Since they were first published in 1999 the SAIF Standards for Disability Information and Advice Provision in Scotland have been an extremely valuable guide to many information and advice providers in Scotland.
Information is not a luxury and if it is to be useful, it is vital that it is accessible. Getting the right information at the right time is particularly important for disabled people and carers who have often faced barriers in accessing the support and services they need. Exclusion from some of the most fundamental services contributes to feelings of isolation. Equality is central to all of our policies, and I hope our work together will continue to remove these barriers and encourage an inclusive society. Use of these Standards will help this happen.
Significant recent developments make this updated and more accessible edition of the SAIF Standards very welcome and relevant. Following changes to the Disability Discrimination Act in 2005, we now have a public sector Disability Equality Duty which requires public bodies in Scotland actively to promote equality for disabled people. Information that is accessible to all will help public bodies to engage meaningfully with disabled people, not just in consultation but in active involvement in planning and delivering services. It will also help public bodies to realise their goals of disability equality.
These Standards provide essential and straightforward guidance for service providers and planners who need to ensure that access to information becomes a reality for disabled people. Disabled people themselves have led the Standards development process and SAIF rightly promotes the importance of that approach if the best results are to be achieved.
I am extremely pleased to commend this new edition of the SAIF Standards to all information and advice providers and indeed all service providers with a role in providing information or advice.
Lewis Macdonald
Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care
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(c) Scottish Accessible Information Forum, 2007
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