SAIF Newsletter

Archive Newsletters

SAIF sends out an email based newsletter when there is new information to report, highlighting our work and publications. The newsletter is produced in plain text, adhering to standards for e-newsletters. It is reproduced here in HTML format. If you would like it in any other format please contact SAIF and we can send out your preferred version.

If you would like to subscribe to it, please send your contact information including e-mail address to SAIF and we will add you to our contact database. We adhere to the Data Protection Act and will not disclose your information.

Current Newsletter

Email Newsletter from the Scottish Accessible Information Forum, (SAIF), March 2008.

Contents list.

Section One: SAIF E-communication: accessibility in practice courses

Section One : E-communication: accessibility in practice

Are you interested in some practical training in accessible e-communication? Making sure that the information you provide is accessible applies to electronic communication methods too.

An opportunity to attend SAIF’s practical training sessions this summer. All courses start at 1pm and finish at 4pm.

Internet security and accessibility on Wednesday 28th May
Creating accessible documents on Wednesday 4th June 2008
Sending accessible emails on Wednesday 11th June 2008
Testing the accessibility of websites on Wednesday 18th June 2008

If you communicate with service users or colleagues via email, email attachments, email bulletins, websites, website downloads, intranet or interactive surveys then some or all of these courses might interest you.

Internet security and accessibility on Wednesday 28th May

identifying and reducing the security risks involved in using the Internet
understanding how to engage in accessible communication without compromising your security measures
Practising good security methods

Creating accessible documents on Wednesday 4th June 2008

producing accessible documents using styles and properties
converting these documents into portable document formats (PDFs)
checking the accessibility of PDF documents
good practice principles

Sending accessible emails on Wednesday 11th June 2008

WYSINWTG (why what you send is not necessarily what they receive)
pros and cons of different email formats- HTML, RTF, Plain Text
good practice principles for sending group emails, for example e-newsletters

Testing the accessibility of websites on Wednesday 18th June 2008

using free tools to test the accessibility of a website
why accessibility options, for example, changing text size or font colour will not compensate for an inaccessible web page
accessing, using and understanding the role of online validation services

Programmes and booking forms (in PDF and Word format) are available from our our website saifscotland.org.uk.

If you would like more information or would like to obtain a hard copy of the programme and booking form please contact Joanne Martin or Steve Harvey .

Booking forms should be returned no later than Wednesday 14th May 2008.

Section one ends.

Disclaimer.

This newsletter has only been sent to recipients who have requested it. If you are not the intended recipient please discard this email and inform us so we can correct your contact details.

If you have been forwarded this email newsletter and would like to get information from SAIF simply email Joanne or Steve

If you wish to unsubscribe from this email newsletter list please email Joanne or Steve:

with the message ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject line.

Disclaimer ends.

Note.

This newsletter has been designed to try to meet TEN Standard Version 1.2 to ease navigation of plain text email newsletters by all readers, including those using special access technologies. Its web site is www.headstar.com/ten

Note ends.

Newsletter ends.

Email Newsletter from the Scottish Accessible Information Forum, (SAIF), January 2008.

Contents list.

Section One: E-communication: accessibility in practice
Section Two: New SAIF publications

Section One : E-communication: Accessibility in practice

It’s not possible to predict the needs of everyone who accesses electronic information. However, by making some key adjustments to the way we produce electronic information, it is possible to make it flexible enough to suit a wide range of needs.

Following the success of SAIF’s Beyond the Web seminar, we are now running a series of short practical training sessions in Glasgow.

It doesn't’t matter if you attended Beyond the Web; these practical courses are for anyone who wants to make sure that their electronic communication is accessible.

Internet security and accessibility

identifying and reducing the security risks involved in using the Internet
understanding how to engage in accessible communication without compromising your security measures
Practicing good security methods

Creating accessible documents

producing accessible documents using styles and properties
converting these documents into portable document formats (PDFs)
checking the accessibility of PDF documents
good practice principles

Sending accessible emails

WYSINWTG (why what you send is not necessarily what they receive)
pros and cons of different email formats- HTML, RTF, Plain Text
good practice principles for sending group emails, for example e-newsletters

Testing the accessibility of websites

using free tools to test the accessibility of a website
why accessibility options, for example, changing text size or font colour will not compensate for an inaccessible web page
accessing, using and understanding the role of online validation services

Programmes and booking forms (in PDF and Word format) are available from our our website saifscotland.org.uk.

