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Disability Equality News
Disability Equality Scotland Monthly Newsletter
Issue 25 – December 2019
Dear Member
Welcome to the latest edition of Disability Equality News, your monthly
newsletter from Disability Equality Scotland.
In this month's issue you will find:
• Disability Equality Scotland Festive Message!
• News: Discrimination and public transport, Grants to support active,
accessible travel, Help us make breast cancer screenings more
accessible, Social Inclusion in Participatory Budgeting.
• Surveys and Consultations: Weekly Poll - December Roundup,
Automated Vehicles, Proposed Disabled Children and Young People
(Transitions)(Scotland) Bill, Housing to 2040 consultation.
• The latest from our Online Information Hubs:
Accessible Travel Hub (www.accessibletravel.scot)
Inclusive Communication Hub (www.inclusivecommunication.scot)
If you have anything you would like the Disability Equality Scotland
community to read about in next month’s issue, make sure you get in touch
with us.
Best wishes,
The Disability Equality Scotland team
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 2
Thank You and
Merry Christmas As another year closes, we would like to
take this opportunity to wish all of our
members, Access Panels, sponsors and
partners a very Merry Christmas and all
the best of 2020.
2019 has been a fantastic year for Disability Equality Scotland which saw us:
• Increase our membership by 15%
• Publish 4 fantastic and informative issues of our magazine ‘Open
Door;
• Host many events across Scotland, enabling over 300 disabled people
to participate;
• Work with many organisations such as Mobility and Access Committee
for Scotland (MACS), Transport Scotland, the Scottish Ambulance
Service, ScotRail, FirstBus, Stagecoach and many others;
• Showcase ourselves and Access Panels in Parliament, having 16
MSPs pledge their continuing support.
In 2020 we look forward to working with all of our members, Access Panels,
sponsors and partners to:
• Host more events across Scotland;
• Present the accessibility category at the 2020 Transport Awards;
• Deliver training on Disability, Equality and Access;
• Establish greater partnerships with more organisations;
• Grow and value our membership and Access Panels;
• Launch a national hate crime charter across all transport modes;
• Promote our new youth member category.
We could not have achieved all that we have, or had the opportunity to
launch our new initiatives, without the support and goodwill of our members,
Access Panels, sponsors and partners.
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 3
We value your continued contribution and thank you for sharing your
thoughts and experiences with us in our weekly polls. These polls have
proven to be really effective in getting your message across, allowing us to
build an evidence base to fight your corner to work towards our Vision of
achieving full access and inclusion for disabled people in Scotland.
From our staff team and the Board of Disability Equality Scotland, we thank
you sincerely and we would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and
all the best of 2020!
Morven Brooks, Chief Executive Officer
Linda Bamford, Convenor
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 4
News: Discrimination
and public transport
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has launched a project that will
provide legal assistance and funding to disabled people and older people
who have faced discrimination when using, or trying to use, public transport.
Access to public transport is crucial for people to live independent and
fulfilling lives, to work, to visit family and friends, and to participate in society.
Despite this, transport options for disabled people and older people are
severely limited because of the lack of accessible transport. On top of this,
due to cuts to concessionary fares and local transport services, accessible
transport options tend to be more expensive. As a result, many disabled
people feel trapped by these high costs and limited options.1
In June, the Commission published its Strategic Plan for 2019-22 which
explains what it will work on over the next three years. Recognising the
importance of accessible transport to the lives of disabled people and older
people, and the need to ensure transport is available to all, the second of its
five priority aims is that ‘public transport supports the economic and social
inclusion of disabled people and older people’. To achieve this, the
Commission has set out the steps it will take, including supporting
passengers to legally challenge discrimination.
The legal support project for transport will provide legal assistance and
funding to disabled people and older people so they can challenge transport
providers when they experience discrimination. In doing so, the Commission
hopes to benefit not just those individuals directly involved, but the wider
public, by forcing transport providers to make changes to the way they
deliver public transport in Scotland. The project will accept applications in
Scotland from advisers and solicitors who are representing clients. It will
also consider applications from individuals themselves who the
Commission’s legal team may be able to represent in-house. Assistance or
funding can only be offered where a case relates to the specific provisions in
1 Equality and Human Rights Commission, Being disabled in Britain: A journey less equal, p.124.
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 5
the Equality Act 2010 that cover transport, and where the discrimination is
related to the protected characteristics of disability or age. Instances of
discrimination which may be covered by the Equality Act, and therefore by
the project, could include a bus driver harassing a disabled passenger, a
wheelchair user not being given the assistance required to board a train, or
a visually impaired person being unable to access an online booking system.
