SAIF News archive
How to Say It - Simply!
How to Say it - Simply! is a new one-day training course from the Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability about making information accessible. Anyone who support people with learning disabilities in social care or health organisations should attend on the following dates:
9th May - SCLD Glasgow
22nd May - The Gailes Hotel, Irvine
Places cost £85 per person including VAT. This includes lunch, refreshments and full course materials.
To book contact Claire Hayton, Training Administrator on 0141 418 5420 or email the address below.
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April 2007
Standards of Accessibility for Email Newsletters
The Text Email Newsletter Standard (TEN Standard), Version 1.2
The TEN Standard is designed 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
The standard was developed by E-Access Bulletin, a free email newsletter on access to technology by vision-impaired people, published by Headstar with support from the RNIB
The TEN standard is not intended to be used as a standard for content on web pages, or for web sites - it relates purely to the content of plain text email newsletters.
9 January 2007
Beyond the School Gate - Training seminar
Embedding Accessible Information in the Curriculum for Excellence
This SAIF seminar for senior staff in secondary schools and education departments will run from 10.00am – 3.30pm on Thursday 15th March 2007 at the River House Conference Centre in Stirling at a cost of £125. The seminar will look at accessible information in the context of:
- the Curriculum for Excellence,
- the Disability Equality Duty,
- the HM Inspectorate of Education Inspection Process.
Download a brochure and booking form from the links below.
| Information brochure Beyond the School Gate - in Word (127kb) |
| Information brochure Beyond the School Gate - in pdf (48kb) |
| Booking form Beyond the School Gate - in Word (27kb) |
| Booking form Beyond the School Gate - in pdf (18kb) |
5 December 2006
Information Explosion on 9th November 2006
Summary of the day
The last of our Information Explosion! Information Inclusion training days ran on the 9th November. You can see a summary evaluation of the day by clicking on the link below.
| Summary evaluation of Information Explosion on 9th November - in Word (23kb) |
| Summary evaluation of Information Explosion on 9th November - in pdf (20kb) |
We also ran this as an in-house training day for a voluntary organisation on the 21st November. If you are interested in organising an in-house training day on Information Explosion contact
28 November 2006
Patient Information Conference - patient, carer and community information
Workshop feedback
SAIF recently facilitated a workshop at the Patient Information Conference at the Glasgow Radisson Hotel on 14 November 2006. The aim of the conference was to discuss and share practice on developing high quality, accessible information. It was led by the Scottish Health Council in association with a number of partners. The workshop was based on SAIF's 2 training events 'Beyond the Ramp' and 'Information Explosion! Information Inclusion', looking at accessible information leading the way towards social inclusion. You can see a brief summary of the workshop by clicking on the link below.
|SAIF's workshop at the Patient Information Conference- in Word (27kb) |
|SAIF's workshop at the Patient Information Conference- in pdf (23kb) |
21 November 2006
Autumn Training Programme
UPDATE, Scotland's national disability information service, has announced its training programme
The programme will include the following:
- A rough guide to money...for people who support people with learning disabilities
- A rough guide to work...for people who support people with learning disabilities
- Mind your language!...making information accessible for people with learning disabilities
- Disability equality training...getting a working knowledge of disability equality issues
- Introducing accessible web design...is your web site accessible? Would you know what to do if it wasn't?
- Information alternatives...looking at how to make your information resources accessible
| UPDATE's autumn training programme and booking form |
21 August 2006
Equality 2025
The new name for the National Forum for Organisations of Disabled People
The national forum for organisations of disabled people has been officially named Equality 2025 – the United Kingdom Advisory Network on Disability Equality. The re-naming was announced in Parliament by the Minister for Disabled People, Anne McGuire on the 10th of July 2006. Equality 2025 will be formed of 20 to 25 disabled people and they are recruiting members now. For more information please go to:
| Equality 2025 recruitment website |
31 July 2006
Information Explosion - now fully booked
Due to popular demand Information Explosion! Information Inclusion will run again for the last time this year on Thursday 9th November atUPDATE in Edinburgh
A SAIF training course for practitioners in local authorities, health boards and other large public sector organisations.
This one-day training course will help you implement your organisation's accessible information strategy by raising awareness of the Disability Discrimination Act, disability etiquette and the barriers disabled people face in accessing information. You will also be given practical guidance on how to:
- produce information in a variety of different formats
- design and deliver accessible presentations
- ensure electronic accessibility.
