Social Security Experience Panels: accessibility adjustments - factsheet

Below is a list of accessibility adjustments that we can provide for our Experience Panel members. This list does not include everything that is possible. However, we are always happy to make any kind of adjustment to support people to participate fully and comfortably. This can be as simple as providing a cushion, or ensuring that allergens are removed from a location.

Event Related Accessibility Adjustments

As standard 

• Personal Assistant -  a person who will help you get around the location. They will do a variety of things such as opening doors, getting refreshments etc.

• Wheelchair and mobility accessibility – ensures that the building has ramps, step free access and doors wide enough to accommodate wheelchair users as well as accessible toilets near the room being used where possible.

On request

The following accessibility adjustments can be requested by asking for them in the ‘Accessibility or Dietary Requirements’ box in the invitation: 

• British Sign Language interpreter – a British Sign Language interpreter who will translate English into BSL. This is for people who use BSL as their main form of communication. 
• Please complete your booking form with the specification that you need a BSL interpreter. British Sign users can also contact us through the contactSCOTLAND-BSL website.
• Electronic Notetaker or Stenographer – a person who types what is being said in the conversation. You will be able to read the text on a laptop screen. This is available to people who have a hearing loss. Plea­­­­­se complete your booking form with the specification that you need this accessibility adjustment.
• Hearing Loop – The Hearing Loop amplifies the sound that it picks up in a set area. You will need to turn your hearing aids to the T setting. This is available to people who wear hearing aids. The team has our own hearing loop and we’re happy to bring it along. Please complete your booking form with the specification that you need a Hearing Loop.
• Magnifying glass – magnifies the text to a larger size. To make a request for a magnifying glass please complete your booking form with the specification that you need a magnifying glass or telephone the Helpline
• Sight Guide – a person who will support you with getting around the location
• Support getting to and from venues – taxis may be requested for getting to and from venues in Edinburgh and Glasgow. We can organise taxis for you in Edinburgh and Glasgow if you give us the details. In other places taxi travel can be claimed back on expenses. If we can help by booking a taxi for you please let us know the details of the taxi company you want. Please complete the booking form with the request that a taxi is needed or telephone the Helpline.
• Different format of materials – Materials such as consent forms, expenses forms and any handouts can be provided in a range of different colours or larger font on request

Survey Related Accessibility Adjustments

As standard

• Dyslexia Friendly and screen reader compatible online survey format – All of our surveys use the ‘dyslexia friendly’ formatting available on the survey site we use. On the basis of feedback early on, we stopped using ‘matrix style’ questions which are not compatible with screen readers.  
• Large print – Paper versions of surveys are provided in Large Print of size 16. This is for people who have a vision impairment. To make a request for a Large Print survey please telephone the Helpline.

On request

• Phone completion, including with BSL or language interpretation – when you receive a survey by email or post, it will include details on how to complete it over the phone, including how to do so via a BSL or other language interpreter
• Dyslexia Friendly – the survey is printed on coloured paper to make it easier to read for a person with dyslexia
• Letters can also be printed on coloured paper. Please let the Helpline know that you need this accessibility adjustment

General Communication Adjustments

As standard

• Support to complete things over the phone – the Helpline will be able to support you complete things over the telephone. 
• Dyslexia Friendly – online surveys are shown on a coloured background to make it easier to read for a person with dyslexia. 
• Large print – Emails, Consent Forms, Expenses Forms and Visual Summaries are provided in large print of size 16.
• Plain English – We use simple straightforward language. This includes keeping sentences short and avoiding jargon.
• Suitable for use with screen reader software – screen reader software identifies and translates what is being displayed on the computer screen. The information is shown to the user with text-to-speech, sound icons or a Braille output device. This is for people who have a vision impairment. All of our communication is compatible with screen readers. 
• Type talk / text messaging / textphone – Typetalk is a national telephone relay service that allows people with a hearing loss or who are Deaf to communicate with hearing people using the telephone network. An operator will join the phone call between the deaf text phone user and the hearing telephone user. A text phone user types their part of the conversation and the operator reads its out to the hearing person. The hearing person then speaks their part of the conversation and the operator types what is being said so that the text phone user can read it on their screen. To use this service, please call 08001 prefix before dialling the Helpline’s telephone number: 0800 029 4974

If you have any other questions about the accessibility adjustments please contact the Experience Panels helpline.

Phone: 0800 029 4974

Email :socialsecurityexperience@gov.scot

Post: FREEPOST Social Security Experience Panels

Textphone: Using the 18001 prefix.

Phoneline translation is available if required. British Sign Language users can also contact us through the contactSCOTLAND-BSL website.