Disabled people and older people have been challenging transport providers
for a long time on the issues of discrimination and accessibility. The
Commission is determined that the legal support project for transport will
give them the support and assistance to be heard and to bring about positive
changes across the country. The following cases illustrate when and how
the Equality Act can be used to tackle discriminatory behaviour in the
provision of transport.
Paulley v FirstGroup Plc [2017] 1 W.L.R. 423
Mr Paulley, a wheelchair user, tried to board a bus but was unable to do so
because the wheelchair space was occupied by a passenger with a
pushchair. The bus driver asked the passenger to fold up the pushchair but
she refused to do this and Mr Paulley could not board the bus. He
subsequently missed a rail connection as a result.
The case, part of which the Commission funded, ended up in the Supreme
Court where it was concluded that the bus company had been in breach of
the Equality Act by failing to make reasonable adjustments for Mr Paulley. It
was recommended that bus companies should have a less ‘pallid’ policy to
deal with a situation where a passenger occupied the wheelchair space and
unreasonably refused to move. The judgements means that wheelchair
users should be given priority for wheelchair spaces on buses and that bus
companies should not operate a ‘first come first served’ policy in this way. It
also recommended that bus companies should have clear policies in place
and give training to drivers to remove the barriers wheelchair users face
when using buses.
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 6
Roads v Central Trains Ltd [2004] EWCA Civ 154
Mr Roads, who used an electric wheelchair, was unable to access one of the
platforms at a local train station, which could only be reached by a
footbridge. Mr Roads argued that Central Trains should provide him with a
taxi to allow him to travel from one platform to the other. Central Trains
offered two alternative solutions: Mr Roads could use an alternative route to
reach the platform – although Mr Roads contended that this was a difficult
and risky route for him – or he could travel to a nearby station which was
adapted for disabled passengers.
The Court of Appeal found that Central Trains had failed in its duty to make
reasonable adjustments and that providing a taxi for Mr Roads would have
been a reasonable step. It was noted that the purpose of the reasonable
adjustment duty is not a ‘minimalist policy of simply ensuring that some
access is available to the disabled’ but, in fact, is to ‘approximate the access
enjoyed by disabled persons to that enjoyed by the rest of the public’.
Although this case pre-dates the Equality Act 2010, the principles of the
reasonable adjustment duty, which were argued here under the Disability
Discrimination Act 1995, remain similar today.
Find out more about the legal support project for transport.
You can also email the Commission at transportproject-
[email protected] or phone them on 0141 228 5959.
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 7
News: Disability Equality
Scotland Launch Hate Crime
Charter Pilot We are working with Stagecoach East, First Scotland East
and ScotRail to pilot our Hate Crime Charter. The aim of
the Pilot is to encourage transport providers, members of the public and
other services to support a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime.
Each transport provider involved believes everyone has the right to travel
safely and any aggressive, bullying or harassing behaviour will not be
tolerated on their services. Examples of hate crime will be taken seriously,
and incidents will be reported to Police Scotland.
The Charter is being piloted in the following locations:
• First Bus East – Bus services around Bannockburn in Stirlingshire
• ScotRail - Train stations on the Fife Circle line
• Stagecoach East – Bus services around Leven
Commenting on the Charter, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure
and Connectivity Michael Matheson said: “Every disabled person in Scotland
should be able to travel with choice, dignity and opportunity as outlined in
our Accessible Transport Framework. Tackling hate crime is a priority area
for us as we strive to improve accessibility and I would encourage transport
providers and members of the public to get behind this charter so that
everyone can feel safe and secure when using public transport to go about
their daily lives.”
If you spot the Charter send us a picture of it using the hashtag:
#DontIgnoreItReportIt
For more information about the Charter, visit our Accessible Travel Hub
www.accessibletravel.scot/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Hate-Crime-Charter-
Draft-for-pilot.pdf
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 8
News: Improving
support for
neurological conditions
A five-year action plan to support people with a neurological condition has
been published by Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick.
