5 PRACTICAL RESOURCES AND TOOLKITS
5.1 The six toolkits described in this section offer practical help to plan and implement effective engagement with disabled people and organisations and can be used by public bodies or by disability groups wishing to engage with their service providers.
5.2 Visioning Outcomes in Community Engagement9( VOiCE) is a database recording tool to enable everyone involved in community engagement to respond effectively to the National Standards of Community Engagement. It has been designed primarily for use by staff and service managers to maximise participation, particularly from hard-to-reach groups. It is also relevant to groups who wish to initiate engagement with local authorities. It can be used to support a range of participation from overall area regeneration to specific concerns of users of particular services.
5.3 It is designed to be relevant both for individual services and for integrated, cross disciplinary community planning. VOiCE enables all users to have a common system for analysing, planning, monitoring, evaluating and recording that provides common protocols, definition of terms and understanding of different types and purposes of engagement.
5.4 South Lanarkshire's6 Community Planning Partnership Community Engagement Framework ( CEF) sets out principles, tools and techniques, a six-stage engagement process and a 'wheel of participation'. The wheel details the various stages of engagement which can be used when working with communities. It moves from no input from the community, through consultation and participation to community empowerment, where communities make their own decisions on the issues which affect them.
5.5 The Office for Disability Issues 'Moving Forward'14 programme suggests the following techniques:
- Involve disability groups and disabled people in identifying priorities before you write your plan. Be flexible in your approach.
- Continue to communicate with disabled people and organisations who are involved throughout the process so they know what is happening.
- Establish a dedicated group to ensure ongoing involvement.
- Be honest and realistic about what can be achieved and give disabled people a real chance to help shape action plans and priorities.
- Consider collaborating with other organisations to reduce costs and get a wider range of views on actions and priorities.
5.6 Communities Scotland Community Engagement How To Guide on Engagement Techniques16 gives details of the following techniques:
- Discussion group techniques
- Public event techniques
- Survey techniques
- Regular involvement techniques
- Capacity building and support
- Using arts and innovation
5.7 The Children's Society Disability Toolkit17 is a database full of techniques for engaging with disabled children on a variety of issues. A few of these are:
- The Hear by Right standards framework is based around a core set of values for the participation of children and young people that need to be owned and shared by all those involved.
- My Life, My Decisions, My Choice is a learning resource for disabled children and young people that includes an A2 poster and 10 interactive display cards to help them understand their right to participate in decisions about their life. It helps them explore their feelings, thoughts and needs. It is designed to help young people understand the decision-making process and to help them to prepare and be involved.
5.8 WeCan2 is a website based on the work of six young people with a learning disability. In order to be effectively involved in Local Authority Youth Participation structures, the young people researched barriers to access and recommended a number of possible solutions.
5.9 This toolkit also offers a range of activities designed to overcome barriers caused by communication impairments.
5.10 The Communication Forum Scotland's Talk for Scotland Communication Toolkit2 is for decision-makers and service providers in public and voluntary organisations. It is for those who produce information and run events aimed at engaging with the public. It provides advice on how to engage with people who have varied communication impairments. The focus is on needs beyond those related with sensory impairments and English as an additional language.