Communication Inclusion People

helping organisations communicate in inclusive ways

About us

Our mission is to work with others to create communication equity through universal adoption of inclusive communication best practice.

Executive Directors

Kim Hartley Kean – BSc (Hons), Reg. RCSLT, Reg. HCPC, MBA

Designation

Hello! I set up Communication Inclusion People to pursue a dream of communication equity through universal adoption of inclusive communication good practice. Please contact us in the way you find easiest if you have the same dream! Click on our contact page for details.

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Kim Hartley Kean

I have
• a Bachelor of Science honours degree (BSc Hons) in speech sciences and
• a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA)

I am
• a registered Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) and
• a member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT).

I have dedicated my 36-year career to preventing or overcoming communication exclusion. My experience includes –

12 years as a Speech and Language Therapist in health and social care teams working for children with additional support needs and adults with learning disability.

I designed and delivered an innovative “Better Health through Better Communication” Project in the 1990s.

20 years as Head of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists in Scotland. I secured

• investment, policy and the first UK law to mention inclusive communication.
• investment, law to ensure provision of communication aids and support to anyone with a need.
• cross party and government commitment to regulation on inclusive communication
• collaboration with the Centre for Youth Justice to highlight communication disadvantage experienced by most young people involved in the justice system
• understanding of the intergenerational cycle of communication disadvantage; it’s links with poverty, health and wellbeing and return on public investment.

Project designer and adviser for several inclusive communication Scottish Government and UK wide collaborative projects focused on

• civic participation on people who communicate in different ways
• developing national inclusive communication good practice principles,organisational development on public bodies via provision of training and guidelines
• Adult Support and Protection inclusive practice

2 years as Expert Advisor to Social Security Scotland on inclusive communication.

I am an invited author of a chapter inclusive communication environments for a book on best practice for children and young people. 

I have learned from this experience and an MBA, what helps and gets in the way of organisational change.

I bring leadership, knowledge, skills, experience and unerring passion to our mission of communication equity.

susan-munro

Susan Munro – BSc (Hons), Reg. RCSLT, Reg. HCPC, MSc

The way we communicate is part of our identity and involvement in decisions that affect our lives is a human right. People who communicate differently are often disadvantaged in our society. They are excluded from activities peers take for granted and have fewer opportunities to have their voice heard. As such, communication disadvantage is an equality issue as well as a disability issue.

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Susan Munro

The way we communicate is part of our identity and involvement in decisions that affect our lives is a human right. People who communicate differently are often disadvantaged in our society. They are excluded from activities peers take for granted and have fewer opportunities to have their voice heard. As such, communication disadvantage is an equality issue as well as a disability issue.

I am a Speech and Language Therapist and have worked in NHS services for 30 years. This has enabled me to work closely with a wide range of people who communicate differently. In this role, I have worked hard to promote and enable good inclusive communication practice in teams and services. Together, we have created places where communication difference is accepted and supported. This has helped many people gain more control over their lives. 

I am excited to be a Director at Communication Inclusion People working with others who share my vision. With our knowledge, skills and lived experience we can make meaningful change and improve lives.


Co-producers

Alan

Alan

Designation

I feel that communication inclusion would help organisations understand that just because I cannot communicate verbally does not mean I lack the capacity to think and make decisions for myself.

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Alan

As a lifelong AAC user I have many experiences and situations where i have been excluded because of my communication method.  From times as a child being unable to communicate with my friends to more recently where I was unable to pay my electricity bill over the phone.  The operator felt I needed to provide a capacity document. I feel that communication inclusion would help organisations understand that just because I cannot communicate verbally does not mean I lack the capacity to think and make decisions for myself.

Jill-Clark

Jill Clark

Designation

I feel very strongly that everyone should be included in everything and it is everyone has the Right to speak and to be heard.   

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Jill Clark

Communication to me is the key to everything. I always say without communication we won’t get everywhere in life.  I feel very strongly that everyone should be included in everything and it is everyone has the Right to speak and to be heard.   I have been using AAC for all of my life. with my AAC devices I was able and still able to work, to study, to campaign, to do public speaking, to write and most of all my AAC devices has given and still gives me the greatest gift of all, to be able to communicate to the world and to express  myself as a person

Lisa

Lisa

Designation

I’m still going through a lot of communication barriers just now and I do not want to see the next generation go through these annoying barriers.  
 
I’m involved with Communication Inclusion People to highlight what works and what doesn’t work so it makes it easier for people.  

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Lisa

I have ongoing communication challenges in my own life and get annoyed and frustrated. 
 
I’ve got a job and am involved in lots of campaigns.   For the reasons of being someone who knows about support needs and communication challenges myself.  
 
Because of communication barriers and health issues it is hard getting back into a job.  
 
I’m still going through a lot of communication barriers just now and I do not want to see the next generation go through these annoying barriers.  
 
I’m involved with Communication Inclusion People to highlight what works and what doesn’t work so it makes it easier for people.

Marion-Burns

Marion Burns

Designation

I am very happy to share my years of experience of being a person who has had many situations where people don’t interact with me. I can also share some positive experiences when people interact with me well. I’m interested in finding solutions.  

