SAIF News archive
This is information that has been published earlier on the home page of this website.
Your Call
Lothian Centre for Independent Living have launched a new free telephone counselling service available to disabled people across Scotland. Run by disabled people the service is open to disabled people over the age of 18 and their immediate family.
To contact the service call: 0808 801 0362
For more information about the service visit their website:
|http://www.lothiancil.org.uk/services/peercounselling
July 2008
RNIB - Access to information workshop
The RNIB and Grampian Society are running free access to information workshops in Aberdeen on Wednesday 3rd September.
The workshops will take place at the Grampian Society, 21 John Street, Aberdeen, AB25 1BT. Complimentary refreshments and a buffet lunch will be provided.
Click here for more information about the workshop - Information is power.
Click here for a copy of the agenda.
To book your place call Emma Ip on 020 7391 2123 or email campaign@rnib.org.uk.
July 2008
The Scottish Parliament 'Removing Barriers and Creating Opportunities: Review of Progress'
This report outlines the Equal Opportunities Committee's views on the progress of the Scottish Government in implementing the recommendations outlined in the Committee's disability inquiry report.
Use the link below to take you to an online version from the Scottish Parliament website (you will need to scroll down to the bottom of the page).
|http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/committees/equal/index.htm
If you would like a copy of the report in an alternative format please contact Terry Shevlin on 01313485216 or email equal.opportunities@scottish.parliament.uk .
June 2008
SAIF Annual Report 2008
Each year in February SAIF holds an annual review of its work. This year it was agreed that SAIF should produce an annual report which outlined developments in 2007 and key objectives for 2008.
|SAIF Summary Annual Report 2008 - Word
|SAIF Summary Annual Report 2008 - pdf
Please contact us if you would like a copy in an alternative format sent out to you.
May 2008
Edinburgh International Festival 08
Edinburgh International Festival has produced an access guide for this year's events.
In addition to venue access details you can get information about sign language interpreted, audio described and supertitled performances. Both the access guide and the Festival 08 brochure are available in CD, tape and Braille on request.
Contact details:
Access phone number: 0131 473 2089
Email: access@eif.co.uk
Website:|www.eif.co.uk
April 2008
Office for Disability Issues - new website
The Office for Disability Issues has just launched it's new website.
The site contains information and resources for government departments, public sector organisations and disabled people and their organisations. Some information is available in British Sign Language, Easy Read and audio.
The link below will take you to their homepage:
|www.officefordisability.gov.uk
April 2008
Saying it Simply
Do you understand your mail?
Friday 29th February 2008
The Glasgow Good Information Group is running a research event for people with learning disabilities.
The event is free. It will provide you with an opportunity to talk about:
- what you do when you get letters;
- how we can get letters which are clear and easy to understand; and
- how to encourage public services to ensure that the letters they send are easier to understand.
The event takes place at the Trinity Church Hall, Clarkston Road, Cathcart in Glasgow. It starts at 10am and finishes at 3pm.
You can download the event brochure and booking form here.
|Brochure - Word version
|Brochure - pdf version
|Booking Form - Word version
|Booking Form - pdf version
If you would like more information or have difficulty obtaining a brochure or booking form please contact jean@jarcs.co.uk.
January 2008Shelter Scotland
As part of Shelter's Advice online website a new information resource is now available for disabled people. The resource contains information on housing-related issues. For example, renting and buying a home, paying for care and support, homelessness, independent living and discrimination and harassment in housing situations. The link below will take you directly to their resource page.
|Shelter Scotland's Resource for disabled people|
Beyond the Web
Do you know the difference between accessible and inaccessible electronic documents?
Are you aware of the benefits of ensuring that the electronic information you provide is accessible.
Are you unsure of your legal obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act to produce accessible electronic information?
This is a new SAIF seminar which looks at how you can ensure that the e-communication that you design and/or provide is accessible.
The seminar provides you with the principles and benefits of accessible design for web sites and other forms of electronic communication. It outlines the legal responsibilities for public sector organisations in ensuring that electronic information is accessible. And provides standards to include in specifications and tender documents to ensure the accessibility of e-communication.
If you would like more information please contact SAIF staff on 0141 226 5261 or at info@saifscotland.org.uk.
Road Works Scotland
Frustrated with road works? You can now access information about how long they are planned to last, the likely impact and the contact details of the organisation responsible for the works. Information about road works anywhere in Scotland is now available from the new Road Works Scotland website - click the link.
Deaf Action Website
Check out Deaf Action's new bilingual website. The site has been given a new design and information is now provided in British Sign Language, subtitles, text and voice.
Making information accessible for people with learning disabilities
The RNIB is advertising an information pack on Making Information Accessible for People with Learning Disabilities and Visual Impairments. The pack can be ordered directly from RNIB Customer Services or you can download the guidance from the link below.
| Guidance on making information accessible from RNIB|
Online conversion tools for Adobe PDF documents
This online tool allows users to convert an Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) file which is stored on local media, such as a hard drive, CD-ROM, or internal server to HTML or text. To use simply type a URL for an Adobe PDF document into the electronic form and select "Convert".
|Adobe online conversion tool|
Braille converter
A recent article from the BBC reports that this free service provides automatic braille conversion and seems to be proving popular despite still being in the test phase. Read more at:
|braille converter article from the BBC |
New
project officer appointed for SAIF
Susan Burn has now started to work for SAIF. Susan joined SAIF in the middle of September.
She previously worked for four years with Turning Point Scotland as their Policy and Information Officer. Prior to that she worked for Key Housing Association, who are providers of supported accommodation for adults with a learning disability.
Susan job shares the position of Project Officer with Steve Harvey. See the staff page for more information.
Accessible legal information and advice should be publicly funded.
SAIF responded to the Scottish Executive consultation “Advice for All – Publicly Funded Legal Assistance in Scotland – The Way Forward” in September 2005.
In the response SAIF welcomes a national strategy as legal information and advice is very important for disabled people. The cost for producing information in an accessible way should be taken into account in funding for legal advice services.
Read the whole response:
|Consultation response: Advice for all - pdf file|
Accessing the Private Sector
For 13 days during March, April and May this year we are very pleased to have Lynn Durkin...
|go to article: Accessing the Private...|
Does Your Website Leave You Dazed and Confused?
We've published a new free guide to building, maintaining and managing a website.
|go to article: Does Your Website...|
|Making
Websites Accessible - Online version
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|Making Websites Available
- PDF format
|
If You Want to
Improve Your Service...
Ask Disabled People!
SAIF published a Guide to User-Led Service Reviews in January 2003. Like the SAIF Standards, the guide is designed to be used by any agency which provides...
|go
to article: If You Want to Improve...
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|Guide
to User-Led... - Online version
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|Guide
to User-Led... - PDF format
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