Fact Sheet 10. Developing an information accessibility policy
An information accessibility policy will give an organisation a strategic framework for ongoing work on information accessibility. A policy is a useful way of setting out a vision and objectives on how a service will be developed and managed. It is an important way of engaging your senior managers and Board and placing information accessibility at the centre of your organisation.
Developing a policy on an accessible information service
Start with a clear statement about the accessibility of the service working within a framework of inclusion and equality. Management should make sure that the information needs of everyone are taken into account when planning, monitoring and reviewing the service.
The following are some steps to take when developing an accessible information policy for your organisation:
- Define the main purpose of your service and the values that underpin it.
- Set out the vision and what the service hopes to achieve.
- State clearly the commitment to meeting the needs of all groups.
- Make sure that all policies and practices are consistent with accessibility policy.
- Describe the standards that you expect to achieve and how these will be measured.
- Highlight how information services will be monitored and reviewed.
- Where appropriate, show how your service involves participation from representative organisations and service users.
- Identify your commitment to training staff, consulting with service users and allocating a budget.
|
Ballina Library in Mayo has
worked hard to create an accessible and welcoming
environment for all users and in 2007 received an
Excellence through Accessibility
Award from the National Disability
Authority. As a representative of the library said: "Working with the National Disability Authority made us more aware of the issues but also showed us that every issue was surmountable with the enthusiasm and support of staff." Another representative stated: "I think people usually associate disability with physical disability. We discovered from our training that there wasn't just physical disability; there was also intellectual disability, sensory disability, and communicative disability. Staff took the training on board, everybody was involved and we have learned a lot. It has also made dealing with people with disabilities and indeed dealing with our everyday customers much easier for ourselves." |
If possible, involve service users in developing, writing and disseminating your policy. This will make sure the policy is relevant. It will also bring pressure to implement and regularly review the policy.
| South Dublin County Council has
published a series of Access Guides online at www.southdublin.ie. The Guides
highlight features that ensure equal access to services
for a wide variety of users with varying abilities.
From accessible parking bays, automated doors, loop
systems at public desks, to adaptable housing,
specialist computer software & Braille and tactile
signage. The key purpose of these guides is to enable disabled people to 'virtually' visit key council buildings and customer services, at a time and place suitable to them, in order to find out how accessible the buildings or services are, in advance of any actual visit. The Access Guides are available in multiple formats. Content has been provided as accessible text documents, mp3 audio and video with closed captions. |
Further resources
National Disability Authority. www.nda.ie
South Dublin County Council www.southdublin.ie.
Irish Wheelchair Association (1999). Raising the
Standard: A Code of Practice for the Provision of
Information Services to People with Disabilities.
Not available electronically.
Scottish Accessible Information Forum (2004), Standards for Disability Information and Advice Provision in Scotland. www.saifscotland.org.uk
