Accessible Formats Directory

The Council, in its Equality and Diversity Policy and in its Communication Strategy, has made a commitment to provide clear and accessible information about our services in a variety of appropriate formats and languages that meet the needs of all members of our community.

This directory is a tool to help County Council officers and Councillors to meet this commitment.

The directory contains important information and helpful hints about our duties, methods and contacts. Whether you need to provide audio tapes, Braille translations, lip reading services or language interpretation, this directory can point you in the right direction.

It also includes details about many more means of communicating with our residents, so you should be able to find a language, system or service to connect with anyone in our community. please follow the links below to find out more;

 Introduction
 Making Information Accessible
 Helpful Hints
 Communication Needs
 Deaf or Hard of Hearing People
 Learning Disabilities
 Mobility and Physical Disabilities
 People With Other Impairments
 Non English Speakers

Introduction

On a practical level, it is important that managers make themselves aware of the minimum standards and good practice that they need to follow when producing information. Directorates must ensure that information produced for mass distribution is made available in alternative formats and sent to the right audience.

Other information will only need to be made available in different formats on request. Should a request be made, it is important to ensure that a budget is kept aside for meeting the cost. This directory provides indicative costs for services as a rough guide for budget managers. It is important that customers are asked about what format they would like to receive information when they contact the service.

The following statement must be included on all information produced by you with your contact details:

This document can be made available in other languages (including British Sign Language) and alternative formats (large print, audio tape, computer disk and Braille) on request from (insert your details)

This directory does not include an exhaustive list of accessible formats. If anyone has any other information or access needs, please get in touch: 

Telephone: 01905 766225 or Email: E&D@worcestershire.gov.uk.

• Description of each format.
• Who may benefit.
• Contacts of who can provide the format.
• How to use any equipment involved.
• Cost.
• Notice period.

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure information and prices are correct, you are advised to contact the provider to check details.

This will ensure that no duplications and that no additional costs are incurred when information has already been put into an alternative format.

This information can be made available in other languages (including British Sign Language) and alternative formats (large print, audio tape, computer disk and Braille) on request from the Diversity team on 01905 766225 or email E&D@worcestershire.gov.uk.