Supporting disabled children, young people and their families: easy-read version

3. Rights and information

The Scottish Government wants to make sure that disabled children, young people and their families understand their rights and feel empowered to claim them, or to speak out if they feel those rights are being taken away from them.

The Scottish Government asked families of disabled children and young people about their information needs.

They told us they wanted clear, reliable, and accessible information, and families wanted a central resource that pointed them to the information and organisations they needed.

This consultation will help us to set up that resource.

Inclusive Communication

We need to let all young people communicate in whatever way they wish, with the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.

Inclusive communication means sharing information in a way that everybody can understand. It means everyone should get information and be able to express themselves in ways that meet their needs.

Service providers need to be aware that people understand and express themselves in many different ways.

What are some ways my child can communicate?

Augmentative and Alternative Communication ( AAC) is a kind of inclusive communication that can help people when they have lost their voice or find speaking difficult.

There are a number of ways people can communicate without speaking, some involve technology but others do not. It may be helpful to see a Speech and Language Therapist. You can find out more about them from your local healthboard.

More information?

The website Now Hear Me helps people understand the many ways disabled children and young people might communicate.

Communication Matters are the UK-wide charity for AAC and have a number of helpful resources on their website.

Rights Awareness

Everyone has basic rights and freedoms so they can live with dignity, equality and fairness, and be all they can be, no matter who they are or where they come from.

This is true for children and young people as well as adults.

The Scottish Government has produced a Quick Reference Guide on Children's Rights and how the law protects them.

More information?

The website for the Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland has lots of information for children and young people, their families and adults working with them on children's rights and where to get support. Learn more about the rights of children in the section on SAFETY AND JUSTICE.

Advocacy

To help make life better for children and young people, we need to listen properly to their views.

Advocacy is an important part of supporting a child. It helps them to say what they want and take part in important decisions about their lives.

Advocates do not make decisions for children, they support them to make their own choices.

The Scottish Government has published a guide to children's advocacy which can be used by family members and friends, as well as professionals and support agencies.

More information?

The Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA) is funded by Scottish Government. It aims to make sure that Independent Advocacy is available to any vulnerable person in Scotland.