Sensory struggles? Get census support Charity offering help to fill in once-in-a-decade forms
Perth and Kinross’s only sight and hearing loss charity is urging those who are blind, have a vision impairment, are deaf or hard of hearing to remember to fill in their census forms and to ask for help completing them if needed.
The Scottish Census has been delayed been a year due to COVID-19 and will this year took place on Sunday, March 20.
While the date of the census is the 20th, letters arrived to households in the weeks beforehand and the questionnaire can be complete before the 20th and any time until the end of April.
The census is a once-a-decade count of the population of Scotland and the information gathered helps authorities to plan the appropriate services where they’re more needed.
Chief executive of Vision PK, Gwenn McCreath said: “The census is key to how services and local infrastructure are funded and we need to ensure that the services are directed exactly where they’re needed.
“That’s why we want to urge those with sensory impairments to fill in the census and make sure they are counted and get the future services that they need.”
This year, the census has gone online, but there is help available for those with sensory impairments.
Paper copies of the census are still being made available to those who would find it easier to complete it in that way and can be requested in large print.
The guidance for completing the census is also available to request.
A copy of the census is also available on audio CD as well as in Braille.
The dedicated website for completing the census (www. census.gov.scot) has also been created to be as accessible and usable as possible to older audiences and those with visual, hearing, cognitive or motor impairments.
On the website visitors will find assisting technologies such as easier-to-read colours, larger fonts, the use of plain English and the option of keyboard-only navigation.
For users of British Sign Language (BSL), explanation videos are available for each question in the census or contributors can phone for assistance using Contact Scotland’s BSL app.
CPK Libraries also offer free PC access and can support people to fill out their questionnaires online if required.
VisionPK are keen to encourage everyone to take part in this year’s census and want to ensure that those with sensory loss has everything they need to have their voices heard.
Further information on how to access the census can be found at www.census.gov.scot/help/ language-and-accessibility-help or by calling the census free helpline on 0800 030 8308.