If you would like more information or would like to obtain a hard copy of the programme and booking form please contact Joanne Martin or Steve Harvey .

Section one ends.

Section Two : New SAIF publications

Information and advice services – What disabled people should expect and receive

This booklet is a practical guide for disabled people. It tells you what standard of service you should get from information or advice providers, local authorities and others that plan and fund information and advice services.

Hard copies, audio, Braille and BSL DVDs are available by contacting SAIF. Alternatively Word and PDF versions are available to download from the SAIF website saifscotland.org.uk.

Two new checklist posters are also available from SAIF. Our checklist posters provide a range of basic tips to encourage accessible information and e-communication.

Making information accessible
Making Word documents accessible
Making websites accessible
Making email accessible - New
Converting Word documents into portable document format - New

Hard copies of the poster are available by contacting SAIF. Word and PDF versions are available to download from the SAIF website saifscotland.org.uk.

Section two ends.

Disclaimer.

This newsletter has only been sent to recipients who have requested it. If you are not the intended recipient please discard this email and inform us so we can correct your contact details.

If you have been forwarded this email newsletter and would like to get information from SAIF simply email Joanne or Steve

If you wish to unsubscribe from this email newsletter list please email Joanne or Steve:

with the message ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject line.

Disclaimer ends.

Note.

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Email Newsletter from the Scottish Accessible Information Forum, (SAIF), November 2007.

A few remaining places are available on the SAIF Seminar – 30th November 2007

Beyond the Web: Putting accessibility at the heart of your e-communication.

Do you know the difference between accessible and inaccessible electronic documents?

Are you aware of the benefits of ensuring that electronic information is accessible?

Are you unsure of your legal obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act to produce accessible electronic information?

This SAIF seminar takes place on Friday 30th November at the Forth Valley Sensory Centre in Falkirk. It will cover the benefits of accessible design for websites and other forms of electronic communication, legal responsibilities and standards to ensure the accessibility of your e-communication?

Programmes and booking forms (in PDF and Word format) are attached. These can also be downloaded (in PDF and Word document format) from our website saifscotland.org.uk .

If you would like more information or would like to obtain a hard copy of the programme and booking form please contact Joanne Martin or Steve Harvey .

Booking forms should be returned to us no later than Friday 16th November.

Disclaimer.

This newsletter has only been sent to recipients who have requested it. If you are not the intended recipient please discard this email and inform us so we can correct your contact details.

If you have been forwarded this email newsletter and would like to get information from SAIF simply email Susan or Steve

If you wish to unsubscribe from this email newsletter list please email Susan or Steve:

with the message ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject line.

Disclaimer ends.

Note.

www.headstar.com/ten

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Email Newsletter from the Scottish Accessible Information Forum, (SAIF), October 2007.

Contents list.

Section One: Beyond the Web – SAIF Seminar 30th November 2007.
Section Two: User-led reviews.
Section Three: New SAIF publications.

Section One : Beyond the Web - SAIF Seminar 30th November 2007.

Do you know the difference between accessible and inaccessible electronic documents?

Are you aware of the benefits of ensuring that electronic information is accessible?

Are you unsure of your legal obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act to produce accessible electronic information?

If you would like more information or would like to obtain a programme and booking form please contact Joanne Martin or Steve Harvey .

Booking forms and programmes are also available to download (in PDF and Word document format) from our website saifscotland.org.uk .

Booking forms must be returned to us no later than Friday 16th November.

Section one ends.

Section Two : User-led Reviews.

A user-led review would enable your organisation to make an assessment of your service against the expectations of disabled service users.

Involving users in review, planning and development could enable you to provide a better service and make better use of resources by identifying gaps, refining existing services and developing new delivery methods.

SAIF has produced a Guide to User-led Reviews (free to download from our website or by contacting SAIF staff). We are looking for one or two organisations who would be interested in piloting the guide by carrying out a review.

If you think your organisation might be interested in carrying out a user-led review of a service you provide to disabled people we would like to hear from you. Please contact Joanne Martin or Steve Harvey .

In the meantime if you would like to see the review report produced by the Family Advice and Information Resource (FAIR) this can be obtained from our website saifscotland.org.uk. FAIR is an information and advice service for people with learning disabilities, their review was of the monthly newsletter they provide for service users.

Section two ends.

Section Three : New SAIF publications.

