Case Study: Social connections – the key to access

In my first column about the Access for All campaign, I asked a provocative question: ‘…what would be the point of gaining physical access to a restaurant if you can’t read any of the menus?’ Perhaps, I could have asked what would be the point of gaining physical access to any building, if the lack of accessible information meant you didn’t know anything about the services that were offered inside. Of course, this question can be answered in many ways and Zoe Mclean last week highlighted the valuable advice that Access Panels give in making sure any building or service
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Case Study: Getting support to develop inclusive communication

The Access for All campaign is attracting wide support from many different people and organisations but where is it you can go for advice and support?  Previous columns have highlighted simple steps all of us can take to make any business, service or even our own interactions with people more inclusive. In this article I will highlight where you can get additional information, advice and support around inclusive communication. This will not be an exhaustive list because there are many individuals and organisations who can give excellent advice and support depending on the type of question that you have. However,
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Making Communication even better

Online educational resource aimed at improving communications between health and social care staff and people with communication support needs.
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Case Study: Joe, Researcher

Joe M., 27, applied for a position within a well known marketing firm. Joe has a hearing impairment, and had been looking for a position which would allow him to use his abilities in online work whilst accommodating his disability. Within the application form, there was no ‘Guaranteed Interview Scheme’ box, so Joe informed them of his disability within his personal statement. Having made it to interview, Joe was asked by email what he needed in order to attend the interview. The marketing firm were honest in telling him that they had no experience of providing communication support and openly
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Case Study: Rhian Campbell Disability Equality Internship Programme ‘The key, the door & Dypraxia’

The key, the door & Dypraxia “If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” Albert Einstein Albert Einstein’s quote has always increased my confidence in times of difficulty because it reminded me of something very simple: everyone is different and everyone is brilliant. Climbing a tree to most people will seem a very simple task to most people but to others it is an impossible task. Just like unlocking my office door. Despite the professional importance of the job I’m about to undertake I find
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Access2Learning (A2L)

Access2Learning (A2L) is the Improvement Service’s free e-learning platform. It offers a wide range of learning resources designed to enhance staff development across Scottish local government, public and third sectors. It contains resources on different topics that can be used on your organisation’s learning management systems and some that can be adapted (if permissible) to suit your organisations needs. Resources are produced by councils themselves, by the Improvement Service, or by a wide range of other organisations. If you are a registered A2L user, click here to get started. If you are not registered or would like to be, you
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How to organise an Inclusive and Accessible Event

How to organise an Inclusive and Accessible Event When organising meetings, training sessions, conferences and other events it is important to make sure that they are accessible to everyone attending including disabled people. The checklists below will assist any organiser in making sure that their event is accessible to as many people as possible. Invitations When inviting delegates or speakers to an event, particularly where this includes people who are not known to the organiser, you should include an accessibility statement with the invitation and/or confirmation. For example: “We will do our best to fulfil your requirements to allow you
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Deaf Awareness Training

If you are looking for a basic knowledge of communication issues affecting deaf and deafblind people, then Level 1 Award in Deaf Awareness and Communication is for you. Signature www.signature.org.uk
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Introduction to AAC

Commissioned by NHS Education for Scotland (NES) as part of the Scottish Right to Speak initiative, CALL Scotland has developed five short online learning modules on augmentative and alternative communication. The modules can be viewed one by one as ‘stand-alones’, or in sequence. All five modules are at an introductory level, and highly accessible to people without any previous specialised knowledge of communication disability, or of communication aids. Each module takes about 5-10 minutes to view – or longer if you want to explore the many links and resources – and finishes with a ‘Test your Knowledge’ quiz, and a
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Hidden Accessibility

The purpose of this course is to raise awareness about the importance of ensuring that your electronic information is accessible to screen-reading software designed for people with a visual impairment who are unable to see the screen or use celexa a mouse or other pointing device. Scottish Accessible Information Forum (SAIF) www.saifscotland.org.uk FREE On-line Training
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