The Minister for Disabled People has announced a review of the communication and language support market. It is being led by the Department for Work and Pensions, in collaboration with other government departments, organisations that work for and with people who are deaf, deafblind or have a hearing loss, and the communication and language profession.

The review will determine the present state of the market in support that facilitates communication for people who are deaf, deafblind or have hearing loss and those that need to engage with them. The review will look at the provision in the UK as a whole and will include all forms of communication and language support. It will then identify future developments and consider how they could affect the market for these services in the near future (5 to 10 years). The resulting report will inform interested parties and support future strategy and policy decisions.

The main areas of focus of the review are:

• Demand
• Supply
• Technology
• Forward Look

The call for evidence

Purpose

The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) are now looking for evidence that will help them understand the current state of the market, its strengths and weaknesses and possible opportunities and challenges.

This call for evidence will be one of the methods used to gather information. Evidence submitted will be used to inform a final report of the review.

How to tell us what you think

To respond to this consultation you can do the following:

• Answer the questions in the document below and email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or post to:

Morven Brooks
Communications Manager
Scottish Disability Equality Forum
Office 1/7, The e-Centre, Cooperage Way
Alloa, FK10 3LP

• Go to our online survey – https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/8ZGPPYR

Your response directly to SDEF will be collated with other SDEF member responses and submitted on behalf of SDEF.

• Further information about this call for evidence is available from the website link below - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/communications-for-people-who-are-deaf-or-have-hearing-loss-market-review

Please return your response no later than Sunday 6 March 2016.

• document SDEF Briefing Communications for people who are deaf or have hearing loss (68 KB) (Word Doc)

• pdf SDEF Briefing Communications for people who are deaf or have hearing loss (91 KB) (PDF)

• document SDEF Briefing Communications for people who are deaf or have hearing loss (7 KB) (Plain Text)

• audio SDEF Briefing Communications for people who are deaf or have hearing loss (7.06 MB) (Audio)

• BSL Video - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/communications-for-people-who-are-deaf-or-have-hearing-loss-market-review