Working Together, Communicating Together: Involving AAC service users within Lothian

Session

P.2

Poster

• • Deborah Jans (Keycomm Resource Centre)
  • Helen White (Edinburgh Development Group)

Summary

This poster will provide participants with an overview of user engagement as well as how we have implemented the principles of user engagment and participation in service planning and improvement. We will also describe how we have devised a new information strategy for the service, to ensure that we are providing information about service provision and AAC in an accessible format for all service users and their carers.

Method/Activities/Techniques

We will describe the various methods for user engagement including the use of graphic facilitation, focus groups and accessible materials to provide a forum for people who use AAC to voice their opinions on service delivery and how they feel they want to participate in partnership with the Keycomm team in the future. In order to build and improve our AAC service, we wanted to engage with service users so we can embed their views in shaping AAC services in Lothian.

Results/Findings

The focus groups have looked at information across different formats and were keen to have more of a presence within the information that Keycomm gives out. They felt that information needed to be more accessible by using more images and photos. Most people were interested in the development of Facebook. Also, a simple pocket size AAC information tool for keyworkers and communication partners is being developed.

Conclusions

We now have an information strategy which is being implemented across Lothian which includes a user friendly website, prescence on Facebook and implementation of a portable information card for supporters working with people who use AAC. Parents have also expressed an interest in being involved and we are currently working on a Parent Champion scheme.

Level of Session

General

Age Group

Adolescent
Adult

Interest

Adult
Transitions