The action plan will ensure people get access to personalised care and
support regardless of their particular condition or where in Scotland they live.
It has been developed with the neurological community and will be
supported by £4.5 million of funding.
The plan also aims to build a sustainable neurological workforce to deliver
high standards of care in a timely manner.
Speaking at the Scottish Epilepsy Centre, Mr FitzPatrick said:
“Around one million people in Scotland live with a neurological condition
ranging from common conditions such as migraines to life-limiting illnesses
such as Motor Neurone Disease.
“We recognise the scale, variety and context of neurological conditions and
how distressing they can be for the person with the condition and their
family. There are a number of challenges these can present the health and
social care system and much has been achieved and is being done to
address this, particularly through the integration of health and social care.
“This new plan will build on what is working well, while supporting those
responsible for providing care and support, and those planning services to
tackle the challenges.”
Alice Harper, Chief Executive of Quarriers said:
“The William Quarrier Scottish Epilepsy Centre welcomes the framework as
it will help people affected by epilepsy get the right support at the right time,
and receive the quality support they deserve.
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 9
"We share the values of the National Action Plan in promoting person-
centred health and social care in local communities as well as specialist
resources like the William Quarrier Scottish Epilepsy Centre which focus on
people living a life where their condition does not define them."
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 10
News: Grants to support
active, accessible travel
Could a local community group in your area - including
your Access Panel - benefit from a grant from Paths
for All’s ‘Open Fund’? This is a grant scheme under
the ‘Smarter Choices, Smarter Places’ programme
which aims to encourage ‘active travel’ - by which is
meant walking (and wheeling), cycling and also travel
by public transport.
The Fund has supported dozens of projects across Scotland including some
that have access and inclusion objectives. So for example, deafscotland
received an award to produce a video raising awareness among cyclists of
how to avoid conflict with deaf people, and Living Streets Edinburgh have an
award about removing ‘pavement clutter’. However, there is a lot more
scope for disability groups to access this funding to make local travel more
inclusive.
Grants are from £5k to £50k and can only be awarded for revenue projects -
so you can’t buy capital items such as vehicles or fund infrastructure
improvements such as fixing pavements. But it can fund research,
awareness-raising and ‘behaviour change’ campaigns. Match funding is
required - the grants only fund a maximum of 50% of total project costs - so
another funding partner is needed (almost all councils contribute to projects).
For guidance on the fund, how to apply and details of previously funded
projects, see:
https://www.pathsforall.org.uk/open-fund
David Hunter
Not for Profit Planning
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 11
News: Help us make breast cancer
screenings more accessible
While it is admirable that in Scotland people are screened for a
number of cancers on a regular basis, reports have shown us
that disabled people have been unable to access screenings for
a number of reasons. These include: inaccessible screening
venues, screening equipment that isn’t adaptable to the individual, and
screening being a distressing experience for people with learning disabilities.
Earlier this year we were told the experience of a women living with MS who
has twice been unable to undergo routine breast cancer screening as she is
unable to weight bear due to her MS. She continues to be regularly called
for screening despite no changes being made to how they administrator the
mammogram, they came to us at the MS Society looking for support to
make changes to the current system.
In July 2019 the Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing announced
a fundamental review of the Scottish Breast Screening Programme,
following an increased demand in the programme. We will be inputting to
this review to drastically improve the experience of people with MS when
undergoing breast cancer screening, particularly for those who cannot
weight bare.
Over 11,000 people live with MS in Scotland. It’s a chronic neurological
condition which can cause problems with how people walk, move, see, think
and feel. There are many more people in Scotland living with other
disabilities and long-term conditions who will be potentially impacted by the
lack of screening facilities for people who cannot weight bear. So, we’re
calling for other charities and organisations to join us in working together to
respond in a way that is mutually beneficial for the people we support.
Please get in touch if you’d like to be involved:
Heather Armstrong, Campaigns Coordinator, MS Society Scotland.
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 12
News: Scottish Learning Disability
Awards 2020
The Scottish Learning Disability Awards are hosted by the
Scottish Commission for Learning Disability (SCLD). The Awards
provide an opportunity to celebrate, on a national level, the rarely heard
stories and achievements of people with learning disabilities and the people
who support them. The Awards take place during Scottish Learning
Disability Week (18th - 24th May 2020).
