A Single Strategy for Sensory Needs - The Highland Council

planned/ongoing, e.g. the report on the work of the Certification and Registration Working group, the recently published
Sensory Impairment Action Plan and the recently announced Eye health Care Review which will run over the next 12-18
months.
Another policy and planning area that R.N.I.B. Scotland has recently been working with a number of local authorities and
societies on is the implementation plans ‘Partnership in Practice’ (PIPs), following the ‘Same as You’ publication regarding
learning disability; they believe the current plans for services for people with multiple disability and visual impairment
(MDVI) are perhaps needing some reinforcement.
Reflections on meeting the Deaf community in Inverness
Brief Description: A meeting between a senior manager in Highland Social Work Department and more than 20 members of the
Deaf community took place at the local Deaf Centre 11/03/04. The meeting was facilitated by an independent chair and
two BSL/English interpreters.
The potential for a successful meeting was limited by the physical environment. The rooms available were small, dark,
cluttered and too narrow to accommodate the numbers attending.
The attendance of Deaf people was higher than had been predicted and this suggests a back up plan should probably
have been in place to accommodate this.
The meeting was halted in its track during the introduction about the Highland Strategy as Deaf people were unfamiliar
with the background, with the language and with a sensory wide perspective. A BSL video was available but could not
be played as the recorder could not be operated – remember to check all audio-visual equipment (the recorder in the
original room worked but once the room was changed there was a different recorder
It was agreed that as the meeting had stopped rearranging the seating would be a good idea – this was changed from
rows to a circle. Both layouts were far too cramped especially as some extra people arrived late.
Once the meeting restarted it focused on the services Deaf people receive and frank views were exchanged about
these.
The group were pleased to have been asked their views and indicated they were willing to contribute again in the
future.
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Comments from Caithness Deaf Care
Directors were consulted and posed questions regarding the likelihood of funding being made available in order to implement
the Action Plan. However the view was expressed that the Strategy was comprehensive and deserved support.