-----Original Message-----
From: Marc Bush [mailto:marc.bush@...]
Sent: 21 July 2008 15:15
Subject: Scope's No Voice, No Choice Campaign Update

Scope’s No Voice, No Choice Campaign Update

Dear Friend,

I am writing to you to update you on the activities of Scope’s No Voice, No Choice Campaign which is supported by BT, as part of the BT Better World Campaign.

Scope’s No Voice, No Choice WebPages have moved! You can now find out about the activities of the No Voice, No Choice Research and Campaign at: http://www.timetogetequal.org.uk/communication

No Voice, No Choice Research

• The No Voice, No Choice Survey 2008

Scope has launched The No Voice, No Choice Survey 2008. This survey aims to understand the experiences of professionals and people who work for statutory agencies that are, in some way, involved in disabled people's use of AAC.

The survey takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete and runs until the end of September 2008.

You can fill out the survey by going to: http://snaponline.snapsurveys.com/siam/surveylanding/interviewer.asp

It is important for us to get a good cross-section of professionals, so please do pass on the details of the survey to other colleagues or networks you are involved in.

The results form the survey will be used to influence both Scope’s own campaign activity and Government policy.

• Designing the Future of AAC Pamphlet

No Voice, No Choice’s first ‘Designing the Futures’ summary pamphlet will be launched next week. It is based on the discussions that took place as part of the Designing the Futures event held on 21^st April 2008. The event looked at the experiences of professionals and people working in statutory agencies in the provision and support of AAC. You will be able to download a copy of the summary pamphlet from the research page at http://www.timetogetequal.org.uk/communication

• AAC & Transition

Last weekend Scope teamed up with 1Voice to film young people’s experiences of AAC and Transition. The 1Voice weekend, in Hothorpe, was a huge success and we will be working with 1Voice further on the issue of transition this year. To find out more about the work of 1Voice go to: http://www.1voice.info/hothorpe08.html.

• Support Communication Through AAC Resource

Gillian Hazel (an independent AAC consultant) is updating the Scope Supporting Communication through AAC resource, which was first published in 2004. This resource is designed for a range of audiences from people who use AAC to professionals supporting AAC use. Its aim is to share good practice around supporting communication. The resource will be launched in November 2008.

No Voice, No Choice in Parliament

• Topical Debate on the Bercow Review

Today (21^st July 2008) there will be a topical debate in the House of Commons around the final report of John Bercow MP’s review into children, young people and speech, language and communication. The debate is due to start at 15:30 and may last for up to one and a half hours. Scope have briefed key MPs on AAC issues and recommendations in the review, and have highlighted questions that MPs should be raising in the debate. For a copy of Scope’s parliamentary briefing please contact abigail.lock@... .

Communication Matters has also created a briefing for the debate and has called on its members to contact their local MPs and ask them to raise specific cases in parliament.

You will be able to watch the debate as it happens at http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/VideoPlayer.aspx?meetingId=2272. Please note that to watch this debate on Parliament Live TV you may be required to download a Windows Media Player or QuickTime plugin.

• All Party Parliamentary Disability Group (APPDG)

On 23^rd June 2008, Scope presented, to the All Party Parliamentary Disability Group (APPDG), the results of the Communication Aids Survey 2007. The presentation discussed the experiences of people who use AAC in the UK.

Anthony Robertson talked about his experiences of the use of AAC and setting up his own service Chatting Independently: http://www.chattingindependently.co.uk/. Scope highlighted the work that has been undertaken as part of the Bercow Review. The chair of the group, Lord Ashley and other members of the APPDG asked what action Scope would like them to take.

Scope used the opportunity to ask the APPDG to recommend that the Government commission a review of Speech, Language & Communication Needs in adulthood, with a specific remit around AAC. If this review were to be commissioned it would be the first review of its kind into the provision and support of adults with SLCN and would result in a significant improvement the life chances of disabled adults (19 years +).

