More than Words: Communication for All

Our campaign calls for communication for all as we believe that this is a gateway to accessing our human rights.

Most of us will need communication support at some point in our lifetimes. However, because there is a lack of good support, people frequently encounter problems. We’ve heard countless stories of people unable to access to access health and social care when they need it, attend education or work, and participate in society. 

Communication for all means sharing information in a way that everybody can understand. It includes all forms of communication – written, online, phone calls, and face to face. Inclusive communication is a gateway to accessing all our human rights. 

Although both the Equality Act 2010 and the BSL (Scotland) Act 2015 offer useful protections, currently people in Scotland do not have a clear legal right to inclusive communication. This leads to a postcode lottery when it comes to communication support, and significant inequalities for people.   

This campaign is intended to support and inform the Scottish Government and public bodies on how meet people’s communication needs and stop current injustices. Everyone should have a right to communication in a form they understand – to access health and social care when they need it, attend education or work, and participate in society.  

Our call is backed by solid evidence. Using Freedom of Information requests and interviews, the ALLIANCE Scottish Sensory Hub researched the current provision and understanding of inclusive communication across a range of public bodies in Scotland. Our analysis focuses on public bodies’ data collection practices, provision of inclusive communication support, complaints about support, and staff training.  

We highlight and provide examples of good practice and areas of learning, as well as areas for improvement. 

We found that: 

• Most Scottish public bodies (63%) do not track if or how they provide communication support.  

• Most Scottish public bodies (57%) do not track how many communication support requests are made to them. “I knew there would be some demand for Easy Read […] but I’ve been surprised by how big the demand has been.” (Local authority)  

• Most public bodies (64%) offer some form of inclusive communication training. However, training content is variable. 

• Where data is collected on training uptake, most staff don’t complete the offered inclusive communication training. Training uptake is often only 1-2% of employees. Without proper training, it’s difficult for people to support communication for all. 

We want to see statutory duties on inclusive communication to be placed on public bodies, including provision, data collection and staff training.  

Without legal protection for people’s right to inclusive communication, Scotland is unlikely to see systemic change. Real and meaningful reform is needed, to counter existing inequalities and enable people to enjoy their human rights and be a full part of civic society.   

Designing for inclusion today means planning for a future where everyone can live well, without discrimination. When we get inclusive communication right, everyone benefits. 

Find out more and sign up to our campaign to ensure communication for all – because communication is about more than just words.

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