Equality, legal and business reasons to use the toolkit

People with communication support needs represent a significant part of the population.

It is estimated that around 250,000 people in Scotland have communication support needs.

Like other Scottish citizens, people with communication support needs have both the right and the desire to live like anyone else. They have diverse interests and concerns. They are active:

• students
• voters
• consumers
• service users
• carers
• workers
• volunteers
• campaigners
• committee members
• specialists.

The advice in the toolkit will help you to target them directly, and support your equality, legal and business commitments. 

Commitment to equality and inclusion

There is growing commitment to equality and inclusion in Scotland. 

For example through:

Scottish Government National Outcomes, in particular those concerned with:

• tackling the significant inequalities in Scottish society.
  
  having strong, resilient and supportive communities where people take responsibility for their own actions and how they affect others
  
  
• young people as successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens.

The development of Single Outcome Agreements and Community Planning Partnerships.

Initiatives such as the National Care Standards with the emphasis on dignity, choice, realising potential and equality and diversity.

Many service providers are establishing new structures to engage more effectively with service users. 

The advice in the toolkit promotes communication which is inclusive.  This ensure the participation of the widest possible audience.

Written quote: Scottish Disability Equality Forum

Legal obligations

Public and voluntary sector bodies are under a legal obligation to demonstrate equality of access to people with a disability. This is set out in the Disability Discrimination Act (2005) and Disability Equality Duty. This obligation includes communication access.

The right to participate and have your voice heard is enshrined also in the Human Rights duties. Equality and Human Rights Commission (Scotland)

Business interests

It is the business of publicly funded bodies to meet the needs of the population they aim to service. They are made accountable for their actions through regulation, inspection and audit.

By putting this toolkit into practice, publicly funded bodies will make participation easier for anyone with difficulties with spoken and/or written English, including:

• people with communication support needs related to disability
• people with literacy difficulties due to limited participation in education
• people who have difficulty reading, writing, speaking or understanding English because their first language is not English.

The toolkit will help you to meet your strategic objectives and to become a leader in public service provision.