New guidance on inclusive communications published by CIPR and DWP
The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will today publish co-produced best practice guidance for communications professionals on inclusive communications, in support of the ‘Disability Confident’ campaign.
The new guidance, available to download from the CIPR website, covers advice on appropriate and inclusive language, producing accessible formats, issues concerning legality, and general tips on delivering inclusive and diverse communications.
Accompanying the publication of the new guide, a round-table meeting will be hosted this morning by the CIPR and DWP, chaired by the Minister for Disabled People at the CIPR.
At the round-table, Mark Harper will lead a discussion with over 20 senior public relations business leaders on Disability Confident, a key government campaign designed to challenge negative attitudes and improve employment opportunities for disabled people.
As well as being an opportunity to share new guidance, the meeting also tables a discussion aimed at addressing the issue of under-representation of disabled people in public relations, identifying key areas of development for employers in delivering ‘disability confident’ workplaces.
This follows data from the CIPR’s 2015 State of the Profession survey, to be published next week, which will reveal that just 6% of all public relations professionals identify as having a disability or a long-term health condition, significantly lower than the 16% of the UK working population that has a disability, according to government statistics.
Since its launch nearly two years ago, the Disability Confident campaign has made a huge impact and significantly raised the profile of the disability employment agenda. The campaign has challenged negative attitudes and brought some of the UK’s biggest businesses on board.
This booklet is the next step, providing practical advice for communication professionals to help make their communications channels accessible. The “Purple Pound”, representing the spending power of disabled customers, is estimated at around £212bn per year and this is a huge potential audience for businesses.
Recent data has shown us that disabled people are under-represented in our industry, and as a profession we can and must do more to ensure that we welcome and accommodate practitioners from all backgrounds. Using our collective voice through the channels and strategies available to us, we can deliver a real difference for disabled people in society and the workplace. In the public relations sector too, addressing disability as a diversity issue is an important priority.
Notes to editors
About the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR)Founded in 1948, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) is the Royal Chartered professional body for public relations practitioners in the UK and overseas. The CIPR is the largest membership organisation for PR practitioners outside of North America. By size of turnover and number of individually registered members, we are the leading representative body for the PR profession and industry in Europe.
The CIPR advances professionalism in public relations by making its members accountable to their employers and the public through a code of conduct and searchable public register, setting standards through training, qualifications, awards and the production of best practice and skills guidance, facilitating Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and awarding Chartered Public Relations Practitioner status (Chart.PR).