The award categories for 2020 are:
• Community Champion
• Skills and Learning
• Social Enterprise
• Employee Recognition
• Creative Innovation
• Sport Achievement
• Family Carer and their
Relative
• Living your Best Life
There are three ways to nominate someone for the Scottish Learning
Disability Awards:
• Complete an online nomination form(s) by visiting the webpage of the
Award you wish to nominate someone for on the SCLD website
• Fill in a paper copy of a nomination form(s) and email or post it back to
SCLD
• Fill in an easy read version of a nomination form and email or post it
back to SCLD
To find out more about the Scottish Learning Disability Awards, visit our
webpage: https://www.scld.org.uk/learning-disability-week/learning-disability-
awards/
If you have any questions please phone 0141 248 3733 or email
[email protected] Nominations close on Monday 3 February 2020.
SCLD will get in touch with everyone who has nominated for an award
during the week of 23rd March 2020.
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 13
News: Social Inclusion in
Participatory Budgeting
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) is
working with local authorities towards the 1% Framework
Agreement for participatory budgeting. They will be hosting a
series of workshops in the new year which will focus on
overcoming barriers to participation during the design, decision making and
outcomes of Participatory Budgeting processes.
Outcomes from the workshops will be incorporated into national guidance for
local authorities working towards meeting the 1% agreement. To date three
workshops have been scheduled which will examine digital access,
accessible communication and access to processes or events.
• Monday 27 January (1-4pm), COSLA, Verity House,
Edinburgh: Jointly hosted with the Democratic Society, the Digital
Access and Inclusion session will discuss accessibility of
the CONSUL online decision-making platform. The session will also
discuss how digital engagement and literacy can be enhanced for
those at risk of digital exclusion owing to disability, age or health
factors.
• Monday 3 February (1-4pm), COSLA, Verity House, Edinburgh:
The Access for All session will explore how current participatory
processes fail to support those living with physical disabilities and
other complex needs to take part. Previous small grants PB activity
has focused upon hosting community events or meetings which may
be difficult for some to attend. This session will explore previous
experiences of engaging in participatory events and propose ways in
which access can be improved.
• Monday 10 February (1-4pm), COSLA, Verity House,
Edinburgh: The Communication for All session will explore how
participatory processes, and how they are communicated, can be
made more inclusive for those who face barriers to participation owing
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 14
to sensory impairment, learning disability, older age, disability or
stroke.
We would like to see as many members with lived experience attend
sessions to help us identify good practice in designing inclusive participatory
processes.
Workshop places are limited. If you would like to attend or invite members to
attend, please contact [email protected] for more information.
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 15
Weekly Poll Results: December
2019
The Weekly Poll is a simple YES/NO question published
each week on our Your Say on Disability website:
www.yoursayondisability.scot. There is also an opportunity
to leave a comment on the chosen topic.
Thank you to everyone who completed our Weekly Poll during the month of
December. Below is a summary of the questions that we asked:
Thistle Assistance - Week Beginning 25 November
Question: Have you heard about the Thistle Assistance Card?
Your feedback: Yes - 69% (167 respondents) No - 31% (76 respondents)
Your comments:
“The pavements, bus stops and some bus drivers are the problem.”
“The thistle card doesn’t make transport more accessible. Only
transformational change will.”
Read the Disability Equality Scotland briefing paper on our Your Say on
Disability website: www.yoursayondisability.scot/weekly-poll-results-thistle-
assistance-week-beginning-25-november/
General Election 2019 - Week Beginning 2 December Question: In the run-up to elections, do you think that political parties do
enough to make their manifestos available in accessible formats?
Your feedback: Yes - 15% (12 respondents) No - 85% (70 respondents)
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 16
Your comments:
“The manifestos should be available sooner to allow time to absorb the
information and so that organisations that analyse content for specific topics,
such as disability, can produce helpful summaries most relevant to my
concerns.”
“Have not received any accessible information (Braille) from any of the
Political Parties. Have requested same but received nothing. This has been
the state of play for about the last three General Elections – It is as if the
Vote of Disabled People is not important.”
Building Regulations - Week Beginning 9 December Question: Would you support a move in Scotland to adopt a similar building
regulations layout as England and Wales to make accessibility guidance
easier to find within the building regulations?
