Adam marks International Day of Sign Languages in Scottish Parliament
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A NORTH-east MSP has lodged a motion at Holyrood to mark the International Day of Sign languages today (Friday).
Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Karen Adam made history after her election last year as the first parliamentarian to swear their oath in British Sign Language (BSL).
Ms Adam, who has previously opened about her experience as a CODA (child of a Deaf adult), was previously a councillor in the Mid-Formartine ward of Aberdeenshire. She was elected as a councillor in 2017 where she worked to update the council's plans for the disabled, including the local authority’s sign language plan.
Ms Adam remains a passionate advocate for BSL users and the deaf and CODA communities.
Earlier this year, the Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP hosted international guests from the Deaf community on ‘Promoting British Sign Language’ where Scotland was identified by attendees as a world leader in sign language and deaf inclusion.
Ms Adam said: “I am delighted to have lodged this motion in the Scottish Parliament.
"Promoting the accessibility of learning sign language is so important to ensure inclusion.
“This is something Scotland has been recognised as a world leader in. Many barriers have been reduced for the deaf community and sign language users but there is so much further we can go.
“I will be redoubling my efforts to promote the learning of sign language in our schools. Only when we all learn together will the barriers between the deaf community and the hearing community be removed.
“Lodging this motion to the Scottish Parliament is a small step as part of a much wider campaign to increase awareness of sign language and the barriers the Deaf community face. I am determined to use my own lived experience and platform as an MSP to channel the voices of sign language users and deaf people.”