As part of a collection of posters/checklists about accessible information SAIF has recently produced ‘Making Email Accessible’. The set includes Making Information Accessible, Making Websites Accessible and Making Word documents Accessible.

SAIF has also recently updated its publication ‘Information and advice services – what disabled people should expect and receive’. This A5 booklet is a practical guide for disabled people; it outlines the standards of service disabled people should get from information and advice providers, from local authorities and from others that plan and fund information and advice services. (Available in BSL DVD in November).

The posters and the A5 booklet can be obtained by contacting staff at SAIF. Alternatively PDF and Word copies can be downloaded from our website saifscotland.org.uk

Section three ends.

Disclaimer.

This newsletter has only been sent to recipients who have requested it. If you are not the intended recipient please discard this email and inform us so we can correct your contact details.

If you have been forwarded this email newsletter and would like to get information from SAIF simply email Susan or Steve

If you wish to unsubscribe from this email newsletter list please email Susan or Steve:

with the message ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject line.

Disclaimer ends.

Note.

www.headstar.com/ten

Note ends.

Newsletter ends.

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Email Newsletter from the Scottish Accessible Information Forum, (SAIF), May 2007.

Contents list.

Section One: Job Vacancy .
Section Two: Seminars and training events.
Section Three: New members .
Section Four: Good Practice Examples.
Section Five: Website Spotlights.

Section One : Job Vacancy.

We are now recruiting for a part-time Project Officer, (fixed term, job share, 18 hours per week, starting salary £27,000 - £29,000 pro rata dependent on experience and qualifications). Your application will be particularly welcome if you are disabled and you feel you have the qualities for the job. The closing date for applications is Friday 8th June 2007. For an application pack (also available in other formats) please contact Susan Kelly by email at or by telephone on 0141 226 5261 or fax 0141 221 0731 or visit the home page of this website to download all the job information.

Section one ends.

Section Two : Seminars and Training Events.

We recently ran a new seminar entitled Beyond the School Gate aimed at senior managers in secondary schools and in local authority education departments. A report of that day can be viewed on the home page of this website.

Currently we are looking at training for the health sector and training on making e-communication accessible. Keep visiting this website for up-to-date information on these courses, or email Susan or Steve at the address at the end of this newsletter.

Section two ends.

Section Three : New members.

We have recently recruited 4 new members onto SAIF to bring our forum numbers back up to 21. Our new members are Mary Evans from Dyslexia Scotland, David Armstrong from the Scottish Qualifications Authority, Claire Brennan from the Scottish Executive Health Department and Lucie McAnespie a speech and language therapy manager. We look forward to working with them.

Section three ends.

Section Four : Good Practice Examples.

We are currently expanding our website to include examples of good practice in terms of accessible information. You will be able to download guidance on making PDFs accessible including example documents, Power Point presentations and Word documents, including templates and, of course, text electronic newsletters. If you have any examples of good practice which you would like us to feature on our website please get in touch.

Section four ends.

Section Five : Website Spotlights.

Every so often we highlight an article or website which is of interest to accessible information. Currently we are spotlighting the Tip Cards developed for Fair for All and the extremely popular paper on the Social Model of Disability and Language. Visit the home page of our website for more information.

Section five ends.

Disclaimer.

This newsletter has only been sent to recipients who have requested it. If you are not the intended recipient please discard this email and inform us so we can correct your contact details.

If you have been forwarded this email newsletter and would like to get information from SAIF simply email Susan or Steve

If you wish to unsubscribe from this email newsletter list please email Susan or Steve:

with the message ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject line.

Disclaimer ends.

Note.

www.headstar.com/ten

Note ends.

Newsletter ends.

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Email Newsletter from the Scottish Accessible Information Forum, (SAIF), December 2006.

Contents list.

Section One: New publications and posters now available .
Section Two: Scottish Executive Disability Working Group Report 2006 .
Section Three: Removing Barriers and Creating Opportunities .
Section Four: New seminars and training events .

Section One : New publications and posters now available.

Hot off the press! Our new publications Making E-communicaiton Accessible is now available free in hard copy by contacting SAIF at the contact details at the end of this newsletter or can be downloaded in Word or PDF from the publications section of our website. Those of you already on our mailing list will receive a copy in January 2007.

In addition, we have produced 2 supplementary posters Making Word Documents Accessible and Making Websites Accessible which provide further practical guidance on accessible information. These posters are available in hard copy or can also be downloaded from our website in our publications section.

Section one ends.

Section Two : Scottish Executive Disability Working Group Report 2006.

