Date: 25/06/2008
Author: Scope
No Voice, No Choice Research
- We have begun planning for the second year of the No Voice, No Choice research which focuses on professionals and statutory agents. On 21st April we held an event, Designing the Future of AAC Services, for professionals and statutory agents, which looked at their experiences of AAC provision and support. We will be launching a summary pamphlet of the key points raised at the event in the near future.
- We have used the data from the Designing the Future event to design a survey for professionals and statutory agents, which we will be launching later this month and will be running until September 2008. The aim of this survey is to further understand the experiences and suggestions professionals and statutory agents have about the provision and support of AAC use.
- Gillian Hazel (an independent AAC consultant) is updating the Scope Supporting Communication through AAC resource, which was first published in 2004. This resource is designed for a range of audiences from people who use AAC to professionals supporting AAC use. Its aim is to share good practice around supporting communication. The resource will be launched in November 2008.
- Scope, along with partner organisations and individuals (including Communication Matters, 1Voice, ACE Centre North and the No Voice, No Choice Steering Group), is creating a set of awareness-raising videos that people can use in their own awareness-raising activities on AAC issues. The videos are being produced by DDM Productions. This year the videos will be focusing on the themes of AAC & Human Rights, AAC & Transition and AAC and Children.
No Voice, No Choice in Parliament
- In March 2008, Scope, Communication Matters & ACE Centre North wrote to all MPs to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of the closure of the Communication Aids Project (CAP). We asked MPs to write to their local authorities and Primary Care Trusts and ask questions about the prevalence of AAC need in their area and how this need was being met. So far we have had 32 responses and will be publishing a summary of these in the near future.
- Scope briefed MPs on the recent Children & Young People’s Bill around AAC issues. An amendment seeking to establish a statutory right to AAC for disabled children with looked-after status was proposed by Baroness Walmsley and debated in the House. Whilst the amendment was not carried, it was an excellent opportunity to raise the profile of AAC issues in Parliament.
Government Reviews
Transforming Community Equipment Review
- In May 2008, Scope met with representatives leading the delivery element of the Transforming Community Equipment Review. We discussed the implications of the delivery of the Retail model on the provision and maintenance of communication equipment. The meeting resulted in a commitment to work with us to ensure that the model can deliver specialist AAC equipment effectively.
The Bercow Review of Children, Young People and Speech, Language & Communication
§ Scope has been working hard with the Bercow Review Team. Since we hosted the AAC focus group for the Review, Scope has been working with our partners to ensure that access to AAC is given a high profile within the Review. We submitted a response to the interim report, which outlined the preferred model of provision and support of AAC. We also provided the review team with the key points arising from the Designing the Future of AAC Services event. In addition to the AAC-specific work, we have been working with the review team to look at how Speech, Language & Communication (SLC) can be embedded in the existing frameworks and structures of children and young people’s policy.
Other Activities
Communication Matters National Symposium 2008
- Scope will be taking a stand to the Communication Matters National Symposium 2008 around the No Voice, No Choice campaign. It will outline the key messages and promote the activities of the campaign. If you are planning to attend the conference please do come over to our stand and talk to us about your experiences and suggestions. If you would like to know more about the Communication Matters National Symposium 2008 please go to http://www.communicationmatters.org.uk/About_CM/Symposium/symposium.html
The Communication Trust
- A year ago in June 2007, Scope welcomed the establishment of the Communication Trust and the Communication Consortium; the third sector reference group for the Trust. The purpose of the Communication Trust is to raise awareness of the importance of speech, language and communication across the children’s workforce. It will also enable practitioners to access the best training and expertise to support the communication needs of all children. The Trust is supported by over 25 voluntary and community groups who deliver services and support to children with Speech, Language & Communication Needs (SLCN).
- Scope has been extremely active on the Consortium and in the work of the Trust. With Treehouse and I Can we co-authored, on behalf of the Trust, Explaining Speech, Language & Communication Needs, which for the first time sets out a definition of SLCN that has been endorsed by over 25 organisations in the Third Sector.
- The Communication Trust is currently working on a pilot Speech, Language and Communication Framework (SLCF). This will identify the skills and knowledge necessary for the children’s workforce to support children’s communication effectively, support the inclusion of children with SLCN and create the best outcomes for children mapped against the Every Child Matters agenda. Scope has been working with partners to influence the AAC-specific aspects of this work.
For more information about the work of the Communication Trust and the Communication Consortium, please visit: http://www.ican.org.uk/Communication%20Trust/Communication%20Trust.aspx
This year Scope is interested in the experiences of professionals and statutory agents.
If you are an individual with an experience of using communication equipment or a family member, we still want to hear from you.
Please email us at communication.aids@scope.org.uk or write to No Voice, No Choice, Policy & Government Affairs, Scope, 7 Market Road, London, N7 9PW.
If you would like to speak to someone about the No Voice, No Choice Campaign, please ring us on 0207 619 7254.