Coming soon – a new Inclusive Communication Toolkit for Scotland

On 24 March, Scottish Government will share a new Inclusive Communication Toolkit for public services in Scotland.

Public services include local councils, healthcare, transport companies, and many others who work with the people of Scotland.

Inclusive communication means making sure that everyone can understand and take part. This can include accessible communication like braille, BSL, and Easy Read.

A Toolkit is a set of ideas that you can use and learn from. The Inclusive Communication Toolkit includes videos, web pages and things you can print out.

The Scottish Government Inclusive Communication Toolkit shows public service staff:

• what inclusive communication is
• who needs inclusive communication, and why
• how to make communication more inclusive, accessible and easy to understand.

The Toolkit was made by an organisation called Communication Inclusion People. They worked with a group of people who communicate in different ways, to make sure the Toolkit includes important things public service workers need to know. Communication experts and public sector workers also shared ideas about what should be in the Toolkit.

Communication experts at Disability Equality Scotland helped to make the Toolkit. Our Chief Executive Officer, Lyn Pornaro, says:

“Inclusive communication is key to equality. When communication is easier for everyone, people can take part fully in society. This Toolkit helps services put that into practice, improving outcomes for individuals, families, and communities across Scotland.”

Elliott James Pettitt is a lived experience expert who worked on the toolkit. Elliott says:

“Good communication makes me feel included. It makes me feel like I matter, that I have something to give, and I am valued.”

Kim Hartley Kean, Director of Communication Inclusion People, says: “We hope the toolkit helps to bring down the communication barriers anyone can face when they try to access public services.”

At Disability Equality Scotland we are really pleased to see this Toolkit going out to the public, and we look forward to seeing people use it.