Supporting people with sight loss – inclusive practice factsheet February 2025
“I am confident, I ask for help and use apps and tools. But I still miss out and feel left out when information which is just on paper and online information isn’t screen readable.” (Coproducer with sight loss who uses Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership services, 2024)
We were funded to co-produce a factsheet to challenge these barriers.
The factsheet helps staff to understand and meet the needs of everyone with sight loss.
It pulls everything together in one place –
- What law and policy say services should do
- Challenges accessing services
- What you can do – inclusive communication good practice
- When you are interacting with people with sight loss
- Links to information and support
You can download it free at
https://www.edinburghhsc.scot/livingwithadisability/sightlossfactsheet/
Supporting people with hearing loss – inclusive practice factsheet
February 2025
“My hearing loss is not taken seriously. It’s stressful. I carry all the weight. I continually need to tell them what I need. They ask me to do things I can’t do.” (Co-producer with hearing loss who uses Edinburgh Health and Social Care services, 2024)
We were funded to co-produce a factsheet to challenge these barriers.
The factsheet helps staff to understand and meet the needs of everyone with hearing loss.
It pulls everything together in one place –
- What law and policy say services should do
- Challenges accessing services
- What you can do – inclusive communication good practice
- When you are interacting with people with hearing loss
- Links to information and support
You can download it free at
https://www.edinburghhsc.scot/livingwithadisability/hearinglossfactsheet/
Scottish Government: Refreshed Leadership Behaviour Framework – Inclusive Communication Check
We applaud Scottish Government for recognising inclusive communication is for everyone in the team – leaders included. And then acting on that knowledge.
Our work involved –
- reviewing the document with staff who communicate in different ways,
- giving advice on the inclusivity of the language in thedocument and how to improve its communication accessibility overall.
The sustainable outcomes are
- Scottish Government colleagues have a clearer understanding of what communication inclusive documents looks like and who values them.
- A much more inclusive Leadership Behaviour Framework developed by the Scottish Government team themselves.
Review of staff education materials on sensory impairment
NHS Education Scotland said
“NHS Education Scotland makes sure staff know what the need to know to provide good services.
Our co-producers with sensory loss and experts
- checked their information on communicating with people with sight or hearing loss and
- gave advice on how to bring it up to date.
NHS Education Scotland are using our advice to update their educational materials.
Well done NHS Education Scotland!”
March 2024
Widening Social Enterprise Scotland reach with Inclusive Communication
After received our workshop, help to self-audit and a bespoke inclusive communication action plan Chris Martin, Chief Executive Officer, Social Enterprise Scotland said
“We are delighted with the training delivered by Communication Inclusion People. Your approach was engaging, and I noticed everyone felt included and empowered throughout the sessions.
We have noticed a positive change in the practical way we communicate as an organisation. The training has enhanced our team’s confidence in inclusive communication practices, leading to more effective and meaningful interactions. It has also reinforced our commitment to creating an inclusive environment for everyone we work with.
We wholeheartedly recommend Communication Inclusion People to other organisations. Their training is an invaluable resource for any team aiming to improve their communication practices.”
November 2024
Reach more people with communication inclusive events workshop
Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network
Watch Steve Lawrence, Chief Executive Officer talk about his experience of the workshop, it’s impact and recommendations.
September 2024
Place Standard Inclusive Communication Toolkit
We designed and co-produced this national toolkit to enable wider engagement in public consultations about Place.
Watch to find out more
See the toolkit here
Co-Producer on the Place Standard Inclusive Communication Toolkit Project said
“Working with Communication Inclusion People on the Place Standards Tool Kit has been an absolute pleasure. From start to finish you ensured that the working environments was warm and friendly. You took time to ensure that all aspects of needs were thought about and made prompt changes if anything needed to be adapted. From a co-producer perspective, I felt valued and included in all aspects of the work. Your passion and enthusiasm to get it right really shone through. I very much hope to work with you again in the future.”
Emma Pauley
Owner of Emma Pauley Co-Production
September 2022
Communication Inclusive Vintage Vibes
We provided a co-produced learning workshop for the whole Vintage Vibes team. They identified how they could be more inclusive. We put these improvement ideas into an doable action plan.
Cara Targett-Ness, Friendships Coordinator at Vintage Vibes said –
“We are aware of the importance of inclusive communication. The workshop from Communication Inclusion People helped us acknowledge what we already do well and gave us some useful ideas to take forward and build upon.”
September 2024
Inclusive Communication awareness raising for Planning Aid Scotland (PAS) staff team
This workshop introduced the staff team to inclusive communication and helped them identify ways of making their online and other communications more communication inclusive.
Elaine Mowat, Operations manager, PAS said
“Your workshop with our staff team was incredibly helpful. Both very informative and practical AND very inspiring and invigorating. There is lots for us to take forward, and it’s so helpful to have your very concrete advice and examples.
We really appreciate the time you took to consider our questions so carefully and to prepare the slides.”
September 2022
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Me
Two day workshop for Social Research Association’s staff team. The aim was to increase understanding and confidence. Together we identified practical inclusive communication action for each staff member to take.
Tom Yeadon, Operations Manager said:
“We enjoyed working with the team at Communication Inclusion People and were impressed by their practical expertise. They gave us insight into how we could make small, deliverable changes in how we communicate, which we hope will help more people engage with our offerings. Working with Kim and Amanda also opened conversations about bigger ideas which we previously hadn’t considered, and we see it as a useful step on our journey towards being a more inclusive organisation.”
November 2023
EASTBIO Doctoral Training Programme, University of Edinburgh
Co-developed, piloted, and presented an inclusive communication workshop for 100 UK Research and Innovation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council funded students and their supervisors.
Maria Filipakopoulou, EASTBIO Doctoral Training Programme Manager said
“It has been a joy and a revelation to work with the Communication Inclusion People team… workshop participants commented on the unreserved benefits for themselves .. . but also for their subsequent approach to working in research inclusively …..The team responded with a quick and enthusiastic willingness to address the remit and to help the Doctoral Training Programme Training and Development committee to explore the scope for a Programme audit in terms of Inclusive Communication and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion more general.”
June 2023-March 2024
Meeting the Communication Needs and Preferences of Neurodivergent People workshop for National Autism Implementation Team
This co-produced and co-presented, online workshop aimed to provide up to date and practical steps which facilitate positive and accessible communication experiences for neurodivergent people in healthcare. 33 professionals from Scottish local and national health services and Government attended the session.
- 100% of rated overall content as “excellent” (78%) or “good” (22%).
- 100% of respondents reported content to be “relevant to their work”.
May 2023
Inclusive Communication workshop for staff and trustees at Empty Kitchens Full Hearts
The workshop outlined a strategic framework and practical advice on inclusive communication.
Martin Clarke Executive Team – Governance & People said:
“Sincere gratitude for this insightful and engaging presentation on inclusive communication. Your expertise and passion for this topic were evident from the start. The emphasis on empathy, understanding, and respect resonated deeply with our own values. We are confident that the skills and knowledge we gained will enable us to better serve our community and create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all.”
November 2023
Place Standard Climate Change Lens workshop
This workshop showed climate change practitioners how to communicate complex concepts in a communication inclusive way. The workshop influenced development of New! – Place Standard with a Climate Lens | Our Place
Workshop participant said
“I have already recommended to colleagues and others. Time well spent! Thank you.”
August 2022