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Mario Burns

Everybody who has communication difficulties has the right to be understood.  We have to be listened to and people to understand our communication.  For me if people used inclusive communication it would mean less frustration in my day to day life.  I’m a really passionate person who wants the best for people.  I am very happy to share my years of experience of being a person who has had many situations where people don’t interact with me.  I can also share some positive experiences when people interact with me well. I’m interested in finding solutions.  

Sarah-Gardiner

Sarah Gardiner

Designation

I want people to use inclusive communication because it allows for a more equitable society. To understand that everyone has the right to communicate in a way that they feel comfortable, and to provide this,would give every person the same chances.

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Sarah Gardiner 

I want people to use inclusive communication because it allows for a more equitable society. To understand that everyone has the right to communicate in a way that they feel comfortable, and to provide this,would give every person the same chances. I have detailed knowledge of neurodiversity, and knowledge to share of practical ways to support people of all ages.   As a parent I feel that every child has the chance to change the world but without equity in communication some children won’t be able to fulfil their potential. Let’s change that! 

Associates

Jan-Anderson

Jan Anderson 

Designation

I bring passion, commitment, specialist skills and many years of diverse experience to the team.

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Jan Anderson 

I bring passion, commitment, specialist skills and many years of diverse experience to the team and our Communication Equity mission. I have worked with people with a wide range of neurological conditions, people who stammer, women offenders and students, in the voluntary sector, criminal justice and higher education. I have developed resources, delivered training, facilitated groups and presented at international conferences. 

Hayley-Morake

Hayley Morake

Designation

I bring a passion for inclusive communication environments and neurodiversity. I have a professional interest in speech language and communication needs within the children’s justice system. 

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Hayley Morake

I bring a passion for inclusive communication environments and neurodiversity. I have a a professional interest in speech language and communication needs within the children’s justice system. I have experience training staff working in education. Also helping to make to make sure their school and classrooms are communication inclusive. I have also give training in neurodivergent differences to parents and professionals. I believe every environment should be inclusive for all with communication differences. We all experience times in our lives when we need a bit of support and patience to communicate. Sometimes it might be from having some brain fog that day. Or going through something which has made communication harder. Or that we just communicate differently. I want to share the message that accessible information should be the expected standard. What is the point in sharing information if not everyone can access it?

Michele-Raine

Michele Raine

Designation

I believe that the right to communicate is a basic human right. I have had the privilege of working with many people who communicate differently. Inclusive communication moves us closer to realising this right for all.

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Michele Raine 

I have a BSc in Speech and Communication Sciences. I have worked as a Speech and Language Therapist in Scotland and Australia. This has been in the public and private sectors.

I now work for a charity supporting adults with learning disability.  We support them to develop and use their skills as artists and makers.  They create diverse and quality art for sale and for exhibitions, locally and nationally.  

I believe that the right to communicate is a basic human right.  I have had the privilege of working with many people who communicate differently.  Inclusive communication moves us closer to realising this right for all.

I bring a deep desire for equity, years of experience, and meticulous research skills to the team.

Non-Executive Directors

Alasdair-McKinlay

Alasdair McKinlay

Designation

It’s important that all organisations in the private and public sectors understand the communication needs of all their staff and customers. Too many people are excluded just now because their needs are overlooked. 

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Alasdair McKinlay

I am really pleased to have joined Communication Inclusion People as a non executive board member. I recently retired as a civil servant. I worked as a civil servant in Scotland for 30 years. Most of the jobs I did were about helping people and communities to help themselves and each other. Most of this was focused on places and people who faced poverty and discrimination. 
 
I believe that everyone should be able to get the information they need to make their lives better in ways that suit them.  It’s important that all organisations in the private and public sectors understand the communication needs of all their staff and customers. Too many people are excluded just now because their needs are overlooked.  That is why inclusive communication is so important. My own preferred communication style is talking and listening. I’ve always struggled with reading.

As a board member I look forward to helping Communication Inclusion People tackle communication exclusion.

Nicky-Neilson

Nicky Neilson

Designation

I am passionate about helping others grow and making a positive impact. To me, including everyone in communication is key to achieving these goals. 

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Nicky Neilson 

I believe in fairness for everyone and that each person should have the chance to achieve their dreams. 

I am passionate about helping others grow and making a positive impact. To me, including everyone in communication is key to achieving these goals. 

By working together with people from all walks of life, I aim to create a world where we respect and value each other’s unique ways of connecting.

Amanda Bennett

Designation

As co-founder of Communication Inclusion People I believe passionately that the concept of inclusion needs to include communication difference. For me communication is a political issue.  If we want equity and inclusion this includes the way people communicate.

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Amanda Bennett 

I have experience of developing and managing local, national and international projects. I have worked in the public, private and third sectors in health and health improvement, youth work and education, qualitative research and television and radio. Since 2007 I have campaigned for the adoption of inclusive communication across Scotland for the benefit of everyone. I am proud to be co-founder of Communication Inclusion People and to continue to support its mission in my present role as non-executive Director.