Shining a Light on accessible communication

Monday 28 November 2011

Mencap’s accessibility team honoured at communication awards

Mencap was a winner at the Shine A Light awards, run by the Communication Trust and Pearson Assessment on 23 November.

The event at Pearson’s headquarters in London was part of the Hello campaign to improve communication skills for children and young people. Mencap’s accessibility team won a highly commended finalist award in the employee support category, which recognises employers that offer good support around communication to their employees.

Mencap’s senior accessible communications officer Estelle Bloom and accessible communications assistant Dean Meuleman collected the award from TV and radio presenter Vanessa Feltz at the event.

The team provides a number of accessible communication services. These include producing information in easy read, an accessible format specifically designed for people with a learning disability.

The team also offers accessible communication training to enable front-line staff to communicate effectively with people with a learning disability, and bespoke sessions on consultation with people with a learning disability. As well as working with Mencap teams, the team has worked with organisations including the police, the NHS and government departments.

Liz Stone, Mencap’s accessible communications manager, said: “The award is a reflection of all the work that Dean Meuleman, Estelle Bloom and Chloe Harvey have done to make information more accessible for people with a learning disability. It also acknowledges the work of the team in supporting people with a learning disability to be heard, understood and valued. I am very proud to work with such an inspiring group of people.”

Mencap’s application also highlighted other good practice around communication, including its media spokespeople with a learning disability and the Involve Me project to improve the involvement of people with profound disabilities in decision making.

Vanessa Feltz said: “I could not do my job without my ability to communicate, so the work of the Hello campaign is vital. Hosting the first ever Shine a Light campaign awards has been fantastic. The sheer passion and dedication in this field is palpable and the winners and runners up should be very proud of their achievements.”

Find out more about Mencap’s accessible communication services

Find out more about the Hello campaign and the Shine A Light Awards