Your feedback: Yes - 85% (29 respondents) No – 15% (5 respondents)
Your comments:
“As a wheelchair user I despair of the Scottish regulations. I would like to
see a day when I could have an equal opportunity to visit shops, services
and friends without having to question whether or not the premises are truly
accessible.”
“Certainly not! There seems to be a lack of knowledge on the history of
building standards in Scotland, not regulations. In the 1990s there was a
concerted effort including substantial consultation that included disabled
people to integrate the accessibility part of the building standard.”
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 17
Consultation: Automated Vehicles
The Law Commissions have published
the second consultation paper in their
three-year review of the UK’s regulatory
framework for automated vehicles.
This paper looks at the regulation of self-driving vehicles which could travel
empty or only with passengers, without a human driver or user-in-charge.
They focus on self-driving vehicles providing mobility services to the public,
which are referred to as Highly Automated Road Passenger Services
(HARPS).
The paper builds on the work in the first consultation on safety assurance
and allocating legal responsibility.
We invite you to respond to the paper by 16 January 2020.
The Law Commissions have set up an online portal for submitting responses
but welcome input in any format. If you have ideas for consultation events or
would like a meeting, please get in touch.
The consultation paper, summary and details for how to respond are
available on the Law Commission project page at
https://www.lawcom.gov.uk/project/automated-vehicles/
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 18
Consultation: Proposed Disabled
Children and Young People
(Transitions)(Scotland) Bill
This is a consultation on a draft proposal for a Bill to improve the outcomes
for children and young people with a disability in the transition to adulthood.
This requires the Scottish Government to implement a national strategy and
requires local authorities to prepare and deliver a transition plan for each
disabled child.
This consultation document sets out the case for introducing statutory duties
to ensure that a higher proportion of disabled children and young people
have positive transitions which help them to access their rights, fulfil their
ambitions and make the most of their lives. The consultation seeks your
views on whether or not you believe these proposed new legal duties will
make a positive difference to the lives of disabled children and young
people.
At age 16, the aspirations of disabled and non-disabled young people are
broadly the same. By 26, however, disabled people are more likely to be out
of work than their non-disabled peers, and are three-times more likely to feel
hopeless and to agree that ‘‘Whatever I do has no real effect on what
happens to me”. Young disabled people deserve the chance and support to
realise their dreams.
Full details, including the consultation document and a copy of the proposed Bill, can be accessed at:
https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/Bills/113161.aspx
The consultation will run until 22 January 2020
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 19
Consultation:
Housing to 2040
Housing has a vital role to play in meeting many of our ambitions for
Scotland, including eradicating child poverty and homelessness, ending fuel
poverty, tackling the effects of climate change and promoting inclusive
growth.
The Scottish Government’s ambition is that everyone in Scotland should live
in high quality, energy efficient homes that are affordable and that meet their
needs. We also want to ensure we have a housing system that is dynamic
and resilient enough to respond to future changes and can help to address
the number of challenges we are facing, including an ageing population and
a global climate emergency.
In our 2019-2020 Programme for Government, we reaffirmed our
commitment to plan together with stakeholders for how our homes and
communities should look and feel in 2040 and the options and choices to get
there. Now is the time to reimagine our housing system, and to do that, we
want to continue to build on the collective wisdom and expertise from across
the wide and varied housing sector and from communities across Scotland.
We want to hear people’s views on our draft vision and principles for 2040
and their ideas for how to make them a reality.
Draft vision and principles for 2040
• documents setting out the Scottish Government’s draft vision and principles for 2040
Housing to 2040 consultation
• an open letter to stakeholders setting out how they can engage with the Housing to 2040 consultation
• the consultation portal where you can submit your views and ideas for Housing to 2040
• details of the ‘Present Voices, Future Lives’ housing exhibition and programme schedule
• A step-by-step guide to running your own Housing to 2040 consultation event or workshop
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 20
We are hosting stakeholder engagement events as part of our consultation.
These will give delegates a chance to hear from Scottish Government
officials about Housing to 2040 and to share their views.
• Airdrie 15 January 2020 • Dumfries 24 January • Aberdeen 27 January • Glasgow 5 February • Crieff 11 February • Edinburgh 17 February
We are also hosting the following events for social tenants and landlords, and for those involved in the private rented sector.
