How to Create an Easy Read Document with Real Impact
- Cara
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
More and more organisations and service providers are offering their information in an Easy Read format which is very encouraging to see. However, some do not reach the people they are intended for.
Creating an Easy Read document with real impact means going far beyond simplifying words or adding pictures. It means designing information that is accessible, relevant and genuinely useful to people with learning disabilities.
In this blog post, we will discuss what that really involves.
Impact starts with purpose, not format
The most important question is not:
“How do we make this Easy Read?”
It is:
“Why does this information matter to the person reading it?”
An Easy Read document with impact:
helps someone make a decision
explains rights or responsibilities
supports independence
helps someone stay safe
enables someone to take part
If the information does not serve a clear purpose in someone’s real life, it will not be read, no matter how well designed it is.
To be read, it must first reach the right hands
One of the biggest reasons Easy Read documents don’t have the impact they intend to, is because they don’t reach the people who need them.
Real impact requires thinking about:
who will receive the document
how they will access it
who will support them to read it, if needed
Easy Read documents work best when they are:
given directly to people
are easy to access online
shared by trusted staff, carers, advocates or family members
integrated into everyday interactions (appointments, meetings, reviews)
An Easy Read document hidden on a website is not accessible, it is invisible.
Creating an Easy Read document with impact requires expertise
Creating an Easy Read document that genuinely works requires:
• experience
• specialist knowledge
• an understanding of diverse needs
• ongoing reflection and improvement
It is a skilled practice, not a simple translation exercise. When done well, it bridges gaps that standard communication cannot.
Testing is essential for real impact
An Easy Read document cannot truly be impactful unless it has been checked for understanding.
That means:
testing with people with learning disabilities where possible
listening to feedback
being willing to change what doesn’t work
Impact is not about what professionals think is accessible. It’s about what people with learning disabilities say they understand and use.
Impact means enabling action
The ultimate test of an Easy Read document is simple:
Can the person do something meaningful after reading it?
That might be:
making a choice
attending an appointment
asking for help
understanding a right
feeling confident
feeling included
If the document supports real action or confidence, it has impact.
