Creating information patients can understand about their health and care

• A not-for-profit communications company

• Established in 2015 by experienced marketing and communications professionals

• Our clients are health and social care organisations. We translate the complex information they produce into easy to understand pieces in many different formats such as braille, audio, video and plain text for text to speak apps and screen readers

• Our services benefit people with disabilities, i.e. learning disabilities, visual impairments and hearing loss, but are also helpful for foreign speakers, elderly and children and young people

• We are an equal opportunities, community-focused employer; providing work experience and flexible employment opportunities for local people with disabilities.

About Straight Talkers

• Audit and planning services

• Review current approach

• Gap analysis

• Recommendations

• Implementation and support services

• Specialist toolkits

• Sharing best practice and peer networking opportunities

• Policy templates available

• Resource creation

• Design, creation and distribution of accessible materials

• Print, electronic, video, audio

• Free easy read templates available

Our Services

• Face to face contact cannot be overlooked

• Workplace training around effective communication methods for people with disabilities

• Autism awareness training also available

• Delivered in the workplace by experienced trainers and people with disabilities

• 1 day courses for up to 15 staff, could be undertaken by a group of practices or a federation

Training and Staff Development

• Widely used way of presenting information for individuals with learning disabilities or those with limited literacy

• Pictures accompanied by straightforward text

• Some free templates available from Straight Talkers

• In-house or outsource

Easy Read

• Convert text to braille

• Outsource via a specialist such as Henshaws or the Scottish Braille Press

• In-house - buy a braille embosser and braille translation software for around £1000

Braille Printing

• Used mainly by those who are deaf or have hearing impairments

• A BSL interpreter can be used in GP appointments and will usually cost around £30 per hour

• Interpreter Now is an on-demand alternative which is easier and more cost effective

British Sign Language

A not-for-profit company

CONTACT:Fiona Sherwoodfiona.sherwood@straighttalkers.org07740 486395