Campaigns - Scotland

Campaigning for education: Teachers of the Deaf

Teachers of the Deaf are specialist teachers who do crucial work alongside deaf learners and their families, helping them to overcome the barriers they face in the critical early years and in education.

The issue

• The number of fully qualified Teachers of the Deaf in Scotland has fallen by 40% since 2011 (CRIDE Scotland 2023 report).
• Deaf young people in Scotland are twice as likely as hearing children to leave school with no qualifications, and half as likely to go to university (Scottish Government Attainment Data, 2024 - Word doc).

What we're campaigning for

We’re working to close the gap in educational attainment for deaf young people in Scotland, and increase numbers of specialist Teachers of the Deaf.

We want local authorities across Scotland to commit to returning the number of fully qualified Teachers of the Deaf they employ to 2011 levels over the next 10 years. 

Find out why we're calling for more ToD in Scotland.

Campaigning for better audiology services in Scotland

The issue

The Independent Scottish Audiology Review was commissioned by the Scottish Government to evaluate and improve audiology services across Scotland. Led by Professor Jacqueline Taylor MBE, the review was initiated in response to an audit by the British Academy of Audiology which identified failings in the standard of care provided by NHS Lothian Pediatric Audiology services.

The comprehensive report, published in August 2023, paints a deeply concerning picture of  the state of audiology in Scotland and outlines 55 recommendations aimed at enhancing governance, structure, education and leadership within audiology.

The most urgent recommendations in the review are around the quality of auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing, which is carried out to identify deafness in very young children. See our full press release here.

What we've been campaigning for

We know deaf children can achieve anything that hearing children can when they get the right support, but for this to happen their deafness must be identified at the earliest opportunity. This is why it is vitally important that children always receive high quality and effective testing and long term support.

We have been tirelessly campaigning, calling on the Scottish government to grasp this opportunity for transformative change to make sure audiology us safe and fit for purpose and no more deaf children are failed.

We are therefore delighted when the Scottish Government committed to accept all of the review's recommendations in principle. You can view our press release here.

However, to date, we are deeply concerned about the lack of action on each of the 55 recommendations and the progress made by the Scottish government We are also aware of the unacceptable waiting times some deaf children in Scotland are experiencing to be seen by audiology.