Communication Access Matters: More than just work

Session

7.06

Personal Experience

• • Brett Reynolds (Scope Victoria, Australia)

Summary

Work is an important part of adult life, but there are some jobs that are more than just work. Work as a Communication Access Assessor gives people with communication difficulties the opportunity to work that is not only paid, but is meaningful and important to improving a person’s quality of life. My work is about promoting inclusion for everyone in society and making a better tomorrow.

Method/Activities/Techniques

A Communication Access Assessor delivers training and educates others about communication access; carries out mystery customer visits; and completes communication access assessments. Communication access assessments take place with people face to face and by telephone, to assess whether businesses and services are able to interact successfully with customers who have little or no speech. In order to be able to make this evaluation, you have to be a person with a communication difficulty who has a real life experience of communicating with people. During the assessment, the assessors observe the behaviour and response of the communication partner. The assessor also makes recommendations for improving communication.

Results/Findings

Organisations that meet the minimum standards for communication access are awarded with the Communication Access Symbol and promoted as being communication accessible. Communication Access Assessors have assessed over 150 places in Victoria, Australia since the symbol was launched in 2011.

Conclusions

Organisations and services are realising that a certification for communication accessibility adds value to their service and benefits anyone who may have a communication difficulty. It is a way of improving customer services.

Level of Session

General

Age Group

Adolescent
Adult

Interest

Secondary school
Special school
Further/Higher Ed.
Adult