http://www.saifscotland.org.uk/ en-us http://www.saifscotland.org.uk/showlog.php?weblogid=30 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 06:12:46 PDT The Office for Disability Issues leads the UK government's vision of achieving equality for disabled people. It has recently published a number of guides around accessibility and inclusion.  Relevant publications to the work of SAIF include: Delivering Inclusive Policy, Delivering Inclusive Communication, Involving Disabled People, Preparing Accessible MS Word Documents, Delivering Technically Accessible Publications, Commissioning Accessible Videos. They are all free to download from the ODI website . http://www.saifscotland.org.uk/showlog.php?weblogid=29 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 06:13:02 PDT Got a Disability Question?  Call the UPDATE helpline on 0131 669 1600 or visit their website at www.update.org.uk UPDATE is Scotland's national disabilty information service.  They have a range of factsheets, for example on Travel and Transport, and Blue Badge and Car Parking.  SAIF works in partnership with UDATE, in particular to produce The Scottish Formats Resource, a free online searchable database containing details of transcription, translation and interpretation services available to Scotland. http://www.saifscotland.org.uk/showlog.php?weblogid=28 Mon, 16 Aug 2010 02:48:36 PDT SAIF has a new in-house training course to raise awareness about the unseen elements in the production of accessible information. By following certain accessibility guidelines, all information including: documents presentations websites emails social networking can be made more accessible to people who rely on assistive technology. Download the course outline to find out more or get in touch. Hidden Accessibility Course Outline in Word (58kb) Hidden Accessibility Course Outline in PDF (59kb) http://www.saifscotland.org.uk/showlog.php?weblogid=27 Tue, 03 Aug 2010 02:36:53 PDT As you may know, SAIF is managed by Consumer Focus Scotland.  They are looking for new volunteers for their network and have asked us to help.    Consumer Network needs new volunteers! Consumer Focus Scotland are currently looking for new volunteers and would like to hear from people who are interested in consumer issues such as education, the environment, health, housing, post and public services. Our Consumer Network is a group of home-based volunteers who act as our contacts across the country - helping to keep us informed about the issues that concern ordinary people throughout Scotland. At the moment we have over 350 volunteers from all over the country who regularly assist us by identifying consumer issues and by occasionally investigating local services and facilities for small research projects.  This is something you can do in your own home at a time to suit yourself. Over the last few months our members have helped us with the following activities:  Mystery shopper task - what information is given about delivery charges to consumers when they shop online? Online survey - evaluation of new icons and illustrations for a health project's website Survey and focus groups - What do consumers think about the content and accessibility of the Food Standards Agency's draft guidance on the country of origin information on food labels? Consumer testing - Waterwatch Scotland's new website - how user-friendly is it? Interested?  If you would like to find out more please get in touch with Gill MacGregor, Consumer Network Co-ordinator, Consumer Focus Scotland, 0141 227 8432, or find our more at http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/scotland/get-involved-in-our-work-consumer-network http://www.saifscotland.org.uk/showlog.php?weblogid=26 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 02:56:37 PDT Lead Scotland (Specialists in Linking Education and Disability is a charity that enables disabled adults and carers to access inclusive learning opportunities. They have just produced their Dundee Learners Welcome pack as an easy read document. This was an interesting process for Lead which involved: a Lead volunteer and the Training and Development Officer co-ordinating the process draft testing twice with a group of people with learning disabilities Lead learner and volunteer and staff as models photos by another Lead volunteers discussion with Margaret Hurcombe, Director of FAIR,  an information and advice service for people with learning disabilities, carers and professionals in Edinburgh and chairperson of SAIF's local strategies working group. Dundee easyread learners welcome pack in Word (533kb) Dundee easyread learners welcome pack in PDF (2.77mb) Dundee easyread learners welcome pack plain text (41kb) http://www.saifscotland.org.uk/showlog.php?weblogid=25 Wed, 02 Jun 2010 02:44:56 PDT What about Social Networking and Accessibility? Have you heard of AccessibleTwitter or Easy YouTube ? Try them out and let us know what you think.  