- You are here:
- Home
- Health, Emergency and Justice
Health, Emergency and Justice
Supporting communication for
vulnerable people
Being able to communicate with someone quickly and clearly during an emergency is vital.
Clear communication improves the effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment, leading to quicker and more successful recovery.
Giving clear information and gathering accurate facts helps keep situations calm and reduces risks.
Widgit Symbols add visual support to information, making it easier to understand.
More about symbols:
Success Stories
University of Southampton's research into the use of symbols in police custody.
A project with Autism Hampshire, Hampshire Constabulary and the Appropriate Adult Service.
It is essential that our volunteers can engage in the best way possible with those beneficiaries who are hardest to care for and are most vulnerable.
The Communication Book is a key component of our toolkit.
Richard Hankins,
Head of Event First Aid
With the Safe Place Scheme, Local Authorities and the Police are helping to reduce bullying and abuse of people with learning disabilities in their communities.
I think it is vital that Safe Places schemes strive towards using a common symbol.
Maggie Graham, Mencap
Being able to reassure someone in an emergency is key to my role as a Community First Responder. To be able to do this, I need to communicate well.
I welcome the Widgit Medical Communication Aids, as they make me more confident that I can bring calm in the widest range of situations.
A Community First Responder
Developed in association with Dr. Judith Short, Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust.
The Hospital Procedures resources are designed to help patients with learning difficulties understand the procedures, sequence of events and people associated with a hospital visit.
Diabetes Symbol Resources, developed in partnership with Warwick University and the George Eliot Diabetes Care Team.
The Diabetes Symbol Resources include simple text and symbol supported versions of the Alphabet Strategy Diabetes Cards.
Who symbols can help
Widgit uses symbols to support people who have communication, language or learning disabilities.
Find about who uses symbols
-
In the UK, there are 10.9 million people registered with a disability (1)
-
2.1 million people are registered with a communication disability (1)
-
Disabled people are significantly more likely to be victims of crime than non-disabled people. 39% of disabled people reported having been a victim of crime compared to 28% of non-disabled people. (1)
-
The Equality Act 2010 put a responsibility on all organisations to make reasonable adjustments to meet the needs of disabled people:
cover-ups/rights-disabled-person
Widgit Symbols add visual support to the printed word, opening up the world of information to those otherwise excluded from it.
Find out more about symbols
- Faster communication
- Reduce risk
- Support vulnerable people
- Calm and reassure
- Reduce language barriers
- Meet legal responsibilities
- Save lives
Design Studio
Are your documents accessible to all your clients?
We can create accessible symbol information, tailored to your needs.
Our specialist design team will work in partnership with your organisation to produce symbolised materials that fit your individual requirements.
Bespoke service
We will consult with you throughout the design process to ensure that the end result is appropriate for the different needs of your client base.
Best practice
We can work with you to ensure "best practice" in symbol accessibility and suggest the most appropriate language for your information.
Meeting your responsibilities
An inclusive approach to the design of your product or service will help you to ensure compliance with current legislation on accessibility.
Design studio services include:
- Translating information into symbols
- Converting text to Easy Read
- Designing new symbols
- Developing resources and materials
- Providing advice and training
Get in touch
If you want help with accessibility or have an idea for a resource, please contact us.
For design services,
email
symbols@widgit.com
For copyright permission,
email
copyright@widgit.com
Ready-made materials developed with professionals
First Aid Communication Booklet
Symbols communication tool for all First Aiders
ICE Communication Cards
Widgit 'In Case of Emergency' Cards with fold out Symbol Sheet
First Response Communication Book
Symbols communication tool for medical professionals
Patient Communication Sheet
For supporting patients communicating in hospital
Symbols, Literacy and Social Justice
An internationally focused book about symbols and literacy
Need something else?
All our materials are developed in partnership with professionals. If you require a communication tool that fits your content and needs, please contact our Design Studio at symbols@widgit.com
Create your own materials
InPrint 4Create symbol materials to print
Widgit symbols, along with the powerful features and freedom of layout of desktop publishing, help to create materials that have a professional look.
Widgit OnlineCreate symbol materials in your web browser.
Create symbol flashcards, timetables, stories and a lot more, with no installation needed.
Widgit Health Symbols Specifically designed symbols for use in healthcare settings.
Widgit Health Symbols is an add-on for Widgit Online and InPrint 4 and SymWriter. This pack contains flashcards for all of the medical vocabulary, a glossary and 600 Widgit Symbols specifically designed for use in healthcare settings.
This complements the extensive general health vocabulary of 1,350 health symbols and 190 psychiatry symbols in the Widgit Symbol Set.
Included with
The Widgit Health Symbols are included with InPrint and Widgit Online subscription tiers of Basic and above. It is available to purchase as an add-on for Home users.
Need help?
To discuss our software and services, please call 01926 333680, or email info@widgit.com
Free PDF materials
The resources below will take you to Widgit-Health.com