When: Thursday 9th November 2006 from 9.30am to 4.00pm
Where:UPDATE in Edinburgh
Cost: £95
| More information about Information Explosion! Information Inclusion training day - in pdf (58kb) |
| More information about Information Explosion! Information Inclusion training day - in word (145kb) |
| Booking form: Information Explosion! Information Inclusion training day - in pdf (20kb) |
| Booking form: Information Explosion! Information Inclusion training day - in word (26kb) |
28 August 2006
Disability Equality Duty: Countdown to December 2006 - Meeting Your Responsibilities
One-day Conference, Friday 10 November, Hampden Stadium, Glasgow
Focused, practical workshops will examine the challenges facing public bodies in meeting their duties under the Disability Equality Duty. For more information about the conference or to book a places contact Jennie Meadway on 0131 272 2130 or email
| Disability Equality Duty Conference Information |
26 September 2006
Giants in Edinburgh
Disabled People Reaching for Equality
The Giants are on their way to Edinburgh. A photographic exhibition using larger than life portraits explores the history of disability and rights, showing how disabled people were hidden in institutions, then came together in the struggle for recognition and are now beginning to reach equality. The exhibition was produced by Shape and runs from the 8th August until 9th September in a number of venues across Edinburgh. For more information please go to
| Giants in Edinburgh |
2 August 2006
Information Explosion! Information Inclusion - now fully booked!
A SAIF training course for practitioners in local authorities, health boards and other large public sector organisations.
This one-day training course will help you implement your organisation's accessible information strategy by raising awareness of the Disability Discrimination Act, disability etiquette and the barriers disabled people face in accessing information. You will also be given practical guidance on how to:
- produce information in a variety of different formats
- design and deliver accessible presentations
- ensure electronic accessibility.
When: Tuesday 29th August 2006 or Monday 4th September 2006 from 9.30am to 4.00pm
Where: UPDATE in Edinburgh
Cost: £95
Both courses are now fully booked, however if you would be interested in attending future training events run by SAIF please get in touch. Further information about the course and a booking form below.
| More information about Information Explosion! Information Inclusion training day - in pdf (58kb) |
| More information about Information Explosion! Information Inclusion training day - in word (145kb) |
| Booking form: Information Explosion! Information Inclusion training day - in pdf (20kb) |
| Booking form: Information Explosion! Information Inclusion training day - in word (26kb) |
Training course evaluation
The first two Information Explosion! training days were held on 8th May and 5th June 2006. See what participants had to say about the days by reading the evaluations below.
| Evaluation of Information Explosion on 8th May - in pdf (21kb) |
| Evaluation of Information Explosion on 8th May - in word (20kb) |
| Evaluation of Information Explosion on 5th June - in pdf (20kb)
| Evaluation of Information Explosion on 5th June - in word (20kb)
14 August 2006
Everything you wanted to know about making your computer accessible
Online learning modules from Digital Fife
Fife's Community Grid for Learning has 10 online learning modules accessed free of charge from the site. One of the modules is specifically about making your computer accessible from the tools already available within it. Further, Digital Fife has made the elearning resources accessible for learners with a visual impairment by ensuring that the material can be used with a screen reader and provides users with an easy view option to increase the text size and view the page in black and white.
| Digital Fife |
11 July 2006
Where would you find a Braille printer in Fife?
Search the new Scottish FormatsResource 2006 and find the answer
The Scottish Formats Resource is available on-line as a searchable database and on CD-ROM with information about translation, transcription, interpreting and publishing services. Here you can find many answers to practical problems arising when producing accessible information.
The Scottish Formats Resource is produced and published by UPDATE, in partnership with SAIF. The online resource can be accessed at UPDATE'S website. The CD-ROM can be ordered from SAIF and UPDATE.
| Scottish Formats Resource 2006 |
Common knowledge - contraception?
Take the quiz and find out
Common Knowledge has just released a new online learning tool for people with learning difficulties. The tool tells you everything you could want to know about contraception. It is easy to use, up-to-date and interactive. It can be found at www.ckglasgow.org.uk It looks great and is free too! The information can also be provided on a CD-Rom. Please contact Elizabeth Walsh or Marilyn Slavin on 0141 429 4912 if you would like a copy.