• Social Tenants and Landlords Event (Glasgow) 5 February
• Private Rented Sector Event (Edinburgh) 25 February
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 21
Accessible Travel Hub
www.accessibletravel.scot The Accessible Travel Hub is a website for
you to find information, articles and
guidance on Accessible Travel in
Scotland. The Hub launched alongside the
Accessible Travel Framework, a ten-year
plan by Transport Scotland to improve
travel access for disabled people.
What Can I Find on the Hub?
• Articles and Information on accessible transport in Scotland;
including the rules and responsibilities of transport providers.
• Dedicated Transport Mode page for Transport providers
/operators to promote good practice in access-related work.
• Links to resources, including; PAMIS’ map of Changing Places
toilets, Radar keys, Thistle Cards, Traveline Scotland, Hate
Crime Reporting.
• Signpost to relevant training courses, including disability
awareness and inclusive communication.
• News and blog featuring up to date accessible travel news in
Scotland.
Latest News and Blog Posts
• Engineering Works In Edinburgh Friday 27 and Sunday 29 December
• Thistle Assistance: A little extra help from A to B
• Disability Equality Scotland Launch Hate Crime Charter Pilot
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 22
Thistle Assistance: A little extra
help from A to B
Calling all travellers! Thistle Assistance has officially
launched its brand-new look with a newly- designed
Thistle Assistance card, app and website to help make
travelling by public transport in Scotland more
comfortable and accessible for everyone.
Thistle Assistance is all about helping to relieve travel anxiety and
encouraging people to feel confident when using different forms of public
transport across Scotland. Anxiety UK found that ‘the main causes reported
of anxiety whilst travelling were the behaviour and attitudes of other people,
and difficulties finding the way, including the fear of being lost’. The Thistle
Assistance card and app seek to ease these feelings of anxiousness and get
more people out and about.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Michael
Matheson said:
“I’m pleased we have been able to provide £30,000 to support SEStran in
refreshing the Thistle Assistance brand.
“Thistle Assistance helps to deliver on the vision outlined in our Accessible
Travel Framework, that every disabled person in Scotland can travel with the
same freedom, choice, dignity and opportunity as other citizens.
“This was a priority area for us in our annual delivery plan to improve
accessible travel and I’m sure that users right across Scotland will benefit
from the additional features and information now available through Thistle
Assistance.”
Members of the public who request a free Thistle Assistance card will
receive an information leaflet with the card and icon stickers to place on the
back of the card indicating what assistance they may need while travelling.
The app follows the same format as the physical card and can be
downloaded for free from all online app stores.
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 23
Research for the card and app brought to light people’s experiences of travel
and the obstacles they face. These included challenges for visually impaired
travellers with wide and steep gaps between trains and platforms, as well as
difficulty reading departure screens at bus and train stations. Thistle
Assistance aims to improve the journey experience for those who require
extra assistance as they travel around Scotland.
One card user commented, “I find the Thistle Assistance card is an easy
way to ask for help without making a song and dance about it. It just
discreetly informs a member of transport staff what I need, whether that’s
assistance getting off the train or letting me know when it’s my stop. The
card’s always in my wallet now so it gives me peace of mind when I travel.”
Thistle Assistance’s brand-new website (www.thistleassistance.com) is
complemented by dedicated social media pages to engage with and learn
from people who use the card and app to help make transport accessible to
all.
Thistle Assistance is a key component of transport strategy in Scotland and
delivers on the Scottish Government’s ambition to have an inclusive and
accessible transport system. SEStran and the six other Regional Transport
Partnerships, Disability Equality Scotland, Transport Scotland and transport
operators are all working towards this ambition.
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 24
News: Scottish Transport
Awards 2020 Open for
Nominations!
We are excited to be working with the Transport Times to sponsor next
year’s Scottish Transport Awards!
We will be presenting the Excellence in Transport Accessibility award. An
entry in this category covers projects or initiatives that can demonstrate
improved access to travel or the travel experience for disabled people.
The Transport Times will be looking for entries which highlight innovation,
the extent to which the proposer has sought to build upon learning through
engagement with disabled people, positive team or partnership
collaboration, and the extent to which they benefit disabled people who are
in hard-to-reach groups.