Government Reviews

The Bercow Review of Children, Young People and Speech, Language & Communication

• Since the launch of the Bercow Review in October 2007, the No Voice, No Choice Campaign has been working to influence the thinking of the Review Team and the eventual outcomes of the Review. The Review’s interim report, published in May 2008, contained many key observations around AAC that the No Voice, No Choice Campaign had highlighted. Scope made written submissions to the review and hosted the AAC focus group on behalf of the Review Team. The work of the Campaign has including numerous meetings and 18 separate written briefings and submissions to the Review Team.

The campaign has influenced numerous recommendations of the Review and we are keeping pressure on the Government to implement them. The No Voice, No Choice Campaign has been extremely successful in influencing two specific outcomes.

The first is that the Bercow Review recommends that the Department of Health creates a speech, language and communication annex to Standard 8 of the Children’s National Service Framework: Disabled Children and Young People and those with Complex Health Needs. This annex would be supported by a set of exemplars and care pathways; including a specific one around AAC. This means that for the first time AAC will be part of mainstream children & young people policy, be in guidance for commissioners of children & young people’s services and will act as a lever for policy and campaigning work in the future.

The second, and more significant outcome, is an AAC-specific recommendation. It recommends that the Government develop a ‘hub and spoke’ model of regional provision coordinated by a national organisation to meet the needs of children and young people who use AAC. The national organisation should establish and oversee the delivery of standards for AAC services in regional centres, which will in turn be required to support developing AAC expertise in all local areas in England. In the long term sustainable funding for this model should come through a budget pooling arrangement between education, health and social services.

In the short term, until sustainable funding is agreed, the Review recommends that there is an immediate injection of capital for purchasing, monitoring and measuring the supply of equipment and services.  And that there is an immediate short term injection of revenue needed to avoid the imminent closure of both the ACE Centres (DCSF) and to support the on-going services of NHS centres (DH) to avoid the loss of highly experienced practitioners.  This will mean that all regional centres will be expected to develop and support local services whilst a sustainable long term solution is established.

This is a real success for the No Voice, No Choice Campaign as not only have we directly influenced the outcomes of the review, but created the foundations for a sustainable mechanism for ensuring that all children and young people (0-19 years) who could benefit from AAC, get the provision and on-going support they need to communicate.

You can read a number of Scope’s submissions at: http://www.timetogetequal.org.uk/page.asp?section=66&sectionTitle=Bercow+Review.

Scope’s press statement about the Review Recommendations can be found at: http://www.timetogetequal.org.uk/news.asp?itemid=256&itemTitle=Scope%92s+response+to+the+Bercow+Review&section=25&sectionTitle=News&year=2008&month=7

If you would like any more detail about Scope’s involvement in the Bercow Review, please contact us at policy@...

Other Activities

Communication Matters National Symposium 2008

• Scope will be taking a stand to the Communication Matters National Symposium 2008 around the No Voice, No Choice campaign. It will outline the key messages and promote the activities of the campaign. If you are planning to attend the conference please do come over to our stand and talk to us about your experiences and suggestions. If you would like to know more about the Communication Matters National Symposium 2008 please go to http://www.communicationmatters.org.uk/About_CM/Symposium/symposium.html

This year Scope is interested in the experiences of professionals and statutory agents.

If you are an individual with an experience of using communication equipment or a family member, we still want to hear from you.

Please email us at communication.aids@... or write to No Voice, No Choice, Policy & Government Affairs, Scope, 7 Market Road, London, N7 9PW.

If you would like to speak to someone about the No Voice, No Choice Campaign, please ring us on 0207 619 7254.

You have been sent this email because you have been identified as having an interest in the No Voice, No Choice Campaign.

If you have a colleague who is interested in receiving these updates please ask them to send an email to communication.aids@... with subscribe me in the subject line. If you would like to unsubscribe please send an email to communication.aids@... with unsubscribe me in the subject line.

Best Wishes,

Marc

Marc Bush
Policy & Government Affairs, Scope

Phone: +44 (0)207 619 7254
Email:  Marc.Bush@...

In March 2007 the UK Government signed the UN Convention on the ‘Rights of Persons with Disabilities’. The Convention is the first treaty in history to give the millions of disabled people across the globe comprehensive human rights. The UK needs to ratify the Convention before it becomes legally binding. So far, it has not done so. Please encourage the Prime Minister to ratify the Convention without reservations - add your name to our online petition at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/noreservations/

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