Accessible Information Standard Findings

Help & Care’s research arm Involving People, alongside Healthwatch Hampshire, Healthwatch Isle of Wight, Healthwatch Southampton, and Healthwatch Portsmouth, have released a pivotal report on the Accessible Information Standard (AIS). The report reveals that many individuals with disabilities, impairments, and sensory loss are unaware of their rights under the AIS and often do not receive information in accessible formats.

The Accessible Information Standard is designed to ensure everyone, no matter what their needs and preferences, has access to information that they understand, and communication support they may need. All organisations that provide NHS or adult social care must follow the Accessible Information Standard by law and in full.

However, this has never been fully or widely implemented and this report provides evidence from local people across Hampshire (including Southampton and Portsmouth) and the Isle of Wight of how this affects people in their daily lives. It also provides recommendations to be taken forward into actions and change.

The findings of the report reveal a concerning reality: many individuals are unaware of their rights under the AIS, or the importance of communication support tailored to their needs. Additionally, most participants had never been asked about their preferred communication methods, leading to a loss of independence, privacy, and dignity.

Key recommendations include increasing AIS awareness, improving staff training, and diversifying communication methods. The full report is available in multiple accessible formats and available here. This initiative aims to enhance the quality of communication support in health and social care services across Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.