Our Empower Enterprise!
The Empower Enterprise is our user-led accessible information service. It is the overall service that we offer to organisations to support them to produce accessible information. This is so they can meet the access needs of people with learning difficulties, disabilities and autistic people.
There is a legal duty to produce information in accessible formats
The Disability Justice Project says 'The Equality Act 2010 requires that providers of services, big or small, take steps to ensure you get information in a format that is good for you. This means you should expect accessible information from banks, energy companies, shops and restaurants as well as public bodies, such as local authorities, the NHS, government departments and the courts.'
The Disability Justice Project has produced a Discrimination Guide - Accessible Information and Communication
All disabled people have the right to reasonable adjustments when using public services, including healthcare. Having information in accessible formats, like Easy Read, is a reasonable adjustment.
From 1 August 2016 onwards, all organisations that provide NHS care and/or publicly-funded adult social care have been legally required to follow the Accessible Information Standard. This was reviewed in 2017.
Click here to read the Accessible Information Standard: Review Report
Find out about our campaigning work for accessible information here.
Our Empower service includes Easy Read Translation, Easy Read Training and the Easy Read Picture Bank.
We also work with individuals and organisations to tailor a complete support package, to develop inclusive and accessible ways of working.
Find out more about these services below.
Here are some examples of our easy read translation:
Brent Council: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (September 2024)
National Survivor User Network (NSUN): Menstrual Health in Psychiatric Inpatient Settings - Executive Summary (May 2024)
Disabled People's Manifesto: Part 1 (May 2024)
Transport for London (TFL): Equity in Motion Easy Read Part 1-4 (Feb 2024)
Esmee Fairbairn: Youth Creativity Programme Funding Guidance (Feb 2024)
Just Fair: Independent Report to the United Nations on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (May 2023)
London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham Public Order consultations:
People First documents/projects:
People First Manifesto: See Us, Hear Us, Value Us
The Co-producing Accessible Legal Information (COALITION) Project: Resources
SCIE - Supporting Each Other Equals Power (SEOEP): Project reports and resources