Monday, 14 September 2015

Introduction to the Accessible Guidelines (Easy read.)


 Here is a rough guide to how most people with disabilities and health problems would like their information. Bear in mind different people see information easy to read in different so don’t just guess. Please keep up to date on the accessible by going online but not everyone will have chance right away to update their sites.
Nine times out of ten people with disabilities and health problems get letters from the benefit offices and councils that we don’t understand. In fact for example there’s far too much information the benefit letters. Due the cuts a lot of people with disabilities and health problems are getting as much support as they used to get, therefore there’s a risk of many people with disabilities and health problems that have very important information they don’t understand because they can’t find anyone to support them to understand information. For example it could be a risk if a person doesn’t know whether they have had they benefits cut or not.
All the same there are different disabilities and health problems we all understand and misunderstand different things in different ways.


 Accessible Information Guidelines.
        People with disabilities understand it’s not always easy for people to make information accessible for us due to cuts in funding and materials different places have got. 
        All the same it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be asked what is accessible to us so you are aware of how you can make information accessible if or, and, when, what you can.
        Ask people what is easy read to them!
        Ask people with learning disabilities how we would like our information done!
         Does the person need larger print?
        Do some people like most their information in bold?
        Would people like their information in a different way?
        Use words that we use all the time.
        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 can't always be found for longs words, they may need to understand what the information is about if you can’t make it easy read for them.
         Most people may not be able read or and understand long words that you can't find for short words.
        Use one active verb for eg; John loves Mary not Mary is loved by John.
        Think about key points that can be made easier for the person.
        Don't use words that only specialist would understand or acronyms.
        Write words that we use all the time.

Font.
         How would a person like their information?
        What font would they like?
        What size fond would they like?
        Bold, underline, italics and or etc.
        Some may want their information written in Comic San, Ariel, or by FS Mencap.
        Use bold for highlighting words.
        Use size 14 text.
        Titles and headings size 16 for bold.
        Comic San, Ariel or by FS mencap.
        Italics and block capitals change the shape of words and make them hard to read.
        Instructions and directions in bullet points or for eg; ABC 123.
        No jargon and no words jumping off the page, which means large print for it to be clear enough for people to read and understand.
        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 in different ways.
         This could mean different coloured writing on different coloured paper.
        Would they like colours would like for eg; some people may like pink paper with purple writing. Paper or and coloured writing?
        Ask people kind of colours they would like!


        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.
        Use full stops.
         Try not to use other punctuation.
         Use bullet points.
          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.
         It's easier to read across the page.
        Make sure there is plenty of space to write
          Avoid columns.
         Make sure there’s space on forms for people to fill in.

One subject on page.
        If you have to use more than each page with more whenever the subject is.
        Use page numbers.
        Avoid columns.
        Using photographs by asking permission off different places first.
        Photographs should be nouns people.
        Places and objects.
        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.



Useful tips.
        Show pictures of a clock with the right time you may want to see a person on whatever for eg; if you can.
        Some people find cartoon pictures childish.




Information on CD and DVD.
        Make information available on DVD or CD
        Make information easier for people to find.
        Use a buddy system where people have somewhere to go through information with them or ask questions.
        Some may need plenty of notice before their appointment is due mainly if they have a lot of other things to think about with disabilities and health problems on top of that.
        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.
         These contact details may be out of business so check out first and find out what’s in place necessary.
        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.
 


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