Disability Working Group
Satellite Group 3 Meeting Note 23 June 2005
Group 3 - communication; consultation; education and training; citizenship; disability equality training; public attitudes.
Attendance:
Lionel Long, Update (acting Chair)
Claire Keggie, Scottish Executive: Student Inclusion and Access
Vikki Milne, Scottish Executive: Civic Participation Research
Karen Martin, Scottish Executive: Civic Participation Policy
Sandra Manning, Scottish Executive: Additional Support Needs
Euan Page, Disability Rights Commission
Sheila Williams, Capability Scotland
Stuart Aitken, Sense Scotland
Kate Wallace,
SAMH
Margaret Hurcombe, Scottish Accessible Information Forum
Graeme Bryce, Scottish Executive: Equality Unit
Apologies received from:
Christopher Crockett, Inclusion Scotland
Lilian Lawson, Scottish Council on Deafness
Introduction
1. Lionel had agreed to Chair the meeting in Christopher's absence. He welcomed the group members to the second of the satellite group 3 meetings. Those attending introduced themselves and said a little about their areas of interest.
2. The agenda for the meeting was to consider and discuss a number of background papers which had been provided in advance and then to agree a way of working towards developing recommendations.
Background papers and discussion of issues
Consultation and communication
3. Vikki introduced a paper on civic participation. There was some discussion about how best to ensure that information could reach appropriate audiences in the right formats and with sufficient time to respond. Vikki commented that the Executive often tried to make contact with key groups prior to the launch of consultation to ensure that links are made and an understanding of the needs of particular groups is built in from the start. Euan noted that the approach of the Working Group on Hate Crime was a good example of how to engage with hard to reach target groups.
4. Margaret spoke about the Scottish Accessible Information Forum's standards for accessible information. The group considered that it might want to promote these or to consider them further. It was noted that there could be practical difficulties when it came to converting large complex documents into alternative formats and that at times it could be difficult finding organisations who would take this on.
5. Stuart was interested in exploring what might be done to make it easier to use visual and other material rather than text as a means of communication. However, data protection issues and the need for consent to the use of photographs and videos meant that this was sometimes difficult. Sense Scotland had been developing work in this area which the group might want to consider further.
6. Stuart commented that the Copyright (Visually Impaired Persons) Act 2002 made it easier for blind and visually impaired people to access printed material but that other print disabled people were not covered by the Act - for example those with dyslexia or learning disabilities.
7. It was noted that other organisations were also considering communication. Stuart agreed to find out what the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists might be doing and Graeme agreed to find out what was happening in the Scottish Parliament.
Education and training
8. Papers had been provided from the Scottish Executive outlining legislative and policy developments in education and training.
9. There was some discussion about the extent of disability awareness amongst staff in educational institutions. There was concern that disability was often seen as the responsibility of one person in the institution rather than the responsibility of all staff. It was considered that HMIE might have a role in assessing staff awareness of disability across schools and further and higher education institutions. Disability equality training within schools and further and higher education institutions was also considered important, particular when targeted at head teachers and those in a position to set the tone for the institution.
10. The group discussed the importance of transitional arrangements from school to post school and were concerned that at this key time disabled young people were often not seen as citizens and failed to get the support they needed. Claire commented that the Executive's 'Partnership Matters' approach was beginning to address this. Widening access to further education was also a key priority for the Executive and a consultation on this had been launched the previous day.
Citizenship and Attitudes
11. The group spent some time discussing 'citizenship'. The group considered that if they wanted to refer to this in their recommendations they would need to define it. Sally's paper helped, with its focus on choices, rights, responsibilities and participation. But it was also important to be straightforward and to focus recommendations on the practical issues which will make a difference. It was suggested that citizenship might underpin everything the working group was doing and would provide a point of reference to check recommendations against.
12. The group stopped short of agreeing a definition of citizenship but agreed that there were certain key underlying principles - choices, rights, responsibilities and participation. The group would consider further whether to include a paragraph or a statement about citizenship to introduce or underpin its recommendations. Euan agreed to circulate a paper by Jenny Morris which might help understanding of disability and citizenship.
Planning future meetings
13. The group had three further meetings and would focus these on - consultation and communication, education and training, citizenship and attitudes.
14. The group wished to have for each meeting a table with 4 columns setting out - what needed to be done, who was responsible for doing it, how it might done, and whether anything was happening at present. The first 3 columns would be completed by satellite group members and the last by the Executive.
15. In preparation for the next meeting (24 August) a table would be circulated to group members to be completed and returned to the Executive by 19 July. This table would include all the potential action points suggested in the papers which had been distributed for the 23 June meeting. Group members would comment on these and would also add their own suggestions. The Equality Unit would then complete the table with details of what the Executive was already doing in the areas identified by group members.
16. Lionel agreed to report back to the Core Group meeting on 19 July.
Action points
- Euan to send the Jenny Morris paper to Graeme to distribute
- Stuart to approach the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists to determine what they are doing on consultation and communication and Graeme to find out what the Scottish Parliament might be doing.
- Graeme to circulate note of meeting and table for completion.
- Satellite Group members to complete table and return to Graeme by 19 July.