This Directory has lots of useful tips and contacts to ensure that any information you produce is accessible for everyone. Basically this means, that when you are producing or circulating information, you need to consider what other formats (i.e. Braille, Audio Tape), besides written text, are necessary to ensure full access to that information.

This directory provides a description of each format, who may benefit from using different formats, how to use any equipment plus cost and time factors.

February 2006 - Information in this Directory was correct at the time of production.

Just click on the title below for information on that format.

Making Information Accessible

Background

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 part III creates rights for any person defined by the Act as a disabled person not to be discriminated against in the provision of goods, facilities and services.  It should not be “impossible or unreasonably difficult” for disabled people to use services.

The Race Relations Amendment Act 2000 states that services must be made accessible to all community groups – this includes language provision.

The Council’s Access policy, Race Equality policy and current Disability policy each identify the need to provide information to staff and the public in appropriate and accessible formats.

It is the responsibility of the person, team or department issuing information to make it available in accessible and alternative formats.  Consideration should also be given to the target audience for the information (i.e. a manager may take a regular audit of the information access needs of their team, and consequently will be aware of requirements for any information distributed).  This does not necessarily mean that every piece of information published must be, for example, translated into every community language.  However, it does place a responsibility on the issuer to make alternatives available on request.  This may mean that an interpreter is used to explain the information on a one to one basis with a member of the public, rather than undertaking an expensive published translation exercise.

The Council has an Accessible Formats Directory on the Internal A-Z on CiS.  This provides resources and information about the use of accessible formats.

Listed above are various formats, which enable people to access information. To ensure that you are using the right format, always ask which format best meets the access needs of your client / audience.