Addressing health inequalities through engagement with people and communities

Summary

Remove barriers to ensure all groups, especially those facing health inequalities, can participate equally in engagement activities.

Link to health inequalities

Accessibility is crucial to ensuring that people in communities who experience health and care inequalities have an equal opportunity to participate (in accordance with the Equality Act 2010). This ensures that there is a diverse representation of perspectives as part of work with people and communities.

Activities, skills and resources

Emerging

• Avoid jargon and acronyms in engagement material.
• Use plain language and culturally sensitive communication to improve inclusivity.
• Create or signpost to easy-to-understand guidance for staff on physical accessibility.
• Host events in physically accessible venues.

Developing

• Extend accessibility to digital platforms, ensuring compliance with international web standards.
• Provide materials in multiple formats (for example, Braille, large print, audio).
• Ensure staff have the necessary training in digital accessibility standards and tools.

Maturing

• Work with communities to identify specific accessibility needs.
• Address issues like transportation for physical events and real-time interpretation for online engagement.
• Develop a checklist for both physical and digital accessibility measures tailored to under-served groups.

Thriving

• Make accessibility a fundamental aspect of engagement planning and delivery.
• Establish continuous feedback loops with people and communities who need additional support to guide ongoing improvements.
• Regularly review and adapt accessibility practices to incorporate new technologies and evolving needs.