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24 Speak Out June 2013 Speech Pathology Australia
Feature
Communication Access is defined by people with
communication difficulties as “Communication Access is
when everyone can get their message across”.
Background
The Communication Access Network (CAN) is funded by
DHS and consists of Scope’s Communication Resource
Centre (CRC) at the hub, and 11 Regional Communication
Services across Victoria. The Communication Access
Network leads, supports and coordinates local and
state-wide initiatives to ensure people with complex
communication needs can communicate effectively and
participate in their own communities.
In 2008-2010, the CRC led the process to identify a symbol
for communication access through state-wide consultation
which followed the Australian Standard AS 2342-1992.
Over 1,700 people responded to 10 possible symbols.
The symbol that was selected became the new symbol
for Communication Access, and it was launched on 17
November 2011. This was the culmination of five years of
work by people with communication disabilities and the
Communication Access Network.
Communication access assessments and
the communication access assessors
Businesses, services
and organisations are
assessed by people with
a communication disability
who are employed as
communication access
assessors.
There are currently 15 trained
communication access
assessors, who were trained over three days to learn about
Communication Access and the assessment process.
Communication access assessors have told us what
communication access means to them:
• “Communication Access and the symbol will help
educate people about different ways of communicating”
• “People remain relaxed and comfortable when talking
with people who use different ways of communicating”
• “Communication is a two-way process”
• “Speaking to the person and not the person with them”
• “Taking time! Speak to me, not down to me”.
“Being employed as a communication access assessor
has meant:
• Job satisfaction
• Making a difference
• Opportunity to travel and meet new people
• Presenting at conferences and forums
• Additional income
• New friendships and colleagues who are assessors
• Being part of the team at the CRC”.
Places that have been awarded the
Communication Access symbol
All places are
assessed against 30
criteria and in order
to be awarded the
symbol, services must
meet the minimum
criteria.
A list of businesses
and services that
are communication
accessible are on
Scope’s website:
php/site/whatweoffer/communicationresourcecentre/
communicationaccess
These places include Able Australia, Barwon
Health – Newcomb Community Health Centre,
Bendigo Bank – Lara District Community Bank,
Bundoora Park Café, Café Escape, Communication
Rights Australia, Latrobe City Council – various offices,
Scope’s Southern and Gippsland regional offices,
Travellers Aid – Flinders Street and Southern Cross,
and Warrnambool City Council.
At present Communication Access is a Victorian-
based initiative, but there is interest nationally and
internationally. Scope’s CRC is currently undertaking
investigations to take this initiative beyond Victoria.
For further information about Communication Access,
please contact the Communication Resource Centre on
03 9843 2000 or
Denise West, Naomi Rezzani & Hank Wyllie
Scope Communication Resource Centre
Communication Access –
“Good Communication is Good Business”
A group of communication access
assessors.
The Communication Access symbol.