Communication Support Principles

Principle 1

Recognise that every community or group may include people with communication support needs.

For example you may be doing the following:

• targeting young people in a health promotion campaign
• asking members of the LGBT community to respond to a consultation exercise
• encouraging the local community to use a new leisure centre.

All these group may include people with communication support needs. So always:

• Adopt a policy of using clear, simple verbal and written language and design in all communications. This will make it easier for everyone to access information and engage in events.
  
  
• Save time and money by developing a set of templates for people in the organisation to use.  For example for letters, meeting papers, presentations. 
  
  

Templates

• Make sure that everyone involved in the design and implementation of a public engagement activity understands the breadth and impact of communication support needs. For example include it in staff induction and offer training.

• Routinely ask people if they have communication support needs

Audio quote: Lindsay