Publications

Standards For Disability Information And Advice Provision In Scotland

1. Foreword

Information is not a luxury. It is an essential tool in all our lives. It may be specialist information which is required or it may be the everyday information that everyone needs and which most of us take for granted. There should be no barriers which prevent us from accessing the information or advice we need. It is vital then that information is accessible, relevant and accurate. This is no less true for disabled people and for carers than it is for anyone else.

Significant developments are currently taking place regarding the rights of disabled people. These include legislation such as the Disability Discrimination Act and its review by the Disability Rights Task Force and the establishment of the Disability Rights Commission; and of course the establishment of the Scottish Parliament serves also to promote equal opportunities and social inclusion as central to all its policies and procedures.

The Enabling Information Report of 1995 and the subsequent establishment of the Scottish Accessible Information Forum were vital steps forward in putting policies into action. These Standards are the direct result. They provide the essential tools and guidance for service providers and planners to put the measures in place to ensure that access to information becomes a reality for disabled people.

Disabled people themselves have led the process and the Standards recognise the importance of that approach. Wherever this can be implemented the best results are most likely to be achieved. The Standards are comprehensive and straight forward. They provide guidance which is relevant to any service or agency, whatever its size, location or remit.

I am very pleased to commend these Standards to all information and advice providers and planners. I look forward to their implementation in every community in Scotland.