What initiatives are in place to encourage sign language training and interpreting.

Good practice guidelines for public authorities were published by the Scottish Translation Interpreting and Communication Forum in March 2002. The guidelines consider BSL as well as other community language issues. The Scottish Executive is funding a development worker, managed by the forum, to take this work forward. The worker is based in the Scottish Association of Sign Language Interpreters.The Scottish Executive are also encouraging sign language training and interpreting through funding of voluntary organisations under section 9 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968.