The Communication Hub joins the many individuals and organisations promoting the Communication Access Symbol.
We hope that it will achieve the same status as the Wheelchair Access symbol in terms of respect, recognition, support, design and legal obligation.
The internationally recognised Communication Access Symbol was developed by Scope’s Communication and Inclusion Resource Centre in 2011. The aim is to create a world where people who have communication difficulties are able to communicate successfully with everyone.
The Communication Access Symbol is awarded to businesses that undergo an accreditation process to recognise communication access as part of their access and inclusion plans.
An environment or service is 'communication accessible' when people are respectful and responsive to individuals with communication difficulties, and when strategies and resources are used to support successful communication. Communication Access is fundamental to creating services that are fully accessible to all customers.
When businesses and services display the Communication Access Symbol, it means they are communication accessible:
- Staff are welcoming and treat everyone with dignity and respect
- Staff are able to communicate successfully with people with communication difficulties
- Communication tools are available to help people get their message across and understand what people are telling them.
Over 200 Australian businesses have been accredited with the Communication Access Symbol including public transport providers, justice services, local government and community organisations. Watch this short video to see the impact of the Communication Access Symbol accreditation.
Scope provides tools and resources to help businesses and services providers work toward achieving the Communication Access symbol. Scope’s experienced team of consultants work in collaboration with the business to develop customised communication tools, provide practical training and complete an audit to ensure goods and services adhere to a set of communication access standards. Scope services are led by an experiences team of trainers, assessors and consumer testers with lived experience of communication disability.
For more information about the Communication Access Symbol please contact Scope’s communication access team at [email protected]