Scottish Council of Independent Schools - Accessibility Handbook and Guide
The Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS) has published the Handbook on Accessibility as a guide for schools in preparing their accessibility strategies, in combating discrimination and in making the school communities more readily accessible.
Contents of the handbook
The SCIS Handbook on Accessibility covers the three statutory areas that schools need to consider in their improvement plans in relation to accessibility: the curriculum, communications and the physical environment.
The sections of the handbook are as follows:
- Disability legislation and terminology
- Preparing accessibility strategies
- Access to the curriculum
- Access to the physical environment
- Communication and delivery of information
- School self-evaluation
View the Accessibility Handbook on the SCIS website
The document builds on the learning from the Scottish Executive’s Report on the First Round of Accessibility Strategies, and demonstrates a commitment from the independent and grant-aided schools sector to ensuring that disabled children and young people have access to the full range of learning opportunities in welcoming, supportive and inclusive environments.
Photographic guide to an accessible environment
The SCIS website also includes an interactive photographic guide on the physical environment. This can be used as a learning and teaching tool in schools.
View the photographic guide on the SCIS website
Thanks are due to the Scottish Executive, to the Disability Rights Commission, to SCIS and the two development officers who compiled and prepared the handbook and photographic guide. They are intended as practical guides for all those who work in schools to help make their environment more accessible.