Key dates:
Entry Submissions Page Opens 1 Nov 2019
Entry Deadline: 14 Feb 2020
Shortlist Announced: Late March/Early April 2020
Awards Ceremony: 11 June 2020
How to take part
To submit an entry for the Awards, visit the Transport Times website:
https://www.transporttimes.co.uk/awards.php/Scottish-Transport-Awards-3/
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 25
Inclusive Communication Hub
www.inclusivecommunication.scot Supported by the Scottish Government,
we are working with Sense Scotland
and other partners to host the Inclusive
Communication Hub; a website that has
been developed for anyone with an
interest in improving their inclusive
communication tools and processes.
What Is Inclusive Communication?
Inclusive communication means sharing information in a way that everyone
can understand. For service providers, it means making sure that you
recognise that people understand and express themselves in different ways.
For people who use services, it means getting information and expressing
themselves in ways that meet their needs. Throughout this Hub you will find
helpful resources such as case studies and blogs from employers and
individuals; details of training and the latest news on Inclusive
Communication.
Latest Blog Post: Political Parties Must Do More to Produce
Information in Accessible Formats
In the latest poll by Disability Equality Scotland, the majority of respondents
(85%) felt that political parties do not do enough to make their manifestos
available in accessible formats.
A manifesto is a publication issued by a political party before a General
Election. It contains the set of policies that the party stands for and would
wish to implement if elected to govern.
The Electoral Commission published a report entitled "Elections for
Everyone", which highlights the challenges disabled people face during an
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 26
election and what improvements can be made to make elections more
inclusive and accessible for all.
The report recommends that when political parties publish their manifestos,
they should make sure accessible formats are available at the same time.
Examples of accessible formats include: Easy Read, Audio, BSL, Braille,
Clear Print, Plain Text.
However, the recent poll by Disability Equality Scotland highlights that far
more must be done by political parties to ensure they are producing
information that is available in a format that is accessible and engages with
disabled voters.
A summary of the poll can be found on the Inclusive Communication Hub:
www.inclusivecommunication.scot/political-parties-must-do-more-to-
produce-information-in-accessible-formats
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 27
Easy Read Service
Disability Equality Scotland provide a professional and
efficient Easy Read service to all sectors, as part of our
commitment towards improving access to information
for all.
What is Easy Read? Easy Read is an accessible format that makes written information easier to
understand. The Easy Read format is easy to understand because it uses
simple, jargon free language, shorter sentences and supporting images.
Why produce Easy Read documents? Easy Read documents make information more accessible to people with
learning disabilities. They can also be useful for people with other
communication difficulties including:
• acquired brain injury
• dyslexia
• people with hearing impairment whose first language is British Sign Language (BSL)
• people who do not speak English as their first language
• people who find reading difficult
• people with cognitive impairments such as dementia.
The Equality Act The Equality Act (2010) requires organisations to produce information in an
accessible format. Easy Read can ensure that disabled people have equal
access to information and are not discriminated against.
Who do I contact? For more information about our Easy Read service, including examples of
our work, please visit our website: www.easyread.scot
You can also contact us by telephone: 0141 370 0968
or email: [email protected]
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 28
Your Membership Matters
Below is a reminder of what we offer our members. If you would like to find
out more then please contact us.
Support and Signposting We answer many member enquiries and signpost them to the appropriate
organisation, individual or information source.
Networking Opportunities We make introductions to key decision makers and contacts and make sure
members have frequent opportunities to meet and network with relevant
audiences. We help members make the right connections.
Your views, experiences, and expertise All our policy is formulated directly from our member’s views, experiences,
and expertise. We believe that our members are the experts.
We respond to all relevant Scottish Government, parliamentary, think tank
and other consultations. We regularly ask our members for their views on
many diverse policy issues which then directly feeds into our policy work and
government consultation responses.
Information Leaflets We provide information leaflets on the projects we are working on. You will
receive a copy of our leaflets in your Members Welcome Pack. If you
require any additional copies, please call the office to request this or
alternatively they can be downloaded from our website.
Issue 25 December 2019 Page 29
Our Sponsors Disability Equality Scotland is grateful for the generosity of its sponsors and their ongoing support as we work together toward achieving the goals of the organisation.
Disability Equality Scotland is funded by:
Connect with us... Disability Equality Scotland @DEScotTweets
Copyright © 2019 Disability Equality Scotland, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
Suite 204B, The Pentagon Centre, 36 Washington Street, Glasgow, G3 8AZ
Tel: 01259 272064, Email: [email protected]
Website: www.disabilityequality.scot