Hello, my name is Caroline and I live in the Isle of Skye, a remote rural area of the Highlands and Islands. I am disabled and use a large powered wheelchair with my legs elevated and straight out in front of me, something not taken into account by those designing buildings or services who seem to assume everyone in a wheelchair can bend their knees to 90 degrees. I'm a qualified access auditor which means I assess the ease of access to and the ease of use of buildings, open environments or services for a wide range of potential users including people with mobility, cognitive and sensory impairments. I am also an unpaid carer. I find it difficult to engage with the Scottish Parliament for a number of reasons. Firstly, attitudinal; there seems to be an assumption that everyone engaging with the Scottish Parliament will have and be able to use all the latest technology and software which the Scottish Parliament has, however this is not always the case. So some documents can't even be opened or read. Whereas in a town or city it may be easy to attend classes or somewhere to get help using digital Technology this is not the case in a remote rural area. Secondly, physical disability; I have good days bad days. I have difficulty holding a telephone, pressing buttons, swiping a screen or typing. This makes it difficult for me to write or type or email or complete surveys. Also as the day goes on and my pain levels increase it becomes increasingly difficult for me to concentrate and take things in. 60% of disabled people have difficulty using digital technology. It would be better for me to have a degree of choice when and how to engage. Teams seems to be used a lot of the Scottish Parliament yet its very difficult for disabled people to use. Zoom is much easier for disabled people. Thirdly, geographical barriers; I have to travel long distances to get anywhere. For example 52 miles to get cash, 180 miles for a hospital scan appointment or an emergency dental appointment, 480 miles to the Scottish Parliament building and then return home. What would make it easier for me to share my views is talking to people face-to-face. I would like to be able to ask questions and get answers. I would like to explain how differently things work in a remote rural area than in a city. It would be easier for me if I didn't have to travel long distances. If representatives of the Scottish Parliament came nearer to where I live it might also help them to understand remote living better and how things that work in large urban areas don't always translate to work the same in remote rural areas. Thank you.
Jargon of govt departments. abbreviating everything, can be confusing. Problem about language, in particular second language. Could not get over how good Mar's language is. Language is quite a barrier.
To use plain English. Schools could play a bigger part. Translation, being made available in different languages. Education service at the Parliament. Is Google tranlsation sophisticated enough to use. Something visually alongside.
Digital barriers, agree with lots of what Caroline is saying. Travel is very important, having to travel really far to get to SP is really hard if you were a wheelchair user. Zoom seems to be a good medium. If you have the internet, you do not always need to travel. Issue of not being able to use cash. Transport needs to be good if people are to travel in the first place. Pain levels after having to travel for a long time.
Hands free phone, that you do not need to hold anything. Is Community Transport an option? Face to face can still be Zoom. On the travel days to SP, finish a little earlier to allow people to rest after travelling. Comfort breaks thinking about this in the planning.
IS the 60% figure accurate? How can we verify this?
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