These sites offer an alternative, more accessible way of using these social media.  We have written a brief paper to raise awareness of the accessibility issues around social networking sites. Download Social Networking and Accessibility in Word (58kb) Download Social Networking and Accessibility in PDF (67kb) Read Social Networking and Accessibility online http://www.saifscotland.org.uk/showlog.php?weblogid=24 Mon, 24 May 2010 06:09:56 PDT Making Information Accessible This new 12 page booklet provides guidance for producing accessible printed and electronic information and is available to download from this website or in hard copy by getting in touch with SAIF, using the contact details on the right hand side of this page. The booklet provides practical guidance on making printed and electronic information more accessible.  Following them will benefit most people.  They will be of paricular benefit to disabled people who rely on assistive technology (hardware or software that helps a disabled person access information using a computer).  They will reduce the demand for information in other formats. The guidelines include general principles for all written information and specific guidance on writing and producing: Word documents PDF (Portable Document Format) documents PowerPoint presentations Emails Websites. Making Information Accessible - Word version (85kb) Making Information Accessible - PDF Version (266kb) http://www.saifscotland.org.uk/showlog.php?weblogid=23 Mon, 29 Mar 2010 06:17:14 PDT In response to increasing demand we have now produced a paper called "A Brief Guide to Easy Read".  This guide will tell you more about what Easy Read means, give you some top tips on how to do it and provide links to other useful publications which will give you more detailed information.  The guide also lists some organisations who can produce your documents in an easy read format. You can download a copy of the guide by visiting our publications page or by clicking on the links below. A Brief Guide to Easy Read in Word (68kb) A Brief Guide to Easy Read in PDF (77 kb) http://www.saifscotland.org.uk/showlog.php?weblogid=22 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:51:39 PST The NHS Highland Accessibility Guidance for Staff was developed for specific use by staff working for NHS Highland, however, it may well be used as a good practice guide by a whole range of other service providers, networks and groups. Hard copy of the guidance can be sent only on request to NHS Highland.  Due to a limited number of copies this will be on a first come first, first served basis and only one copy per organisation/group/forum.  Any requests can be made to: Anna-Maria Kaczmarek Policy Development Manager Community and Health Improvement Planning NHS Highland Assynt House Beechwood Park Inverness IV2 3BW Tel:  01463 704918 NHS Highland Textphone: 0800 959598 Any organisation is welcome to publish the electronic version of the Accessibility Guidance for Staff on its website in its original version marking NHS Highland's ownership of the guide. NHS Highland Accessibility Guidance for Staff in pdf   (1.52mb) http://www.saifscotland.org.uk/showlog.php?weblogid=21 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:03:52 PST New book from CHANGE.  This is available as a free download in PDF or to buy in A4 hard copy from CHANGE. http://www.saifscotland.org.uk/showlog.php?weblogid=20 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:43:54 PST The SAIF Standards working group recently met with a representative from the British Standards Institute, (BSI), who travelled up from London for the meeting. It was very useful and provided lots of informatin about what is going on in BSI regarding accessibilty standards. Two SAIF members will now get involved in the work of BSI to raise the profile of accessibility where they can. http://www.saifscotland.org.uk/showlog.php?weblogid=19 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:02:44 PST During the year, SAIF undertook some research with several organisations across Scotland looking at the provision of accessible information in their organisation and their awareness of the role and remit of SAIF. This report summarises the main findings from the research and sets out the next steps for SAIF in taking forward the recommendations. SAIF would like to thank all the people who participated in the research. For futher information on this report or on the work of SAIF please contact the SAIF staff.  Public Service Providers and Accessible Information Report in Word (97kb) Public Service Providers and Accessible Information Report in PDF (144kb) http://www.saifscotland.org.uk/showlog.php?weblogid=18 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 02:26:39 PDT   The Scottish Formats Resource - updated version for 2009/2010 has now been released.   