5 June 2006
Inclusion: Make it your Business
Learning Disability Week 2006
The theme of this year's Learning Disability Week is "Inclusion: Make it your business" and takes place from the 18th to the 25th of June. The Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability (SCLD) have produced a booklet with lots of hints, tips and ideas to help you get started and make Learning Disability Week a big success in your area. Email for a booklet or visit scld
5 June 2006
Due to popular demand, "Beyond the ramp - embedding accessible information standards in your organisation" will run again on 15th June 2006
A SAIF seminar for senior policy staff in local authorities, health boards and other large public sector organisations about how to implement standards for accessible information.
Seminar
When: Thursday 15th June 2006
Where: The River House Conference Centre in Castle Business Park, Craigforth, Stirling
Cost: £65
| Booking form: Beyond the Ramp Seminar 2 - in pdf (19kb) |
| Booking form: Beyond the Ramp Seminar 2 - in word (27kb) |
More information about Beyond the Ramp Seminar 2 - in pdf (55kb)
More information about Beyond the Ramp Seminar 2 - in word (124kb)
Seminar evaluation
The first Beyond the Ramp seminar was held on the 1st March 2006. See what participants had to say about the day by reading the evaluation below.
Evaluation of Beyond the Ramp on 1st March 2006 - in pdf (42kb)
Evaluation of Beyond the Ramp on 1st March 2006 - in word (41kb)
5 May 2006
New Chairperson for SAIF
We welcome Ben Forsyth as our new Chairperson following Mike McCarron stepping down as Chair after 9 years. We would like to thank Mike for his hard work. Ben has been a member of SAIF since its creation and is a welfare rights advisor for Midlothian Council. Ben's first role as Chair is to respond to the green paper on welfare reform.
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."
12 April 2006
Ability Fest 2006 - The Festival of Opportunities for Disabled People
A free and unique opportunity for disabled people, families, carers and service organisations to find out about opportunities for learning, employment and leisure activities in the west of Scotland.
Strathclyde Suite
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Thursday 18th May 2006
10.00am - 4.00pm
This year's themes are celebrating success and showcasing good practice. Representatives from 80 organisations covering all aspects of learning, training, volunteering, leisure and employment will be available to answer your questions and provide information. In addition to this exhibition there is an interesting programme of activities. Much of these are open entry but there are 5 workshops which can be booked.
| More information on abilityfest |
11 April 2006
User-friendly websites for all
The guide to good practice in commissioning accessible websites has now been launched. The guidance document, Publicly Available Specification 78, (PAS) 78 was developed by the British Standards Institution and sponsored by the Disability Rights Commission.
You can read a summary and comments on the Guild of Accessible Webdesigners website and more information on BSI.
| Summary and comments on GAWDs website. |
| PAS 78 information and order on BSI website. |
10 April 2006
Information Scotland - Sharing, improving, connecting
This will be the 3rd Scottish SPiN (Society of Public Information Networks) Conference at Hampden Park, Glasgow. This year SPiN has teamed up with the Scottish Executive, SOCITM Insight (Society of Information Technology Management) and the Improvement Service to make this conference the biggest and best yet.
When: Wednesday 3rd May 2006
Where: Hampden Park, Glasgow/p>
The sessions will cover:
- Digital inclusion for Scotland
- Sharing information and improving services
- Best Scottish Website - SOCITM insight
The programme for the day and the conference brochure are available to view at www.spin.org.uk/episcotland2006
18 April 2006
Have Your Say! Positive Moves to a Working Life
A free half-day event for people who use mental health services to air their views about returning to work
Wednesday 12th April 2006
10.00am - 2.30pm
The Hilton Hotel, Glasgow
This event has been organised by Flourish House, Turning Point Scotland, the WIN Project, Jobcentre Plus, the Mental Health Network, Greater Glasgow and Equal Access to Employment with help from the Scottish Poverty Information Unit. For more information or to book a place and request assistance on the day phone Margaret Rumsby on 0141 429 2518 or send an email to
28 March 2006
The Art of the Possible: Making Services Accessible
Monday 27th March 2006
10.00am - 4.00pm
Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living
This one day training course from the GCIL Training Team will give you tips and guidance about how to improve the accessibility of all aspects of your organisation, both as a service provider and an employer.
Topics covered:
- What does accessibility mean?
