healthandcare.scot columnist Michael McEwan reports on the launch of a new app he was involved in developing that seeks to support people with learning disabilities in Scotland to understand their rights.

A big challenge for many disability organisations has always been how to share a lot of information in a clear and accessible format.

The Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities (SCLD) have designed an app, fully co-developed with a group of people with learning disabilities, including myself.

It is important to involve those with lived experience in the design of such an  app, with our input helping to write and voice the virtual scenarios.

The app is called Human Rights Town, and is to empower people with learning disabilities and others, including younger people, to learn more about their rights.

App users are invited around a virtual town where they encounter challenging scenarios at each location. These include using public transport or working at a supermarket.

Users answer questions as part of their travels around the town, and the app also works as an educational tool.

This app covers the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), as often this legislation is too difficult to navigate just on paper.

The software is designed with practical exercises to highlight barriers to realising rights and good practice.  Each of the scenarios is voiced over by a person who has a learning disability.

I'm not aware of people with learning disabilities being involved in app development before, nor am I aware of an app which attempts to create awareness of people's rights.

It's ground-breaking that SCLD had people with life experience on board at the outset to design this human rights app,and I hope that other organisations will follow suit.

App user William McNee told me: "I feel that listening to the questions being played and then answering it is easier, as I've difficulty reading, so having a voice speaking to me is helpful, plus I'm learning right from wrong.

“The layout is easy to follow and good that it's been created by other people like me. I'm looking forward to using it more, and helping others in my social club to use it in to understand their human rights"

Oonagh Brown of SCLD advised: "The Human Rights Town app is an important tool to empower people with learning disabilities to recognise, realise and stand up for their human rights.

“We hope to help create the transformational change they want to see in the world."

The app’s virtual launch was attended by over 150 people, including myself.

The demand for the app is already huge, and is free to download on both Google and Apple stores.

Read More:  Manifesto for an orindary life; Pam Duncan-Glancy: Where's the care restart? Learning disabilities health inequalities "entrenched"

Michael McEwan is a freelance journalist: www.michaelmcewanmedia.webs.com