Call for participants: focus groups on sensory impairment, Self-Directed Support and social care
- Area of Work: Scottish Sensory Hub
- Type: News Item
- Published: 4th January 2024

Get involved and attend the focus group most appropriate to you
Self-Directed Support (SDS) is how social care is delivered in Scotland. The ALLIANCE is carrying out research into accessible information in Self-directed Support and social care on behalf of the Scottish Government.
Scottish Government and COSLA published the Self-directed Support (SDS) Improvement Plan in 2023. You can read the plan here. One key activity in the SDS Improvement Plan is to ensure SDS communications are in accessible formats.
The ALLIANCE is running a series of focus groups which will inform the Scottish Government’s work to improve people’s access to accessible information on Self-Directed Support (SDS) and social care. This includes communication about support planning and the promotion and signposting of appropriate tools and language services.
We want to hear from any adult with a sensory impairment who accesses, wants to access, or who has been refused access to SDS or social care. If you’re interested in taking part, please get in touch with the team.
There are four focus group dates:
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing (English language): 26th January 2024, 10am – 12 noon (online via Zoom)
- Deafblind or with a dual sensory loss: 29th January 2024, 1-3pm (in-person at Deafblind Scotland, Kirkintilloch)
- Deaf BSL users: Thursday 1st February 2024, 11am – 1pm (online via Zoom, led by Clare Canton in BSL)
- Blind and partially sighted people: Friday 2nd February, 10am-12pm (online via Zoom, with Sight Scotland)
Communication support will be provided.
Please register your interest in joining by emailing sensory@alliance-scotland.org.uk and stating which focus group you would like to attend.
If you are unable to attend a focus group but still want to share your experiences, please email the team at sensory@alliance-scotland.org.uk and we will discuss other ways of taking part in this research.
The ALLIANCE is also running a survey on accessible information in Self-directed Support for people with sensory impairment.
The survey will take 10-15 minutes to complete and will be open until Friday 9th February 2024.
The following video is in BSL, and contains the same content as this news item. There is no voiceover.
End of page.
You may also like:
Disability Information Scotland offer training courses designed to help you ensure your online information is accessible to everyone.
Continue readingThe First Minister has reiterated his commitment to the continuation of Contact Scotland BSL.
Continue readingThe Scottish Sensory Hub has worked to raise sensory awareness and influence systems change, grounded in lived experience.
Continue readingDisabled People-Led Organisations across Scotland are joining together for a fortnight of action and campaigning to demand justice.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE has published a report on local BSL plans and compliance with the BSL (Scotland) Act 2015.
Continue readingSense Scotland was delighted to welcome participants from Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, Denmark and the Netherlands.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE have published their response to the Scottish Parliament BSL Plan 2024-2030
Continue readingRNIB have launched a survey into children's services to improve the support that children receive for their vision.
Continue readingDeafblind Scotland is launching a definition of Deafblindness for Scotland at the Scottish Parliament.
Continue readingFind out about the different ways voting in the general election has been made accessible for people with sensory impairments.
Continue readingRNID publishes a report on the impact of negative public attitudes towards those who are Deaf. The report highlights lived experiences
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE has published a report on people's experiences of accessible information around Self-directed Support and social care.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE has published a report to inform the next See Hear Strategy.
Continue readingA robot guide dog that could transform the way that blind and partially sighted people are guided around buildings has been tested .
Continue readingDeafblind Scotland calls for signatories for a Scottish definition of Deafblindness
Continue readingDo you have to ask people to repeat what they say, need to increase the volume on your TV, or have difficulty following group conversations?
Continue readingRead about the activities that the Scottish Sensory Hub have been involved in during 2023.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE has published a report to inform the See Hear Strategy.
Continue readingIf you’re an adult with a sensory impairment who accesses – or wants to access – Self-directed Support, the ALLIANCE wants to hear from you.
Continue readingThe Scottish Government have shared a plan to improve the lives of British Sign Language users.
Continue readingSensory charity supports Scottish Government consultation on local decision making
Continue reading