Up date of Accessible Information Guidelines.

Introduction.

Just to let you that everyone's' needs are different. I have just written down some tips how some people may their information but people may want it in a way I have written down. This is why it's important to ask people they want their information written down to try and save a lack of communication and understanding. I know you can't please everyone because the service you work for may not have the tools or and funding to make information accessible to everyone but all the same as I said in the guidelines if the information is really important that the person your seeing understands and the person has no one else to support them, then make your manager aware so he or she can arrange to find someone who can support that person to understand the information.

• People with disabilities understand it’s not always easy for you to make information easy read if the service you work for hasn't got the tools.
• People with disabilities understand that money is tight for a lot of services now.
•  All the same if the service you work provides easy read,
• It’s always best to ask the people how they want the information.
• Different people see easy read in different way.
•  If you don’t have time to go through any information people don’t understand, see that someone is free to go through the information with them if whatever it is is very important to help people with disabilities to understand whatever it is.

 ·    Some people may need larger print.

·       Some people may find information clearer all in bold.

·      Using Photographs, if you have to take pictures of different places make sure you have permission first.

·       Photographs should be of nouns people, places and objects.

·       Remember you will need to ask managers of businesses before taking pictures of buildings.
It's also best ask peoples' permission before taking a picture of them but tell them the reason just briefly for eg; to make information easy read for people with learning disabilities.

·      Some would like the information written in different to others.

·Ask people if your information clear enough for them to read!

• Write in short word and clear short sentences.

·        Just have one idea in each sentence.

·       This means shorting words or a few letters.

·       Using less words

·        You may need to look in a thesaurus to find short words for long we word.

·       People with disabilities understand there are some short words you can't be found for longs words others you can.

·       If that happens try to explain more if the it’s very important that they do understand the information.

·       You may need to help most people read the information.

 ·        Look in a thesaurus to find short words for long words but that's not always possible a lot of professional words . 

Don't use verbs like John loves Mary or Mary loves John!

·       Think about key points that can be made easier for the person to read.

·       Don't use words that only specialist would understand or acronyms.

Font.

·       Use bold for highlighting words.

·       Use size 14 text.

·      Titles and headings size 16.

·       Comic San, Ariel or by FS mencap.

·       Italics and block capitals change the shape of words and make them hard to read.

·       No jargon and no words jumping off the page, which means large print.

·       Jumping from one topic to the other makes it harder for you to write and us to read.

·       Something clear and well planned with all key point information.

·       Easy read works for everyone but different people see easy read different.

If you are writing a lot of pages use colour codes.

·       Use clear coloured paper.

·       Green is not a good colour to use.

·       Words in white (reversed out text) on coloured back ground can be harder to reader.

·       Some people might need things to be printed onto coloured paper.

·       Remember not everyone manages with colour so ask them first.

•  You may need to use full stops a lot and other punctuation marks, for some people it helps to break the information down.

• Saying that there may be some punctuation marks that they don’t want so ask them first.

Information like Directions and instructions.

• Maps are hard to understand for
•  most people eg;

 ·       Some people want bullet points.

·       Numbers 123 so on.

·       ABC so on.

·       This can all vary to all ways, some ways or either way.

Easy read tips that could be easy read to others.

Do not use abbreviations for eg; do not don't.

One subject on page.

       If you have to use more than each page with more about then whenever the subject is.

 Use page numbers.

Avoid columns.

It's easier to read across the page.

Make sure there’s plenty of a space in forms for people to fill.

Do boxes rather than lines for people write?

Pictures on the left hand side of the writing.

• Writing on the right hand side.

• It could be different if you are writing in another language.

• Do not float text on top or across the page.

This could be accessible to people with Dyslexia.

Make you use an A5 notepad or book so it's easier to hold and turn pages.

Information you can read like a book is easier than following lots of sheets.

 Make information available on DVD or cd.

• Show pictures of a clock with the right time you may want to see a person on whatever for eg; if you can.  

 Maps are hard to understand for eg;

• The times should be in a 12 hour format.

• Some cartoon pictures can be childish.

·       Make information easier for people to find.

·       Use a buddy system where people have somewhere to go through information with them or ask questions.

·       Sent information at least 4 weeks before appointment or meeting people may need or and want to go to.

·       This will give people time to get help if they want or and need it.

·       This also may help most people understand the information.

Contact WWW.officefordisability.gov.uk accessibity@mencap.org.uk 0209 696 5551

If you want to produce all or part of this guide please talk to us.

I have just looked at this disability website but the phone number isn't on here but it doesn't mean it is or isn't still in use. http://www.rickhansen.com/Blog/ArtMID/13094/ArticleID/48/How-does-language-shape-how-we-think-about-disability