Visit our publications page to download this position statement as a pdf. 

One of the problems facing the Scottish Government, NHS Boards and Scottish Councils is that of communicating essential information about their services and plans effectively where deaf peopela re concerned.

Deaf people have the same right to be involved in the consultation process as other people. Planners and providers have a responsibility to make this happen.

The right to be consulted is written into the Human Rights Act 1998. Deaf people who use English as a second language often find it difficult to access information, follow proceedings in meetings or react quickly to information presented in English.

Deaf and deafblind people are at a particular disadvantage in this way especially when meetings are conducted at speed and are not well ordered. The result is that this group can be under-represented in the planning of services that affect them.

The Scottish Council on Deafness recommends that the following good practice be impremented:

A range of consultation methods should be used. People should always be asked what form of consultation suits them best: public or face-to-face meetings, questions in plain English, online questionnaires, formal meetings or forums.

For consultations to be meaningful, sufficient time must be allowed.

Consultation must take full account of people's communication needs and stated preferences.

If public meetings are being held they should be appropriately publicised through deaf organisations, in the local press and on deaf media networks.

Documents shoul dbe sent out at least two weeks in advance of any meeting, be available in large print (font Arial, 18 point) and other preferred formats (braille, moon, tape , electronic, BSL etc). Material must be written in plain English with no jargon. If the document contains technical or legal information, then this should be simplified in an appendix.

Consultation should involve as many people as possible who are affected by a decision including more hard to reach people. It is not appropriate to simply consult with deaf organisations or asmall group of deaf people as this will not be representative of the diversity of the deaf community.

The Scottish Government has produced guidance on how to ensure that equalities groups are included in consultation exercises: Good Practice Guidance Consultation with Equalities Groups. This guidance contains information on 'preparing for consultation' and 'carrying out consultation' and includes how to make the consultation process inclusive for deaf people:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/46729/0025644.pdf (opens a new tab/window).

If this good practice is followed, consultations will be incluisive for deaf people.