Accessible Information Standard

On the 1 August 2016, the Accessible Information Standard (AIS) was introduced. This legislation aims to make sure that anyone with a disability, sensory impairment or learning disability which affects their abilities to communicate can get information in a way that they can access and understand.

Workshop for professionals:

Healthwatch’s work on the AIS culminated in a workshop for professionals, giving them a chance to share and learn from each other’s experiences of implementing the legislation within their organisation. The workshop was aimed at staff from NHS, adult social care services and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations across B&NES, Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

The group received three presentations from local providers who shared their experiences of implementing the AIS within their organisation. In addition to sharing feedback on barriers that they have faced in implementing the Standard, the presenters also shared examples of what they have done and their plans for the future.

This report contains the findings of the meeting/workshop and the way forward. The ideas came from the attendees of the meeting and the list of people are also contained with the report.

Some recommendations from the day:

 Having resources where to go for translators/different formatting

 Have service users info on their rights under AIS

 Promote AIS internally/externally

 We are making planned changes

 Help to make AIS the foundation for all information

 Top down starting with our Equality and Diversity policy

 Accountability lines – who is responsible for implementing the Standard and assuring what we are doing?

 Focus Group going through the AIS, target setting/competitions etc.