Members and membership
The Scottish Accessible Information Forum (SAIF) is always interested in hearing from potential new members. SAIF is an advisory group promoting accessible information provision for disabled people and their carers throughout Scotland.
Direct experience
As a group dealing with issues affecting disabled people and their carers, it is a priority that the majority of members have direct experience of disability. We therefore strongly encourage the participation of disabled people. To support this, we provide all our material in members preferred format, organise any aids/adaptations for meetings and will pay members and their personal assistants expenses for travel and accommodation when required.
As well as being on the full SAIF advisory body, members are encouraged to be part of one or more working groups which work with the SAIF project staff to develop the SAIF objectives.
Members of Scottish Accessible Information Forum
Ben Forsyth (Chairperson)
Welfare rights officer at Midlothian Council.
Jean Dunlop (Vice-Chairperson)
Chairperson at Facilitating Access Breaking Barriers (FABB) Scotland.
Jean Alcock
Runs 'Jean Alcock Research & Consultancy Services' (JARCS) and has 20 years experience of disability issues.
David Armstrong
David has 10 years experience in the publishing industry and is now a Planning and Distribution Executive with the Student Loans Company.
Claire Brennan
Head of HR (Pay, Policy, Operations & Resourcing)
NHS Education for Scotland
Grant Carson
Manager of housing and employment services, at Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living (GCIL)
Mary Evans
Dyslexia Scotland
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Andy Groves
Information officer at Grapevine, an information and advice service that is part of the Lothian Centre for Integrated Living.
Margaret Hurcombe
Project Manager at Family Advice and Information Resource in Edinburgh (FAIR)
Lucie McAnespie
Acting Adult Speech and Language Therapy Manager at Edenhall Hospital, East Lothian.
Linda Miller
Grampian Accessible Information Task Force Chairperson
Nicola Noon
Information Officer at Scottish Council on Deafness
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Bobby Park
Bobby is a retired engineer and project manager,
married to Helen with 3 children and 4 granchildren. 
He now provides access consultancy and disability equality training and coaches disabled kids various sports.
Bobby is involved with a lot of charities such as the Glasgow Access Panel where he is treasurer, the Glasgow Disability Alliance and is on the National Advisory Panel for campaigning for Leonard Chesire.
Paul Ralph
Paul is the Co-Director of With People, an Edinburgh based Community Interest Company. As a qualified social worker he spent 20 years specialising in the delivery of services to physically and sensory impaired people.
Following acquired physical and sensory impairments Paul moved from social work into the field of disability information provision. In later years he qualified in the information technology arena and is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer.
A published author on accessibility issues, Paul provides a range of accessiblity and equality training and consultancy options for both With People and other commissioning bodies.
Marilyn Slavin
Works for Common Knowledge managing a lifelong learning project for adults with learning difficulties.
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Robert Sneddon
Volunteer advice worker for Wigtownshire Coalition of Disabled People
Liz Urbanczyk
Liz is a transition co-ordinator within psychological services in Clackmannanshire. She is currently involved in transition planning for young people with disabilities/additional support needs aged 14-16 years as they move into adulthood. She also provides this service post-school up to the age of 24 years. This involves supporting these individuals with their future life choices which may include accessing further education, training, employment and day services. Liz may also have an advocacy role to ensure that the young person's voice is heard so that they are fully involved in the decision making process.
In this role, Liz works in parternship with others involved in health, social services and the voluntary sector. As transition co-ordinator it is her role to ensure that key players are involved at the appropriate time so that transition for the young person is as smooth and as seamless as possible.
Sandra Wilson
A member of SAIF since 2005, Sandra is the Development Co-ordinator for Fife Employability Network.
Sandra has an extensive background in careers guidance and information work including expertise on making information accessible for people with disabilities.
She chairs the SAIF Ecommunication Working Group and is a member of the Standards Working Group.
Carolyn Wyper
Employed as a senior manager within NHS Ayrshire & Arran with a responsibility for disability issues.
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