- What might be considered actionable under the DDA
- The DDA and service providers/employers - case studies
- Looking at your existing resources in a positive way
- Setting out your priorities for improving access for disabled people
Click here for full information and a booking form.
8 February 2006
Question: Does your website comply with the Disability Discrimination Act? Are you up to speed on your disability equality?
UPDATE, Scotland's national disability information service, is running 2 training courses to make sure that the answers are: it does and you are.
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and UK Websites
Book your place to explore the issues surrounding UK websites and compliance with the DDA. Seminars will be held on Tuesday 21 February and Thursday 23 March 2006. Places cost £45 (non-members) and £30 (UPDATE members).
Disability Equality Training
This one day course aims to equip participants with a basic working knowledge of disability issues from an equalities perspective. Courses will be held on Monday 13 February and Monday 27 March 2006. Places cost £80 (non-members) and £45 (UPDATE members). For further information or a booking form please email
30 January 2006
You are invited to the RNID Scotland Making an Impact event
Thursday 23 March 2006
9.30am - 4pm
Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh
This exhibition is free and open to everyone. There will be a technology zone, a community zone and an information zone. For more information visit RNID
27 February 2006
Number of disabled people in the United Kingdom
Estimates of the numbers of disabled people in Britain have recently been updated by the Department for Work and Pensions. New estimates, from 2003-2004, show that there is a total of 10.1 million disabled children and adults in Britain, 9.5 million of those are adults. The annual spending power of disabled people remains at £80 billion a year.
The estimate covers people with longstanding illness, disability or who have a significant difficulty with day-to-day activities. Everyone in these groups would be protected by the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), however, it is not the total number of people covered by the DDA.
27 February 2006
Change of name for Vulnerable Adults Unit
The Scottish Executive has changed the name of one of its departments, and a forthcoming bill, due to campaigning by the disabled community. The Vulnerable Adults Unit is now the Adult Support and Protection Unit and the Protection of Vulnerable Adults Bill will now be called the Adult Support and Protection Bill.
27 February 2006
One Glasgow - Equality and diversity week at the University of Glasgow, 20-25 February 2006
The aim of the week of events was to challenge discrimination creatively and culturally and to promote a wider understanding of equality and diversity within the University and its community. Some of the events included:
- Handling discrimination for job seekers
- The anatomy of prejudice
- Assistive technology exhibition
- Deaf awareness: the facts and the fiction
- Disabled people - a hidden history
For more information visit www.gla.ac.uk/oneglasgow
20 February 2006
One phone call could change your life
You can now check your hearing by telephoning the RNID's hearing check line on 0845 600 55 55. It takes just 5 minutes.
So far, over 150,000 people have called. With more than 40% of the over 50's experiencing some level of hearing loss it is no surprise that the RNID's telephone hearing check has proved so popular. There are 4 million people in the UK who could benefit from wearing a hearing aid, but are doing nothing about it. Research shows that almost half of Britain's adults believe that embarrassment prevents people with hearing difficulties seeking help. Hopefully, this is a first step in redressing that balance.
30 January 2006
Disability Fair for All - Inverness
SAIF recently did a presentation at this event organised by the Highland Community Care Forum. The event was organised for people who have a disability or a long term illness, carers and people who work to provide support and care and there were information stalls and a series of presentations throughout the day. It was a good day and a good chance to meet and chat with folk living and working in Inverness.
Some of the points raised and discussed at the SAIF presentation included:
- The right of every person to have access to information in the way they want it and when they want it.
- The powers of the Disability Discrimination Act to ensure service providers offer services in a way that is inclusive. This should include the design of their website.
- Information should be tailored to the needs of the individual and flexibility is the key.
Examples of how information could be improved including cutting out the jargon, making language more straightforward, using visual aids, for example photos and graphics to illustrate the text, provide training for staff and make sure that this issue is taken to the top managers.
Some people felt that more videos should be produced for people using British Sign Language (BSL). There was some discussion around working with the NHS to improve their information, including raising awareness with GPs.
It was felt that if these issues were addressed people with a disability would be treated more as equals, which could lead to access to better jobs.
The issues of producing videos for BSL users and awareness raising with GPS will be taken to the next appropriate SAIF meeting.
30 January 2006
Computer freedom with free new webcam software
A new computer programme will provide a way for people with limited speech and mobility to operate a computer - just by raising an eyebrow.