The Scottish Executive Disability Working Group has just published its final report. SAIF was represented on one of the satellite groups and UPDATE attended the core group. The hope of the group was that the recommendations within the report will provide a direction for the future of disability equality in Scotland and help build on existing policy.

One of the report's recommendations is that the Scottish Executive should implement and promote SAIF's Standards. The recommendation has been accepted the the Executive as follows:

"The Scottish Executive funded the production of the SAIF Standards and will work to implement them. We will work with SAIF and others to promote the Standards."

The full report can be viewed at Scottish Executive under publications.

Section two ends.

Section Three : Removing Barriers and Creating Opportunities.

SAIF gave evidence at the Equal Opportunities Committee earlier this year. The Committee's report entitled "Removing Barriers and Creating Opportunities" has now been published and is the culmination of over 2 years work by the Committee on the solutions to the barriers faced by disabled people accessing work, further and higher education and leisure services. There are a number of recommendations endorsing the work of SAIF. In particular, recommendation 135 which states:

"In view of the importance of promotion of the provision of accessible information, the Committee recommends that the Scottish Executive consider its current level of support for services such as the Scottish Accessible Information Forum with a view to significantly expanding capacity in the provision of advice and training to organisations throughout Scotland on the provision of accessible information and accessible formats."

The full report can be viewed by following the link below:

Removing Barriers and Creating Opportunities Report

Section three ends.

Section Four : New seminars and training events.

An exciting new seminar entitled "Beyond the School Gate", aimed at the education sector will take place next year on the 15th March 2007 at the River House Conference Centre in Stirling. This seminar will look at embedding accessible information in the Curriculum for Excellence. More information and a booking form can be downloaded from the Home page of this newsletter, or contact Susan or Steve at the contact details at the end of this newsletter.

We have now run 6 Information Explosion! Information Inclusion training days this year due to demand. One of these days was arranged specifically as an in-house training day for one organisation. If your organisation would be interested in running this course in-house then please contact Susan or Steve at the contact details at the end of this newsletter.

Section four ends.

Disclaimer.

This newsletter has only been sent to recipients who have requested it. If you are not the intended recipient please discard this email and inform us so we can correct your contact details.

If you have been forwarded this email newsletter and would like to get information from SAIF simply email Susan or Steve

If you wish to unsubscribe from this email newsletter list please email Susan or Steve:

with the message ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject line.

Disclaimer ends.

Note.

www.headstar.com/ten

Note ends.

Newsletter ends.

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Email Newsletter from the Scottish Accessible Information Forum, (SAIF), August 2006.

Contents list.

Section One: Evidence to Equal Opportunities Committee .
Section Two: Seminars and training events .
Section Three: Scottish Formats Resource now published .
Section Four: Working group on user-led service reviews .

Section One : Evidence to Equal Opportunities Committee.

SAIF was recently asked to give evidence before the Equal Opportunities Committee at the Scottish Parliament. Steve Harvey represented SAIF and answered questions on the barriers disabled people face, particularly around education and employment. A copy of the written submission provided can be downloaded from our consultations page.

Section one ends.

Section Two : Seminars and training events.

SAIF and UPDATE co-hosted their first seminar Beyond the Ramp, on 1 st March 2006. This seminar was aimed at senior policy staff in local authorities, health boards and other large public sector organisations responsible for developing an accessible information strategy. Due to the demand for this course it ran again on 15th June. Alongside Beyond the Ramp, we are running 4 training days for practitioners, entitled Information Explosion! Information Inclusion which are all fully booked. You can see an evaluation of all the days on our website. Contact us if you would be interested in attending future training events run by SAIF.

Section two ends.

Section Three : Scottish Formats Resource now published.

The second edition of the Scottish Formats Resource has just been published on CD. This valuable resource provides contact details of transcription, translation and interpretation services available in Scotland and is available free by contacting UPDATE, 27 Beaverhall Road, Edinburgh, EH7 4JE, telephone 0131 558 5200, minicom 0131 558 5202, fax 0131 558 5201, email or check it out online at www.update.org.uk

Section three ends.

Section Four : Working group on user-led service reviews.

Our publication, a guide to user-led service reviews

https://saifscotland.org.uk/publications/userled/userled1.html

is downloaded regularly from our website. Have you been involved in a user-led review and if so would you like to tell us about it and be featured on our website? We are setting up a short-life working group looking into the success of these reviews. If you have any experience of this please get in touch with either Susan or Steve

or at the contact details at the end of this newsletter.

