Unique new voice is heard in the Scottish Parliament

Unique new voice is heard in the Scottish Parliament

07/05/2008

History will be made in the Scottish Parliament today (May 7) when Nanette Milne MSP leads a debate using a Stephen Hawking-type “talking machine.”

Ms Milne and other MSPs from across the parties and Scotland are debating a motion calling for an AAC Strategy for Scotland led by the Scottish Government including increased equipment and specialist speech and language therapy provision.

This will be the first time any communication aid has been used in the debating chamber.

“Talking machines” are just one way that people who can’t speak manage to communicate. Other Alternative and Augmentative Communication systems (or AAC for short) include various sign languages, simple picture boards and even personal body languages.

A 2007 RCSLT survey suggests
• Only 1 in 6 (16%) of the 2,500 Scots who need a communication aid are getting the equipment and essential speech and language therapy support services they need to communicate.
• Provision is dependent on an individual’s postcode, age, available advocacy services and impairment.
• Experts have rated 8 out of (the then) 15 Scottish health boards as providing “poor” AAC services.

Owen Hunter (14) from Paisley who uses a communication aid said
“I use my aid to help people understand me and to tell people jokes. My friend Craig needs an aid too but he’s not getting one. I don’t think that’s fair. I want to speak to him in school and know what he is saying.”

Nanette Milne MSP said
“The inability to communicate is perhaps one of the most desperate feelings of frustration a human being can have. Sadly in 21st Century Scotland this is actually the case for a significant number of our fellow citizens, but that is why we must explore options such as this to ensure that their voice is quite literally heard.”

Kathleen Marshall, Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People also said of the campaign
"The Scottish Government have expressed their strong commitment to the UN Convention and the Rights of the Child and its emphasis on listening to children. But some children cannot communicate because of difficulties in accessing the communication aids they need. Their right to a voice must be respected through provision of whatever is needed to make it a reality. If they cannot communicate, not only are they excluded from ordinary relationships and activities, they are also vulnerable because they cannot tell about things that make them feel unsafe."

Kim Hartley, Scotland Officer for the Royal College of SLTs adds
“1000’s of Scots are being denied their human right to communicate. This is a very low point in Scotland’s record on equality. The government has a morale, ethical and legal imperative to act. Now that at last the voice of communication aid users has been heard we are sure they will” ‘

Richard Hamer, Director of Policy and Communications for Capability Scotland said “Supporting people with communication impairments is just as important as supporting those with physical or sensory impairments.  The basic right to communicate is fundamental in ensuring that disabled people are able to exercise choice and control over their lives.”

Editors notes;

The motion being debated is;
S3M-01660# Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): Alternative and Augmentative Communication— That the Parliament expresses concern following the findings by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, Capability Scotland and Augmentative Communication in Practice whose recent survey of alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) equipment and speech and language therapy support provision in Scotland revealed that eight out of 15 NHS boards, including NHS Grampian, are providing a poor service; notes that only 16% of potential beneficiaries are accessing specialist AAC services in Scotland and that AAC provision is a postcode, age, advocacy and impairment lottery, and considers that an AAC strategy for Scotland should be developed and implemented to provide for a national standard of specialist speech and language therapy provision.

The motion has been signed by 37 MSPs including all party health spokes people and education, life long learning and culture spokespeople, Equal Opp. Committee convenor and members. 

The debate is happening in response to the “Give us our Right to Communicate” campaign led by RCSLT in partnership with Capability Scotland and AAC in Practice (an alliance of AAC users, expert SLTs and other AAC service providers and researchers).

Shona Robison MSP, Minister for Public Health has already agreed to meet the campaign group on May 12th.

On Wednesday 7th May in the Scottish Parliament;
• 12 – 1.30pm: A group of young people who use communication aids will be meeting MSPs
• 4-5pm: AAC users (TBC) and campaigners are meeting in Committee Room 1 in the Parliament.
• 5pm: Debate begins

A DVD is available on request with film of people talking about using a communication aid and how important it is to them.
A number of AAC users are willing to share their story and views as well as have photographs taken. Please contact Kim Hartley for more information. 

AAC provision details per health board are available on request.

Capability will be a major ally in supporting disabled people to achieve full equality and to have choice and control of their lives by 2020.  We aim to exert effective influence which ensures that laws are passed which give disabled people equal human and civil rights and that attitudes are changed through campaigning, education and information. 

For more information please contact
RCSLT Communications Manager Steven Harulow, tel: 0207 378 3004 email: steven.harulow@rcslt.org or

RCSLT Scotland Officer Kim Hartley, tel: 0131 226 5250, mobile 0771-2525329 or email: kim.Hartley@rcslt.org or

Richard Hamer, Director of Policy & Communications, Capability Scotland
Tel: 0131 347 1020; Mobile: 07950 854080
E-mail: richard.hamer@capability-scotland.org.uk

For information on the SCCYP contact Giselle Dye,
Tel: +44 (0) 131 556 0770;
Mobile: 077390 85023.

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