Existing systems can cost more than ten thousand pounds, but the Visual Inference Machine developed by academics at Cambridge University's department of engineering, will be free to download and use. The user will only need a computer and webcam.
The software replaces the need for a mouse, allowing disabled users to navigate their computer and even answer the mobile phone. A webcam records unique facial movements and triggers the correct function on the computer. Coupled with another piece of the university's software called Dasher, users can also write emails at speeds close to keyboard input.
The technology has taken two years to develop and is in the final stages of testing before being made available to anyone to download for free.
Article taken from Disability Now magazine.
11 January 200
Don't miss the bus: Older and disabled Scots urged to apply now for free local and Scotland-wide bus travel
Free Scotland-wide bus travel for disabled people and people over 60 living in Scotland is being introduced on 1April 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.
Newly established Office for Disability Issues
As from 1st December 2005 the Office for disability issues (ODI) has been established in London. It will spearhead the implementation of the cross-government strategy to improve the life chances of disabled people.
Anne McGuire, Minister for Disabled People said "Our ambition is that by 2025 - or within a generation - disabled people should have the full opportunities and choices necessary to improve their quality of life."
One of its projects concerns the information needs of disabled people. This project is intended to be the first stage in the delivery of the cross-government recommendations on information. It brings together the voluntary sector and all departments responsible for providing information to disabled people.
The Strategy Unit Report stated that access to clear and consistent information and services was a big issue for disabled people and their families. It will be a short-term project for six months with a requirement to feed back on early findings in January or February about what people want and what is currently provided.
|Office for Disability Issues' website |
Make e-documents accessible to everyone, says RNIB
Most inaccessible text is provided in portable document format (PDF), early versions of which are incompatible with screen reading or text magnification programs.
The latest version of Acrobat 7, the program developed by Adobe Systems which turns software into PDFs, can be set up to work with assistive software.
The only problem is that few people are using Acrobat 7 yet. Version 7 will make accessible PDFs but the skill and knowledge needed to make an accessible PDF is very high.
Adobe says it is determined to make Acrobat 100% accessible and is working on ways to enable screen readers to make sense of tables by identifying headings and table contents for vision-impaired people.
|Article from Inclusion Scotland's Updates page |
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and web accessibility
Part III of the DDA refers to the provision of goods, facilities and services. The Code of Practice which specifically mentions websites can be downloaded in its entirety from the Disability Rights Commission website.
Extract from Part III
"For people with visual impairments, the range of auxiliary aids or services which it might be reasonable to provide to ensure that services are accessible might include...accessible websites."
Similarly for people with hearing disabilities.
Section III of the DDA which refers to accessible websites came into force on 1st October 1999 and the code of practice for this section of the DDA was published in 2002. This means websites should have been accessible by law for over 5 years.
|DDA & web accessibility at Webcredibles website. |
|DRC information regarding the law and Code of Practice. |
New project officer appointed for SAIF
Susan Burn has now started to work for SAIF. Susan joined SAIF in the middle of September.
She previously worked for four years with Turning Point Scotland as their Policy and Information Officer. Prior to that she worked for Key Housing Association, who are providers of supported accommodation for adults with a learning disability.
Susan job shares the position of Project Officer with Steve Harvey. See the staff page for more information.
Accessible legal information and advice should be publicly funded.
SAIF responded to the Scottish Executive consultation “Advice for All – Publicly Funded Legal Assistance in Scotland – The Way Forward” in September 2005.
In the response SAIF welcomes a national strategy as legal information and advice is very important for disabled people. The cost for producing information in an accessible way should be taken into account in funding for legal advice services.
Read the whole response:
|Consultation response: Advice for all - pdf file |
Accessing the Private Sector
For 13 days during March, April and May this 2004 we were very pleased to have Lynn Durkin...
|go to article: Accessing the Private...|
Does Your Website Leave You Dazed and Confused?
We've published a new free guide to building, maintaining and managing a website.
|go to article: Does Your Website...|
|Making Websites Accessible - Online version |
|Making Websites Available - PDF format |
If You Want to Improve Your Service...
Ask Disabled People!
SAIF published a Guide to User-Led Service Reviews in January 2003. Like the SAIF Standards, the guide is designed to be used by any agency which provides...
|go to article: If You Want to Improve... |
|Guide to User-Led... - Online version |
|Guide to User-Led... - PDF format |