Our Vision

Vision impairment and blindness are understood and are no longer a barrier to participation in society.

 

Accessibility

Accessibility and inclusion should be at the heart of every organisation. We all share a responsibility and a commitment to ensuring that access is equal, fair, and inclusive for everyone.

Our accessibility and inclusion top tips are outlined below. We encourage you to share and follow them, helping to create environments where everyone feels welcomed, respected, and able to participate

 

Accessible space

When possible, provide descriptive, accessible information about the environment ahead of the visit or event.

Information should include:

• The address of the venue
• Local transport options
• The fire exit and muster point
• Details of any alarm tests
• Where the toilets are situated and their layout
• How to book a human guide

 

At the point of welcome, the visitor should be greeted by a description of:

• The fire exit and muster point
• How to locate the toilet and layout of the toilet
• How to access support from a staff member

 

Room etiquette

• Never leave objects on the floor; this could lead to a trip or a fall.
• Always leave the room as you found it. Ensure chairs and tables are returned to their original place.
• Always communicate verbally with a ‘’hello’’ and a ‘’goodbye’’ when entering and leaving a room.
• Visibility Scotland provides a safe space for people with vision impairment, neurodiversity, and brain injury, as well as guide dogs. Do not stroke or talk to a guide dog that is working, i.e., when the harness is on.
• Digital information should follow our internal Golden Rules (see below).
• Be descriptive with communication. Do not use phrases such as ‘over there’.

 

Golden rules for electronic documents

• Arial font only – must be point 14 or larger
• Colour set to automatic
• Only links should be underlined
• Use bold sparingly for emphasis. Do not use all caps.
• Left-aligned text and pictures
• Line spacing set to 1.5
• Use alt text and image descriptions for pictures
• Make hyperlinks descriptive. Always put them on a line below the text. Never place hyperlinks in the middle of a sentence.
• Structure your document by using Heading Styles (available on the Styles menu within Microsoft Word)
• End of Document – include this phrase at the end of all documents and

 

Together, we can make positive change. Let’s begin your accessibility journey today.