Communication Access UK (CAUK) training in English and Welsh is now hosted by Communication Matters. CAUK training is designed for businesses and individuals to support people with communication difficulties.
New, free Welsh-language training to help businesses and organisations support thousands of people with communication needs in Wales is launched today at the Senedd, Cardiff, by Communication Access UK.
The training – partly funded by The National Lottery Community Fund – complements existing English-language training, standards, and a Communication Access disability symbol.
Communication Access UK is an initiative developed in partnership by charities and organisations that share a vision to improve the lives of people with communication difficulties. They comprise: Communication Matters, the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT), Stroke Association, Headway, MND Association, National Network of Parent Carer Forums, Business Disability Forum, Disability Rights UK, The Makaton Charity.
Every business and organisation, which undertakes the training on accessible face-to-face, telephone and online customer service, will earn the right to display the Communication Access Symbol – demonstrating they have all their customers’ needs close to heart.
The online training – hosted by Communication Matters – is split into four modules and can be undertaken in stages or in one go.
Chair of Communication Matters, Andrea Sharples says,
“ The launch of Welsh-language Communication Access UK training is an important milestone for communication accessibility in Wales. Everyone deserves to be understood and included when accessing the services they need, including people who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and others with communication difficulties. By helping organisations recognise and remove communication barriers, Communication Access UK is supporting more inclusive services and better experiences for people across Wales.”
Head of RCSLT Wales Philippa Cotterill agrees: “One in five people in the UK will experience communication difficulties at some point in their lives and for many tackling everyday tasks can be a struggle, which is why we’d like to thank National Lottery players for supporting this important initiative.
“Achieving the Communication Access UK standards and displaying the Communication Access Symbol will be a great way for organisations, such as banks, utility companies, shops, health centres, cinemas, restaurants, transport providers, and hotels, to show they value all of their customers and that they can communicate inclusively with people who may have difficulty accessing their services. It’s a lifeline for thousands of people.”
Former speech and language therapist Stephen Jones, who experienced communication difficulties following treatment for head and neck cancer, adds: “It’s a real privilege to be part of this important moment for communication accessibility in Wales. Communication difficulties can take many forms – difficulty finding the right words; speech that is difficult for other people to understand; or trouble with reading, writing or processing information. You can’t always see a communication difficulty, so if our organisations are designed around the assumption that everyone communicates in the same way, we’re inevitably going to exclude people.
“The Communication Access Symbol will provide a visible indication that an organisation has made a commitment to communication accessibility, and as a Welsh speaker, I’m so pleased that the training and materials will also be available in Welsh.
“The training will help staff understand communication difficulties; the barriers people experience; and the practical steps they can take to communicate more inclusively. This would make such a difference for me when using local services in my community, and I’m looking forward to seeing the symbol being rolled out by services and business across Wales.”
To find out more visit: www.communication-access.co.uk
- Communication is not just the ability to speak but also the ability to hear and understand what is being said. It lies at the very core of human dignity. The impact of communication difficulties and disabilities is varied; some people may find it hard to ask a question, name an object or ask for help, while others may have speech difficulties that make it difficult for them to be understood. Others may have problems processing information and difficulties with reading and writing. Some may use communication devices and require time to create their message. Communication disabilities leave millions of people across the UK without a voice, denying them equality of access and opportunity.
- Communication Matters is the UK charity for people who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), their families and the professionals who support them. The charity works to improve communication access, raise awareness of AAC and support people who communicate differently to participate fully in society. Communication Matters is a founding partner of Communication Access UK and remains committed to improving communication accessibility for all. To learn more, visit the Communication Matters website.
- National Lottery players raise over £32 million a week for good causes across the UK. Thanks to them, The National Lottery Community Fund distributes over £600 million a year through over 13,000 grants. The funder plans to invest over £4 billion of funding into communities by 2030. It supports projects across the whole of the UK to turn their truly life-changing ideas into reality. To find out more visit The National Lottery Community Fund website.
