Accessibility Strategy for Aberdeen City Council.
The Accessibility Strategy for Aberdeen City Council.
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Accessibility Projects

The Accessibility Strategy covers education in
schools and learning programmes, and
pre-school nursery programmes which are not
in schools, such as in community centres,
portable cabins or in travellers' sites.
Therefore, the strategy will include education
and associated services for pupils such as
after school clubs.		 Accessibility Strategy for Aberdeen City Council.
Audits

We have asked a team of professionals to visit every school and centre to look at what can be improved. They have reported back to us and suggested some practical solutions. We have looked at all the audit reports and we have prioritised what needs to be done. We will draw up a plan of action and publish this so you will know what is being done.

Examples:

Work at Harlaw Academy has given the school a whole new look. There are two ramps at the front entrance to make access easier. Inside there is a stair climber, and a lift. As well as changes to the physical
environment, there is a new Alerter pager system which is linked to the fire alarm. This will let anyone with a hearing impairment know if the fire alarm sounds.

Our city wide approach to issues, together with work on individual schools such as Harlaw, will continue in the next year to ensure a standard of access for all.
For example, in every school in Aberdeen, we are putting in mobile loop systems. Again this will enable people from the Deaf community better access to reception and information services.

Curriculum

Schools are being encouraged to talk to each other and exchange information about what has worked for them, which is known as "best practice". Teachers and pupils are working together with other schools and agencies, which allows them to learn from each other.

Examples:

In Bankhead Academy we held an Equalities Day for all first year pupils. Everyone had an opportunity to learn about access, equal opportunities, good practice, anti racism awareness and attitudes to different people. From the 96 pupils who took our workshops this year we had great feedback and good responses. This type of awareness raising can be linked to the Personal and Social Education curriculum.

A particular example of where Accessibility Strategy has supported the curriculum is through the supply and use of ICT and specially designed software to enable people to have quicker and more accurate assessments for example or direct access to a subject like maths or English.

Communication

Information about any issues which affects pupils and their parents needs to be in a variety of different and interesting formats - such as this website. We are also gathering pupils' views on accessibility meetings. The Council's Interpretation Unit and other organisations are helping us to translate all the information into different languages and other styles such as large print or braille for people who require this. In addition an Accessibility Strategy newsletter and a CD-ROM have been produced and a range of postcards featuring the designs of local school children and inspired by Accessibility issues have been printed.
 
Andy Access - Aberdeen City Council Accessibility Strategy mascot.

Ok,
if the
education
system puzzles
you
from time to
time then
this game
will be
the sort of
thing you're
used to.
Not to worry
though,
think of it
as a
challenge!
 
Glo Potter, Neighbourhood Services (Central), St Nicholas House, Broad St, Aberdeen, AB10 1BX.