Accessible Formats
The Disability Discrimination Act requires organisations and companies to produce information on formats, which are accessible for people with a visual impairment. This includes producing information on tape, in large print, in Braille or Moon.
Grampian Tape Service provides a range of tapes to people who are visually impaired for information and leisure purposes.
We can also arrange for information to be changed from text computer documents into braille.
With respect to information in large print the Society recommends the following guidelines:-
Type: 14pt minimum
Font: Use upper and lower case. Use Bold . Use a font such as Arial which avoids serifs
Line spacing: 1.5 line spacing
Line length: align to the left, do not justify
Contrast: Use paper which creates good contrast, for example black print on white, pale yellow or pale green paper.
Background: avoid background pictures and text written over pictures.
General Rules
• Avoid underlining words
• Avoid glossy paper
• Avoid hyphenated words
• Avoid binding which cannot be placed flat under a CCTV or on a scanner
• Ensure information leaflets are available/can be produced on other formats, such as tapes
If you choose to ignore these guidelines please be sure that you can justify why!
Please contact Grampian Society for the Blind for further information or advice.
Disability Discrimination Act
The revised Code of Practice issued by the Disability Rights Commission deals with the duties of providers of services, goods and facilities to people with disabilities. It states that it is unlawful to discriminate against such people in any way.
The Grampian Society for the Blind can assist your business to adopt this code of practice with regard your customers with a visual impairment:
• We help provide proper access to your building, by helping you to find and improve problem areas and by giving general advice.
• We can help you train your employees to deal with people with visual impairment in the appropriate manner.
• We can convert your written publicity and information material into other formats your visually impaired customers may require.Access
Audits for Buildings
Includes detailed inspection of premises, access points and examination of evacuation procedures with regard to suitability for people with a visual impairment.
A report outlining the findings and recommendations will be supplied.
Audits cost £450 per day.
Should the building audit take up one whole day, the fee will be for two days to include time for preparation of report.
Advice Service
General advice about accessibility of premises and provision of services to visually impaired users can also be provided.
Advice is given verbally during the visit.
Costs:
£40 per hour, one hour’s fee will also be charged for travel of more than one hour
Informative Talks
Talks given by professional staff members.
Awareness Training
These sessions involve participants in practical exercises and include lunch.
Rate per person £50 (minimal charge = 8 people)
Printed Material
Conversion into accessible formats
Tape
Braille
Tactile drawings, maps etc.
*quotations on request for all of the above media
It is also possible to visit our building at 21 John Street, Aberdeen. We have a Resource Centre with a range of equipment on display that can assist people with
sight loss. We also have a number of leaflets on issues relating to sight loss. To ensure someone is available to show you around the Resource Centre, please call on 0845 27 12345
Legal Rights
Grampian Society for the Blind are a charity who provide support and advice to about 2500 people with a visual impairment in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray.
We provide a direct social work and rehabilitation service to people within their own homes, as well as co-ordinating a tape service, various groups and two
resource centres.
Like all charities Grampian Society for the Blind must work within the relevant legal framework. Some of the legislation that underpins our service gives you certain rights. There are a number of Acts which you should be aware of; The Carers Recognition Act, The Disability Discrimination Act, The Human Rights Act and The Data Protection Act.
The Carers Recognition Act 1995
This Act requires the local authority to assess the needs of carers, separately from the needs of the person being cared for.
Many people do not see themselves as carers, but as spouses, family members or neighbours who care. This means that many carers go unsupported and unrecognised.
The Carers Recognition Act gives carers the right to request an assessment of their own needs from the local council. The outcome of this assessment should be taken into account when planning services or care for the person being cared for.
For more information on this Act please contact your Grampian Society for the Blind worker or The Carers Centre on 01224 646677.
The Disability Discrimination Act
This Act was introduced to protect people with a disability from discrimination. As someone who is registered as Blind or Partially Sighted, this Act may be useful in protecting you from unlawful discrimination.
You have some basic rights under the Act.
• As a disabled person it is illegal for you to be refused a service due to your disability. For example a restaurant cannot refuse to serve you because of your disability.
• It is also unlawful for someone to provide you with a service on different terms. For example, a travel firm, which asked for extra money to book your holiday because you have a sight loss, could be seen as acting unlawfully.
The Disability Discrimination Act
• Service providers also have a duty to make changes to assist people with disabilities to use their services. For example, service providers must take reasonable steps to ensure that their information, bills or leaflets are available in large print, tape or Braille format
The Disability Discrimination Act covers all government bodies, employers, service providers, shops and in the near future education providers.
To find out more about your rights under the DDA you can speak to your Grampian Society for the Blind worker or call the Disability Rights Commission Helpline on 08457 622 633.
The Human Rights Act
The Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) was introduced with the aim of protecting the human rights of individuals against the abuse of power by public authorities. Such public authorities include, local councils, the police and even organisations such as Grampian Society for the Blind.
This is a very complex Act with a number of different sections. However it should be welcomed by disabled people as its philosophy aims to ensure that every individual has a right to dignity and the right to fulfil his/her full potential.
The HRA is based on the European Convention on the Protection of Human Rights. All legislation is now working alongside the Human Rights Act and all new legislation must be written in a compatible way.
The Human Rights Act guarantees a number of rights and responsibilities, including;
• right to life
• right to private and family life
• right to marry and found a family
• prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
Within this convention there is a section that aims to prohibit discrimination, however this must be linked to one of the other rights.
This gives only a very brief outline of the Act. For further information please contact Disability Rights Commission on 08457 622 633.
The Data Protection Act
This Act was introduced in 2001 and means that organisations can no longer hold personal information about you, (for example, about your health or your next of kin) without your express consent.
Information which Grampian Society for the Blind hold about you is either provided by other professionals, such as from the Eye Clinic or is provided by you when we visit. This information is only held for the purposes of providing a service to you and it is never passed to third parties, such as mailing companies.
You have the right to see the information we hold about you and the records kept on your file. Your worker will discuss this Act with you when they first visit.