has hearing aids, but her first choice of language is BSL.
Last year, Niamdh took legal action against Fife Council after being denied access to an interpreter in her classes, despite attending Auchmuty High School, which is designated as a base for deaf support services.
Her dad argued the lack of support had 'denied her full access to learning for her whole school career.'
The tribunal ruled in Niamdh's favour, finding she had been placed at a 'substantial disadvantage' without BSL interpretation.
Reflecting on her experience, she told STV News: 'I've been so tired from having to focus on lip reading, piecing bits of sentences together that I've missed, and then having to write stuff down while trying to lip read.
'Then if I'm writing something down, I'm then missing what the teacher's saying at that point, but if I don't write it down, then I'm going to miss what they're saying because I don't have it written down, so I don't have those notes.'
On Wednesday, MSPs voted to pass reforms to Scotland's Education system by 69 votes to 47. STV News Niamdh has welcomed the new Bill which will help deaf people 'navigate life in a hearing world'
The Education Scotland Bill will see the creation of a new authority, Qualifications Scotland, abolishing the current SQA model and a new chief inspector of Education of Scotland.
At submission, the bill only included recognition for Gaelic learners but following a year-long campaign headed by the National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS).
George McGowan from the NDCS says the new legislation is a huge milestone for BSL learners.
Deaf children are nearly three times as likely to leave school without any qualifications, with the NCDS saying children and young people who use BSL are now protected for the future.
George said: 'We feel this is a massive move forward for young deaf children's rights here in Scotland.
'BSL is a vibrant language which gives deaf children and young people access to a rich culture, heritage and identity.
'We're keen to see more people learn British Sign Language to remove the barriers that exist between deaf and hearing people.
'In addition, it helps us educate the hearing community about both the deaf community and deaf culture.'
Despite this recognition, members of the BSL community are questioning why it has taken so long for the bill to include the language, despite the British Sign Language Scotland Bill coming into force in October 2015.
Niamdh is now heading into her sixth year of high school and has an interpreter to help with her studies. STV News National Deaf Children's Society George McGowan
She says she hopes this move can help remove stigma and improve support for younger deaf children.
She said: 'At the end of the day, we're in a world that isn't built for us; we're in a world that was built for and by hearing people. We just need that little bit of support to be able to navigate life in a hearing world.'
Education secretary Jenny Gilruth MSP said: 'I think this says very strongly to the BSL community that we value them, we want to work with them, we want to make sure that where policy does not reflect their needs, we work to get that right.
'The government did that. It's so important I know to the BSL community that we have that reflected in all that we do, particularly in an education space where we know those entitlements are absolutely fundamental to supporting our young people.'
Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- The Herald Scotland
New fund to support Gaelic culture announced by John Swinney
He says the North Uist Historical Society's renovation of Carinish Old School will receive £360,000 from the Scottish Government. The funding will create two exhibition spaces and the extension of the collections resource centre. The nearby heritage centre will then offer the chance to see artefact collections, research facilities, and offer Gaelic learning. An additional £200,000 will help deliver the second phase of work at Cnoc Soilleir, a centre for traditional culture and arts in South Uist. The First Minister said: 'Safeguarding the Gaelic language, preserving local heritage and giving culture the chance to flourish are all central to the future success of Scotland's remarkable islands. 'Our investments in Carinish Old School and Cnoc Soilleir underline the Scottish Government's commitment to Gaelic and the communities to which it gives life. Read More 'Projects like North Uist Historical Society's renovation of Carinish Old School are key not only to the language's revitalisation, but to the growth of rural island economies. 'We see this happening across the islands, local people coming together to preserve historical assets and bring them back into use – we need to do what we can to support their efforts. 'I am greatly looking forward to returning to Cnoc Soilleir to see the progress since my last visit. 'It is one of the recognised Gaelic success stories of recent times, providing in South Uist a guiding light for traditional culture and arts. 'It draws in people from the local community, but also visitors from elsewhere, perfectly illustrating the close connection between Gaelic revival and economic growth.'
The National
a day ago
- The National
John Swinney announces funding for Gaelic culture projects
The First Minister arrived in Lewis on Thursday evening before undertaking engagements on Friday, and is due to travel to North and South Uist on Saturday. He said the North Uist Historical Society's renovation of Carinish Old School will receive £360,000 from the Scottish Government. READ MORE: Emergency crews still tackling Arthur's Seat fire as public urged to avoid area The funding will create two exhibition spaces and the extension of the collections resource centre. The nearby heritage centre will then offer the chance to see artefact collections, research facilities, and offer Gaelic learning. An additional £200k will help deliver the second phase of work at Cnoc Soilleir, a centre for traditional culture and arts in South Uist. The First Minister said: 'Safeguarding the Gaelic language, preserving local heritage and giving culture the chance to flourish are all central to the future success of Scotland's remarkable islands. READ MORE: Nigel Farage's Reform peers demand reignites calls for House of Lords to be scrapped 'Our investments in Carinish Old School and Cnoc Soilleir underline the Scottish Government's commitment to Gaelic and the communities to which it gives life. 'Projects like North Uist Historical Society's renovation of Carinish Old School are key not only to the language's revitalisation, but to the growth of rural island economies. 'We see this happening across the islands, local people coming together to preserve historical assets and bring them back into use – we need to do what we can to support their efforts. 'I am greatly looking forward to returning to Cnoc Soilleir to see the progress since my last visit. 'It is one of the recognised Gaelic success stories of recent times, providing in South Uist a guiding light for traditional culture and arts. 'It draws in people from the local community, but also visitors from elsewhere, perfectly illustrating the close connection between Gaelic revival and economic growth.'
STV News
3 days ago
- STV News
Nicola Sturgeon: 'Women not owed apology over trans debate'
Nicola Sturgeon has said she does not owe women an apology over her support of controversial gender reforms. Speaking to reporters after an event to launch her memoir on Thursday, the former first minister said she won't say sorry to people on the other side who feel vilified for their views. 'No, I won't apologise,' Sturgeon replied. 'People on both sides of this debate are vilified. I've been vilified and received some awful abuse – nothing like the abuse trans people are getting right now. 'I tried to stand up for rights of one of most stigmatised minorities in the country. I don't believe that is in conflict with the rights of women which I have stood up for and will continue to stand up for.' Sturgeon's gender reform legislation was designed to make it easier for trans people to change their legal gender without a lengthy medical process. Despite fierce opposition from some women's rights campaigners who feared it would give biological males access to female spaces, it was passed in Scotland with cross-party support. But the Gender Recognition Reform was never enacted after it was blocked by Westminster. The former SNP leader often faces criticism for the way she has handled it. The former SNP leader has since admitted she should have paused the legislation and said she didn't anticipate some of the concerns that would be triggered. Sturgeon said she respects the view of people who disagree with her, but she said she 'deeply regrets the way in which some are punching down on trans people who have done nothing to harm anybody'. At the event on Thursday, Sturgeon said people who call themselves feminists have laughed at her miscarriage on social media, which she revealed in her memoir, and said they want her to be 'raped in a toilet'. 'I will continue to stand up for women's rights and I will continue to stand up trans rights,' she said after the event. 'I didn't come into politics to back away from the things I believe in because it got a bit difficult for me personally.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
