More than 200 gathered at Holyrood

Organisations and campaigners staged a gathering outside the Scotttish Parliament to highlight legislative failure to support those with extra communication needs.

More than 200 organisations and individuals today (4 September) took their case for legal change to the heart of government.  

Signatories from organisations representing people with communication support needs – and individuals who have struggled – highlighted that inclusive communication isn't a luxury, but a gateway to human rights.   

Research earlier this year from the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (Alliance), highlighted that public bodies across Scotland provide a postcode lottery of support for people, and often do not track requests for help or provide training for staff.  

Many national organisations have backed the Alliance’s More than Words campaign to ensure people aren’t left behind because society doesn’t accommodate their needs.

 This includes Deafblind Scotland, RNIB, NDCS, RNID, the Scottish Assembly, Quarriers, Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance, Values into Action Scotland, SUSE, Sign Language Interactions, Little Signs Ltd., Passion4Social CIC, and Forth Valley Sensory Centre.  

The campaign is also backed by individuals who are Deaf, Deafblind, have visual impairments, or have learning difficulties, among others – many of whom will be at Scottish Parliament to call for change.   

The Alliance and campaign supporters are asking the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament to put together the pieces – represented by a large jigsaw – and ensure public recognition that equal communication is a right, legislation to protect those rights, better training and data collection, and monitoring.  

Dr Hannah Tweed, who led the research and campaign for the Alliance, said: “Most of us will need communication support at some point in our lifetimes. However, because there is a lack of good support, people often encounter problems. We’ve heard countless stories of people unable to access health and social care when they need it, attend education or work, and participate in society.  

“Communication for all means sharing information in a way that everybody can understand. It includes all forms of communication – written, online, phone calls, and face to face. Inclusive communication is a gateway to accessing all our human rights.”  

Although both the Equality Act 2010 and the BSL (Scotland) Act 2015 offer useful protections, currently people in Scotland do not have a clear legal right to inclusive communication. This leads to a postcode lottery when it comes to communication support, and significant inequalities for people.   

“That’s why we need equal rights to communication enshrined in law, and that right become second nature to public bodies, whether it’s staff training or support services front and centre. Without strong legal protection for people’s right to inclusive communication, Scotland is unlikely to see systemic change,” added Tweed.