Make Information Accessible.

One theme that is in a number of ideas here is accessing of services - co-ordinating work etc. and getting access to the right information at the right time.

One issue that needs to be addressed is making this information accessible to all.

There is significant minority of people who suffer from disabilities, or are a victim of the digital divide, or have a poor understanding of English. for whatever reason. Unfortunately these people find accessing information difficult if not impossible.

Ensuring that information is available to all is vital. Without this these people will be forgotten.

Why the contribution is important

Accessible information is a basic human right.

Unfortunately it is often forgotten and documents that are produced are not suitable for the majority of the population. If you read the "Just Transition - A Fairer, Greener Scotland" document it is written at a college level - far higher than that of the average Scot.

To quote from the Scottish Government itself:
"A lot of what the Scottish and UK governments publish, either online or in print, is too complex for at least half of our readers. This is mirrored across agencies, services and the general public sector.

"We also know this complexity confuses the public, and is a barrier to using public services or claiming benefits."

Also, there are no accessible formats. No easy-read. No BSL. No large print.

By not making information accessible you are disenfranchising a large section of society - for a Just Transition to be that you have to make sure that the majority of the population is invested in what you are doing.

By not making information accessible you are preventing from some of the most disadvantaged members of society from taking advantage of the changes that they would benefit from the most.

by Tony on August 25, 2022 at 04:11PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.6
Based on: 13 votes

Comments

  • Posted by SLIC August 29, 2022 at 16:59

    Happy to suggest that local libraries pick up this role. They bridge the digital divide, have equipment which helps people who are visually impaired and also access to packages which can translate. Moreover they have friendly trained staff to provide assistance.

  • Posted by JeanPhilips August 31, 2022 at 13:58

    The correct information about a) how to reduce energy consumption (specific and wide ranging) and b) how to sustainably produce energy needs should be made available widely. keep it simple, specific and achievable.
    Dissemination could be by flyers to each household via the Royal Mail; school (compulsory) and college courses could be made available with handouts and exercises; local newsletters (in their many forms), could carry information; organisational flyers; facebook (in many languages); Radio Scotland; other radio programmes.
    For more information - use local knowledge to build up resources for people to find out more and get involved. These would be printed on flyers and listed by area on a website.

  • Posted by WeeMeg September 02, 2022 at 10:47

    Climate hubs in each area could be used for this. Somewhere information can be explained and people can be directed or connected to trusted organisations.

  • Posted by SLIC September 02, 2022 at 12:04

    Libraries are community and climate hubs - their core purpose is to provide access to information and they have trained staff to signpost. The countrywide infrastructure is already there.

  • Posted by ThursoCDT September 03, 2022 at 10:19

    We need an array of places where people can find information, there is no one solution to the dissemination of information as people respond to and find differing ways of getting information particularly when it comes from trusted organisations. Not all trust government, not all will trust or visit a library. The community sector in particular with trusted community leaders needs to be equipped with the skills to provide energy efficiency and consumption information to those it supports.

  • Posted by JeanPhilips September 03, 2022 at 12:22

    A lot of libraries are being shut due to cutbacks in local council spending. There do need to be alternatives. Many communities have or are seeing the need to havehubs for dissemination of activities, organisations, and new initiatives. these would need to be undertaken voluntarily as there is a lck of funding in most towns, and new ways o accessing thes has to be considered for those who have more rural homes and limited transport.
    The internet could provide a source, for those who are connected; a 'problem-solving' hub could be a good start to exploring various initiatives all over the country.

  • Posted by RichardRaggett September 04, 2022 at 10:59

    I believe we need from Government and then from Councils strong communication of the direction we need to go in and how their policies take us there. The complexity, necessary for law makers and implementers of policy, is not needed to give us a strong sense of where we are going. I believe this communication should not just be on internet websites or in written reports. We need a big bill-poster campaign across the country and short films shown at cinemas or on TV. As a society we need to start engaging with this huge, multi-decade project to get to net-zero. A public campaign would help enable citizens to understand Government plans and question them and discuss them.

  • Posted by SLIC September 05, 2022 at 08:39

    Libraries consistently evidence as trusted safe spaces in communities. Scotland has a network of over 500 public libraries which span from Shetland to the Borders. There are plans for a one library digital platform which would be ideal for hosting this and other types of public facing information in an accessible format to support the in-person offer through libraries. I do agree that the more touch points to access information will make it easier for people to understand the message/information. I dont think we should be looking to invest in a new network of "hubs" when there is already a physical and digital infrastructure there.

    I like the idea of a big campaign supported by local access for more indepth information
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