Inclusive Businesses: co-created with and for people with communication difficulties

Module Code: SL5113

Micro-credential Overview

Do you know that one million people living in Ireland will experience a communication difficulty?  Do you know that 20% of tourists will have a communication difficulty? The problem here is communication disabilities are often invisible. They go unnoticed due to a lack of awareness and training and the ability of staff to recognise the signs.  If you are interested in making your customer-facing business accessible to people with communication difficulties then this micro-credential course is for you.

The course aims to provide people working in customer-facing businesses with the necessary skills and knowledge to identify the needed criteria to make their business communication accessible for people who have communication difficulties/disabilities. Being able to communicate successfully in public places such as coffee shops, restaurants, hotels, shops is a human right. The World Health Organisation Sustainable Development Goal 11 is Sustainable Cities and Communities and it focuses on making cities of the world inclusive where all members of society feel valued and have a sense of belonging.  Also the Economic, Social and Governance framework urges businesses to consider sustainability for all customers. Key to this is staff being aware of communication difficulties, understanding how these difficulties impact how the person interacts in their daily activities and knowing how to create a sustainable and inclusive communication environment.  This micro-credential will enable a participant to learn strategies and ideas to create a communication accessible business.  It will also enable participants to assess the accessibility of their business for people with communication disability.

The module will be facilitated by Dr. Clare Carroll, a speech and language therapist and lecturer at University of Galway, with the support of community partners and people with communication difficulties. It is delivered online over 12 weeks. The course includes six live online classes plus offline activities to be completed each week. By the end of the course you will develop and present your action plan for communication accessibility in your context/business.