Guidance on providing community care services for people with a sensory impairment was published by the Scottish Government in April 2007 and funding allocated for training materials, informed by people with sensory impairment, to address the need for basic training in communication tactics for front line community care staff.
The Scottish Government plans to develop, in partnership with statutory and voluntary organisations, a model of service that will deliver across all areas of sensory impairment and provide service users a wider range of appropriate services and information at a local level. It will look to move audiology and ophthalmic services away from the traditional NHS services, such as GP's surgeries and hospitals, reducing pressures on the NHS.
Alternative and Augmentative Communication
Following an approach from the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, the Scottish Government set up a short life working group to consider the current provision of Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) which will report to the Minister for Public Health. Scottish Government officials, local government colleagues, speech and language therapists and AAC users are represented on the group.
A survey was sent to a number of interested parties throughout Scotland in January 2009 seeking information on current AAC services.