Overarching Inclusive Communication Strategy

That the "digital ethics: a frame work for trust" has at its heart an Inclusive Communication Strategy to ensure that all stakeholders have a say in how this framework develops and grows. Inclusive Communication includes how to make information accessible but its principles are looking at the bigger picture and how people are involved from the start of any process and throughout the development of ideas, production of products and information, to the actual use of a framework and the ongoing review.

This is missing from this "framework for trust".

The Scottish Government has made a commitment to Digital Literacy and to freedom of choice, but is there either if people are not involved in the design of programmes or policies. For example, how many deaf people are involved in designing this framework? How many older people who are not online either by choice or because they are not computer literate or because they cannot afford to be? How many young people have had their education cut during Covid-19 because their parent(s) cannot afford broadband? How many young people are involved in developing this framework?

An Inclusive Communication Strategy enables the planners to include all stakeholders in their work, by looking at what they need ot do to encourage participation and inclusion and accessibility. We are all used to looking at physical accessibility when organising meetings, consultations, events. How many are used to looking at communication needs at the start of the process?

deafscotland uses the following example to explain how an Inclusive Communication Strategy works:
Inclusive Communication is the gateway to participate in planning a celebration party. Accessible Information lets you know about the party and what will happened at it. Inclusive Communication enables people to be involved in the design, delivery and enjoyment of the celebration as well as share their stories after the party.

So accessible information is the "framework for trust" produced in BSL, other community languages, in Braille, in Easy Read, on paper.

Inclusive Communication is planning how the framework will look (consultation), deciding on what access will look like (accessible information) and how transparency, accountability and trust in the product will involve the participation of those who will use the framework.