Section four ends.

Disclaimer.

This newsletter has only been sent to recipients who have requested it. If you are not the intended recipient please discard this email and inform us so we can correct your contact details.

If you have been forwarded this email newsletter and would like to get information from SAIF simply email Susan or Steve

If you wish to unsubscribe from this email newsletter list please email Susan or Steve:

with the message ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject line.

Disclaimer ends.

Note.

www.headstar.com/ten

Note ends.

Newsletter ends.

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Email Newsletter from the Scottish Accessible Information Forum, (SAIF), April 2006.

Contents list.

Section One: New chairperson for SAIF .
Section Two: Seminars and training events .
Section Three: Scottish Formats Resource .
Section Four: PAS guidelines now published .
Section Five: Working group on user-led service reviews .
Section Six: Scottish Executive consultations and accessibility .
Section Seven: Change of name for vulnerable adults unit .

Section One : New chairperson for SAIF.

Mike McCarron resigned as chairperson of SAIF in April. Mike had been chair for 9 years and we would like to thank him for his hard work. Mike will continue as a member of the forum. We now welcome our new Chairperson, Ben Forsyth, to the job. Ben has been a member of SAIF since its creation 10 years ago and is a welfare rights advisor for Midlothian Council. Ben's first role as Chairperson is to respond to the green paper on welfare reform and he looks forward to continuing to be involved in SAIF's work to promote the provision of information which is accessible to all.

Ben said: "It is a particularly exciting time for SAIF at present, with the language of rights very much to the fore, whether it be in the field of human rights or consumer rights. In order to exercise their rights, individuals need to be able to access good quality information. SAIF's work to date, under Mike McCarron's most able chairmanship, has been pivotal in establishing standards for information provision and providing guidance to organisations and public authorities on the development of accessible information strategies. I look forward to being involved with SAIF as it continues to develop its important work."

Section one ends.

Section Two : Seminars and training events.

SAIF and UPDATE co-hosted their first seminar Beyond the Ramp, on 1 st March 2006. This seminar was for senior policy makers in local authorities and looked at embedding accessible information strategies into your organisation. To see a summary and evaluation of the day visit our website

saifscotland.org.uk

Due to the success of the day we are running Beyond the Ramp 2 on 15 th June, again at the River House Conference Centre in Stirling. Closing date for bookings is 26 th May and there are currently still a few places left.

Our first training days for practitioners, entitled Information Explosion! Information Inclusion will run on 8 th May and 5 th June at UPDATE in Edinburgh. Places for these courses are filling up fast and the closing date for booking is 21 st April.

To find out more about any of these events or to download a programme and booking form visit our website

saifscotland.org.uk

or contact Steve Harvey or Susan Burn at the numbers given at the end of this newsletter.

Section two ends.

Section Three : Scottish Formats Resource.

The Scottish Formats Resource has just been published on CD. This valuable resource provides contact details of transcription, translation and interpretation services available in Scotland and is available free by contacting UPDATE, 27 Beaverhall Road, Edinburgh, EH7 4JE, telephone 0131 558 5200, minicom 0131 558 5202, fax 0131 558 5201, email or check it out online at www.update.org.uk

Section three ends.

Section Four : PAS guidelines now published.

The PAS (publicly available specification) 78 guidelines on commissioning accessible websites have now been published. Our ecommunication working group will be reviewing this document for the next enewsletter. In the meantime, you can read a summary and comments on the

Guild of Accessible Webdesigners website

Our own document Making Websites Accessible is currently being updated and will be available free of charge later in the year.

Section four ends.

Section Five : Working group on user-led service reviews.

Our publication, a guide to user-led service reviews

https://saifscotland.org.uk/publications/userled/userled1.html

or at the contact details at the end of this newsletter.

Section five ends.

Section Six : Scottish Executive consultations and accessibility.

In the past 3 months we have responded to consultations on the definition of disability, digital inclusion and improving disabled people's experiences of the NHS. We are now looking at the accessibility of the consultation process itself. If you have any views on this please contact either Susan or Steve

Section six ends.

Section Seven : Change of name for vulnerable adults unit.

We are happy to report that the Scottish Executive has changed the name of the Vulnerable Adults Unit to the Adult Support and Protection Unit. Our vice-chair, Jean Dunlop, said: "As an organisation working with disabled people and policy makers, how refreshing it is to see a campaign by disabled people to remove such a negative and demeaning title, be directly responsible for a very positive and acceptable name change."