SAIF’s “Standards for Disability Information and Advice Provision in Scotland” stresses the importance of making information readily available in whatever format or language the recipient asks for.   The Scottish Formats Resource is a useful contribution to this aspect of accessible information, containing details of transcription, translation and interpretation services available to Scotland.   Electronic communication makes the actual location of services less important and some service providers based outwith Scotland are included in the resource.   The Scottish Formats Resource is produced and published by UPDATE, Scotland’s national disability information provider in partnership with the Scottish Accessible Information Forum.  More details can be found at www.update.org.uk   Visit our publications page to download an information leaftet. http://www.saifscotland.org.uk/showlog.php?weblogid=16 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 03:00:48 PDT This is a useful handout used at SAIF Raising Awareness training days. This guide to other formats prompts you to ask yourself the following questions when planning your information strategy: Who is the target audience? which media will be most effective in providing the information? What is the subject matter and how much of it is there? Are your decisions likely to be viewed as reasonable? What resources do you have? Download Let's Make It Accessible in Word (44kb) Download Let's Make it Accessible in PDF (114kb) http://www.saifscotland.org.uk/showlog.php?weblogid=13 Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:03:42 PDT We have recently been asked for guidance on how to make Excel documents accessible.  Below is some general guidance on the principles behind doing this.  For more detailed information visit the Excel section of microsoft's website. General Guidelines  Follow these guidelines to make spreadsheets accessible: Do not use blank cells for formatting purposes.  Instead use Excel's native formatting techniques, such as specifying row height. Use row and column headers and make them clear and self-explanatory.  If possible, use row 1 and column A for headers. Use comments to describe the workbook, (for example, purpose of each worksheet, number of worksheets, layout of each worksheet). Define regions to allow a person using assistive technology to move between areas defined in the worksheet. Comments provide users of assistive technology with additional information about the purpose of the worksheet or cell.  Assistive technology users can navigate between regions in a worksheet. http://www.saifscotland.org.uk/showlog.php?weblogid=11 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:09:07 PDT SAIF's newest publication The Social Model of Disability written by SAIF member Grant Carson was launched on Thursday 18th June with a press release.  The 32 page booklet is aimed at policy and decision makers across all sectors.  It explains The Social Model and its importance. SAIF is clear that if society adopted and resourced the Social rather than the Medical Model, not only would accessible information provision become commonplace, but the lives of disabled people would be transformed and a huge step would be taken in the fight against discrimination. For the first time there is a cover price on a SAIF publication of £2.  Please order copies from your local or internet book retailer or from The Stationery Office, ISBN 9780114973490. To download a copy free of charge visit our publications page http://www.saifscotland.org.uk/showlog.php?weblogid=8 Wed, 20 May 2009 02:58:19 PDT Keep up with what SAIF is doing on Facebook http://www.saifscotland.org.uk/showlog.php?weblogid=7 Wed, 20 May 2009 02:57:39 PDT Keep up with what SAIF is doing on Twitter http://www.saifscotland.org.uk/showlog.php?weblogid=5 Thu, 15 Jan 2009 06:40:57 PST SAIF's chairperson attends Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC)  Disabled Customers Consultation Group.  HMRC is currently working on its website accessibility policy and the draft policy has been shared with the group for comment.  SAIF has added its comments to the first draft. http://www.saifscotland.org.uk/showlog.php?weblogid=3 Thu, 15 Jan 2009 06:39:59 PST SAIF is represented on the NHS 24 Equality and Diversity Impact Assessment group.  The group meets monthly and carries out impact assessments on all aspects of the policies and staff functions of the work of NHS 24. http://www.saifscotland.org.uk/showlog.php?weblogid=2 Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:51:30 PST SAIF's chairperson is a membor of the board of the Scottish Helpline for Older People.