Making Information Accessible
Making sure that you provide accessible information has a number of benefits to you as an organisation as well as to your customers and or service users.
SAIF can provide you with a range of services to help you achieve this. Check out our Training and Publications pages or contact us for information and advice.
If you are new to us and would like to find out more about the kind of work we do you'll find more information in the Frequently Asked Questions and About SAIF pages.
All of our publications are free and can be downloaded from our website. However, if you would like us to send a pack out to you, please use the link below to order one.
Saying it Simply
'Saying it Simply' is a research report which looks at the extent public services meet the information needs of people with learning difficulties. Produced by the Glasgow Good Information Group they would like to invite senior managers and practitioners from health, housing, community care and utilities to the launch.
The launch takes place on Thursday 17th July from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Satinwood Suite at Glasgow City Chambers.
Information about the launch and about the Good Information Group can be downloaded using the links below.
|Information about the research
|Information about the Glasgow Good Information Group
|An invitation to the launch
|The reply slip
If you would like more information please contact Jean Alcock at jean@jarcs.co.uk or on 0141 649 1521.
July 2008
The Scottish Parliament has now published 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
How the Scottish Parliament Works - Easy Read version now available
Following the BSL version the Scottish Parliament have now produced an easy-read publication on 'How the Scottish Parliament works'.
Click here for a link to the |pdf version.
Click here for a link to an order form for |large print, Braille, audio CD or audio cassette copies.
Alternatively you can contact the Scottish Parliament, Public Information Service at
sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk
Text phone: 0131 558 7676
Tel: 0131 348 5000
Fax: 0131 348 5601
May 2008
Consultation on Revision of 'How to Write Your Disabled Persons' Protection Policy: A Guide for Train and Station Operators.
A Disabled Persons' Protection Policy must be produced by all station and train operators. The Department of Transport is reviewing the guidance it provides to operators about producing their policy.
Some of the changes proposed include aiming the policy specifically at disabled people and changing the title to 'Travel information for disabled passengers'.
The document will provide disabled passengers with a range of information for each stage of their journey.
Some of the headings include: accessible information, booking assistance, car parking, station access information, ramps, audio and visual announcements, what happens in an emergency, buses and taxis and how to provide feedback and complaints.
The deadline for your comments is Friday 23rd May 2008. Online copies of the consultation can be viewed at|www.dft.gov.uk/access/dppp. Audio copies can be obtained by contacting the Railways for All team:
Telephone: 020 7944 5284
Fax: 020 7944 6102
Email: railwaysforall@dft.gsi.gov.uk (please put 'DPPP Consultation' in the subject line.
April 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
Equality and Human Rights Commission Single Equality Scheme
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has launched its single equality scheme.
"The scheme goes beyond the legal requirement to address gender, disability and race and also covers issues around age, sexual orientation, religion or belief and human rights. The Commission has a special position among public authorities as these duties are identical to its own remit. The Commission is also responsible for ensuring other public bodies meet the legal requirements of the equality duties."
A copy of the scheme is available on the Commission's website:
|www.equalityhumanrights.com/equalityscheme
April 2008
Open and accessible?
A thematic study into how social landlords share information about performance and governance.
Social housing tenants might be interested in Communities Scotland's study about open and accessible landlords across Scotland.
The study looks at
- the kind of information landlords provide,
- if they are providing the right sort of information to tenants and service users,
- if it is provided in a timely way and
- how easy it is to get the information.
Although some good practice examples have been found landlords need to do more to make sure that information is accessible to everyone.
|Communities Scotland - Open and accessible?
March 2008
Information and advice services - What disabled people should expect and receive
The new, revised edition of the Information and advice services - What disabled people should expect and receive, is now available from SAIF.
To accompany the hard copy, the information is available in the following formats:
- British Sign Language on DVD,
- on-line in HTML format,
- pdf file (98 kb) ,
- Word file (100 kb)
All these materials are available in hard copy, free of charge, by contacting info@saifscotland.org.uk or you can download a copy in Word or PDF or view our online version by going to our publications page.
December 2007
Standards for Disability Information and Advice Provision in Scotland
Demand for the revised edition of the SAIF Standards has exceeded expectation More copies have now been printed.
One of the key reasons for the publication of a revised edition was a number of recommendations made by the Scottish Executive Sensory Impairment Action Plan Steering Group. Those recommendations have now been incorporated. In addition, the Standards have been completely rewritten in plain language with significant improvements to their accessibility.
To accompany the printed version we now have the Standards available in the following formats:
- Double CD Rom – you can now view the Standards in a range of document formats such as Microsoft Word, HTML and Adobe PDF, listen to the Standards as an audio file, copy the formats for your own use, or load the SAIF Standards checklist on to your computer to monitor and assess your progress in implementing them,
- British Sign Language on DVD,
- braille,
- Standards on-line in HTML format,
- pdf file,
- Word file.
Information in BSL about Standards for Disability Information and Advice Provision in Scotland
All these materials are available in hard copy, free of charge, by contacting info@saifscotland.org.uk or you can download a copy in Word or PDF or view our online version by going to our publications page.
May 2008