Section seven ends.

Disclaimer.

This newsletter has only been sent to recipients who have requested it. If you are not the intended recipient please discard this email and inform us so we can correct your contact details.

If you have been forwarded this email newsletter and would like to get information from SAIF simply email Susan or Steve

If you wish to unsubscribe from this email newsletter list please email Susan or Steve:

with the message ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject line.

Disclaimer ends.

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www.headstar.com/ten

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Newsletter ends.

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Email Newsletter from the Scottish Accessible Information Forum, (SAIF), December 2005.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year from SAIF.

Contents list.

Section One: Staff changes .
Section Two: Beyond the ramp seminar .
Section Three: Spotlight .
Section Four: Website .
Section Five: User-led service reviews .
Section Six: Free bus travel for older and disabled people .

Section One : Staff changes.

Susan Burn started work for SAIF during September. She job shares the position of Project Officer with Steve Harvey. Susan will work all day Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings and Steve will continue to work Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

You can contact either Steve or Susan by email: , , or by telephone on 0141 226 5261, fax on 0141 221 0731 or minicom on 0141 226 8459.

Write to SAIF at SAIF, Scottish Consumer Council, Royal Exchange House, 100 Queen St, Glasgow G1 3DN.

Section one ends.

Section Two : Beyond the ramp seminar.

SAIF and UPDATE are co-hosting a seminar on embedding accessible information standards in your organisation by creating local accessible information strategies for local authorities, health boards and other large public bodies on Wednesday 1st March 2006, 10am – 2pm at the River House Conference Centre, Stirling. For more information and to download the programme and booking form please visit our website at

saifscotland.org.uk

You can also request a copy from either Susan or Steve at the contact details listed in section one.

Section two ends.

Section Three : Spotlight.

An addition to our website means that we will be spotlighting relevant issues and publications regularly. Currently the spotlight is on the RNIB’s See it Right pack. Download it at: http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/
publicWebsite/ public_seeitright.hcsp
and the Scottish Disability Equality Forum’s Guidelines for producing accessible information which can be downloaded at
http://www.sdef.org.uk/Information/
Guidelinesforproducingmaterialinaccessibleformats.htm .

If you have any subject you would like us to put a spotlight on please contact Susan or Steve at the contact details listed in section one.

Section three ends.

Section Four : Website.

Minutes from all our forum and working group meetings and information on current consultations to which we are responding are now available on our website at saifscotland.org.uk

Section four ends.

Section Five : User-led service reviews.

Our publication, a guide to user-led service reviews https://saifscotland.org.uk/publications/userled/
userled1.html is downloaded regularly from our website. Have you been involved in a user-led review and if so would you like to tell us about it and be featured on our website? If so, please get in touch with Susan or Steve at the contact details listed in section one.

Section five ends.

Section Six : Free bus travel for older and disabled people

Free Scotland-wide bus travel for the over 60s and disabled people living in Scotland is being introduced on 1 April 2006.

Although the new initiative does not start until April, existing concessionary travel card holders wanting to travel free on buses – either locally or Scotland-wide - from 1 April 2006 should apply now for a new national entitlement card.

Older and disabled people who already have a valid card for their local transport scheme should already have received an application form for the new Entitlement Card through the post.

Application forms must be completed and taken in to the post office during working hours. Anyone who has not received a form or has not had a card before and thinks that they are eligible, should contact their local scheme immediately. The later people apply, the more likely it is that they will not have their new card in time.

The new Entitlement Cards will be issued in February 2006, ready for the 1 April start date, so existing local concessionary travel cards will be in use until then. From 1 April, the new national card will replace local travel cards for all local and Scotland-wide bus travel.

The Entitlement Card is electronic and in future will be used to access other local council services and concessions.

Anyone with any questions about how to fill in the application form should contact their local transport scheme immediately or visit www.infoscotland/seemore.

Section six ends.

Disclaimer.

This newsletter has only been sent to recipients who have requested it. If you are not the intended recipient please discard this email and inform us so we can correct your contact details.

If you have been forwarded this email newsletter and would like to get information from SAIF simply email Susan or Steve

If you wish to unsubscribe from this email newsletter list please email Susan or Steve:

with the message ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject line.

Disclaimer ends.

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www.headstar.com/ten

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Newsletter ends.

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Page updated 1 September 2008