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IMPROVING SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WITH SPEECH, LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION NEEDS

• Department for Children, Schools and Families and Department of Health action plan published (17^th Dec 2008)
  Communication Matters are delighted with the publication of The Bercow Implementation Plan, a joint action plan between the Department of Children, Schools and Families and the Department of Health. This was launched in Westminster on 17 December 2009. In overall terms it embraces the key issues raised by Communication Matters during the consultation process, following up on the interim report and on-going since the report was issued in July 2008. Throughout Communication Matters has actively engaged with John Bercow, the review team and the implementation team via letter, email, personal contact and through the Communication Consortium/Communication Trust. It is pleasing to see evidence of our input in the Implementation Plan.
  - Read the plan on the DCSF website
  - Read a summary of the plan by CM chair Liz Moulam

THE BERCOW REVIEW ON COMMUNICATION SUPPORT AND SPEECH, LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION NEEDS FOR CHILDREN IN ENGLAND

• John Bercow Report debated in Parliament
  A Topical Debate on the Bercow Review took place in the House of Commons on Monday 21 July 2008.
  - Read Hansard transcript of debate

• Final Report (Published by John Bercow on 8 July 2008)
  This is a very positive report in terms of what needs to be done to improve the outcomes for all children with SLCN. The good news is that there is considerable emphasis put on early assessment, the provision of equipment and ongoing support for those who need AAC.
  - The Final Bercow Report
  - Ministerial response (Hansard)
  - Press Release
  - Communication Matters' Response to the Bercow Final Report (PDF)
  For convenience, we have pulled out the specific AAC recommendations from the report:
  - Read summary on specific AAC recommendations
   
• Interim Report (Published by John Bercow on 20 March 2008)
  Read Interim Report and Executive Summary
   
• Communication Matters’ Submissions to the Bercow Review
  The Trustees of Communication Matters have consulted widely to produce Initital and Final Submissions to the Bercow Review of Speech, Language and Communication Needs in Children 0-19 years. Communication Matters has also been collaborating with Scope, RCSLT, Afasic and other organisations to make a joint submission on Commissioning Incentives.
  - Read Communication Matters’ Initial Submission - Introduction
  - Read Communication Matters’ Final Submission (May 2008)
   
• Adjournment Debate (October 2007)
  John Bercow MP, led an adjournment debate in Westminster on 9 October 2007 on government policy on speech, language and communication support in educational settings. Bercow is leading a government commission to review speech and language services for school-age children, with an interim report due in March and final recommendations in summer 2008.
  Read Guardian newspaper article

AAC Developments in Scotland

• Debate in the Scottish Parliament - 8 May 2008
  Nanette Milne, a Member of the Scottish Parliament, used a communication aid to open a debate on the provision of AAC services and equipment in Scotland.
  - Read transcript of the debate
  - Watch video of the debate
   
• Working Group on AAC National Strategy - May 2008
  Following the parliamentary debate, the Scottish Government has set up an AAC Working Group to report, within six months, on the short, medium and long term strategies for AAC services and provision in Scotland.
   
• The Civic Participation Network Project
  This project, funded by the Scottish Government, has been announced by Communications Forum Scotland. The project aims to remove barriers faced by people with communication support needs wishing to be active citizens. Talk for Scotland, a web-based practical toolkit for engaging with people with communication support needs, has been produced as part of the Civic Participation Network Project.
  - Find out more about the project
  - View the Talk for Scotland toolkit

OFQUAL CONSULTATION  ON THE OPERATING RULES FOR COMPONENT AND DIPLOMA AWARDING BODIES

This Ofqual consultation and online questionnaire provide the opportunity for stakeholders to feed back on an updated version of the operating rules for component and Diploma awarding bodies, following publication of version 1 in July 2007. Ofqual would value your comments on this document through completion of the online questionnaire. Your responses will be considered carefully to finalise version 2 of the operating rules, which will be published on the 29 August 2008.
- More information on the Ofqual consultation

INDEPENDENT LIVING STRATEGY CONSULTATION

The Office of Disability Issues has launched a cross-government strategy on independent living for disabled people. This is the government's vision for Britain for the inclusion of all people in society and the access needed to the services and opportunities to make this happen. It is clear that AAC and specialist communication equipment to support independent living is on the agenda along with electronic assistive technology. Communication Matters has made a submission to the consultation process.
- Read the Independent Living Strategy Document
- Read Communication Matters’ ILS Submission

SCOPE’S NO VOICE, NO CHOICE RESEARCH REPORT

Scope launched its ‘No Voice, No Choice’ research report in the Houses of Parliament in November 2007. Over 160 people who use AAC and their family members were consulted. Amongst its findings is that there is a severe lack of funding and support for the provision of communication aids in the UK.
More information and obtain the report

ICAN’S LANGUAGE AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION REPORT

ICAN and BT Better World’s Language and Social Exclusion report highlights that nearly two thirds of children and young people at risk of social exclusion will have undetected speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) and behavioural difficulties.
- Download the report
- Further information about the report

SCOPE’S LITERATURE REVIEW ON COMMUNICATION PROVISION

Scope believes that everyone should have the right to communicate.
Scope has published useful literature review ‘Communication Aid Provision: a review of the literature’ which focuses on the current state of provision of communication aids in England and Wales, and makes recommendations for future actions that the government should take.
- Read the Literature Review
- More information from SCOPE

LEGISLATION AND REPORTS ON ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

Assistech WIKI has a very useful list & links to reports relating to legislation and assistive technology, including:

• Audit Commission: Assistive Technology - Independence and Well Being (2004)
• NSF for long term conditions
• Commissioning Specialised Services (DoH, 2002-2007)
• Improving the life chances of disabled people, Prime Minister's Strategy Unit

www.assistech.org.uk/doku.php/experiencebase:atlegislation

LAUNCH OF £2 MILLION INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

The Inclusion Development Programme was launched on 17 October 2007 by Lord Adonis, with the focus of the first round of materials focusing on including children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs. Click on the link below to read Lord Adonis’ speech, which contains a useful summary of government policies on SEN and disability within education.
- Read Lord Adonis’ Speech

A CHARTER FOR COMMUNICATION

The Communications Forum is currently consulting both their membership and all other interested parties on a Charter for Communication. The first draft of this 'Bill of Rights' is now available.
Read and respond to the Charter

Communication Matters will be responding as a member of the Communications Forum. We urge you to respond directly because it is intended that, once approved and published, the Charter will be presented to the All Parliamentary Group on Speech and Language Difficulties, and used by the Communication Trust in their work with the Commission reviewing the provision of services for children and young people with speech, language and communications needs. The closing date for responses was 31 October 2007.