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Whether you’re asking for public feedback on a proposal or sharing information with your audience, it’s important to include disabled people and make your work accessible. Inclusion and accessibility aren’t just “disability issues.” Disabled people are part of every community, and their voices should be heard on every issue. When we plan and design with accessibility in mind, it benefits everyone  - not just disabled people. Disabled people are part of every community Nearly 1 in 4 people in the UK  are disabled. This means every issue, whether about health, housing, transport, education, or local services, also affects disabled people. Disabled women deserve to have a say in women’s healthcare. Disabled carers should be able to access information about support in formats they can use. Disabled people in rural areas should be consulted about changes to public transport. At Easy Read Online, we’ve worked on resources and surveys across a wide range of topics, from transport and housing to healthcare guides. Disabled people’s input is always relevant. Understanding and overcoming barriers Disabled people often face more barriers than non-disabled people. That’s why their perspectives are vital in planning services, policies, and projects. By listening to disabled people, we discover solutions and ideas that others may not think of - making services stronger and more effective for everyone. Changes that help everyone When accessibility is built in for disabled people, others benefit too. For example, drop curbs on pavements help wheelchair users, but also parents with prams and travellers with suitcases. Easy Read resources help people with learning disabilities, but they also help anyone who wants access to important information in a way that is clear and easy to understand. Accessibility creates better, fairer systems for all of us. A fairer world Everyone deserves to have a say in the issues that affect their lives. By ensuring disabled people are included in decision-making and communication, we move closer to a fairer society that values everyone’s voice. What can you do now? If you want more disabled people to take part in your work, think about the different ways people need to communicate and access information: Use accessible formats like Easy Read, Large Print or Braille. Make sure websites and downloadable content meet web-accessibility guidelines, like WCAG . Add clear subtitles to videos. Provide sign language interpretation at public events. Offer information in other languages and/or Plain English. Give people options for contacting you, like email, phone, text, text-relay, or video call. Making your work inclusive is a team effort, and we’re here to help. By transforming your information into Easy Read, we can make it easier for people with learning disabilities to take part and have their say. Get in touch with our Easy Read Online team to find out more.

In 2019, the United Nations shared its Disability Inclusion Strategy. The strategy is a plan to make the United Nations inclusive and accessible to disabled people. The strategy is built on the idea that including disabled people is not optional but essential for making sure that all people get their human rights met. The United Nations’ Disability Inclusion Strategy sets out organisation-wide goals for inclusion, from making sure disabled people are represented in leadership roles to checking that the information the United Nations writes is accessible to all. The United Nations checks how well its strategy is working every year to make sure that its inclusivity of disabled people is improving. This places responsibility directly on organisations and countries within the United Nations to incorporate disability inclusion across all their activities. Why the United Nations’ Disability Inclusion Strategy needs to be accessible The United Nations shares its disability inclusion progress with the public every year in an annual report. But if the reports and progress updates are only available in long and hard documents, then a large number of disabled people are automatically excluded from understanding or engaging with them. That’s why Easy Read matters. Easy Read uses simple words, short sentences, and images to explain difficult ideas. It was designed so that people with learning disabilities can understand important information. But it’s not only for them – Easy Read benefits: People who speak English as a second language. People who have tiredness or exhaustion that affects the way they take in information. Anyone who prefers information in plain, visual formats. When the United Nations’ Disability Inclusion Strategy annual reports are translated into Easy Read, it means: Disabled people can engage with a strategy that directly affects their rights. Disabled people can form their own opinions about progress, not just rely on someone else to interpret the report. Disabled people can hold organisations and countries within the United Nations to their commitments, because they have direct access to the plans that have been made. Disabled people can celebrate progress, but also demand more if inclusion is happening too slowly. The United Nations is bringing inclusion to life. It is fulfilling one of its promises to write information that is accessible to all. Our role in translating the United Nations’ Disability Inclusion Strategy annual reports into Easy Read Each year, Easy Read Online has been commissioned by the United Nations to translate the annual reports into Easy Read, and we involve people with learning disabilities in this process. We are honoured to do this because for us accessibility isn’t just a tick-box exercise, it’s about practising “nothing about us without us.” By making Easy Read versions available, we help the United Nations achieve the change it calls for. You can check out some of the Easy Read annual reports here: 2022 2023

A guide to commissioning and sharing Easy Read versions of your organisation’s information. What is accessible information? Accessible information means information that people can read, understand and use. This type of information is especially important for people who find it harder to read or understand standard information. This could be because of a disability, sensory loss, or another communication need. Some common types of accessible information, also known as accessible formats, are: Large print Braille Easy Read British Sign Language Audio recordings Most people have heard of these accessible formats, but Easy Read is not as well known. What is Easy Read? Easy Read turns complex information into something that is easier to understand. It uses: Short, simple sentences Clear, everyday words Pictures that help explain the text Easy Read is often used by people with a learning disability. But at Easy Read Online, we have found that many other people find it useful too. For example: People who speak English as a second language Neurodivergent, like autistic people People with low literacy Older people with memory problems The general public, especially when information is complex or full of jargon Easy Read can help make sure everyone understands the information that matters to them. Why should your organisation create accessible information? There are 3 important reasons: To include everyone.  People with learning disabilities have the right to understand information and be part of decisions that affect them. To close the information gap.  Without accessible information, some people are left out, confused, or misinformed. It’s the law.  The Equality Act 2010 says you must make reasonable adjustments to your services. This includes providing accessible information. If you don’t, it may count as discrimination. There are 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK, and 1 in 6 adults with low literacy. Many rely on public services every day, but often struggle to get the information they need. One of our clients told us that in a recent consultation, 11% of all responses came from people who used the Easy Read version. This included: People with learning disabilities People with English as a second language Neurodivergent people People with low literacy Older people with dementia General members of the public A huge number of service users would have been excluded if the organisation had not provided an Easy Read version. How can your organisation create Easy Read information? Some organisations try to make Easy Read documents themselves. But this can be hard because of: Not enough time  – deadlines can be tight. Busy staff  – staff may not have the time or skills to do it well. Lack of tools  – Easy Read often needs special images and software. No lived experience  – it’s best to work directly with people who have learning disabilities to make sure your Easy Read is clear and useful. Instead, you can hire a specialist Easy Read company. But how do you choose a good one? Here are some questions to ask: Do they work with people with learning disabilities to check the work? Can they produce different types of Easy Read materials? Can they show examples of their previous work? Do other organisations recommend them? Do they understand the needs and rights of people with learning disabilities? Are they active in the accessibility or inclusion community? How can you share your Easy Read documents? If you’ve taken the time to create an Easy Read version of your information, make sure people can find and use it! Here are some tips: Train your team Make sure all staff know what Easy Read is and where to find it. Staff should feel confident sharing Easy Read versions when asked. Use social media Announce when you’ve created an Easy Read document. If you worked with a specialist company, say so; it builds trust. Put it online clearly Add a link to the Easy Read version near the top of your web page. Use an Easy Read symbol to make it stand out, like this one! Include it in printed materials Put the Easy Read version next to the standard one. The more visible, the better. Tell people directly Contact local self-advocacy or learning disability groups. Email them a link to the Easy Read document, call them, or post a printed copy. Mention it in your main document At the front of your standard document, include a note like: “For an Easy Read version of this document, visit (link) or contact us on (phone/email).” How can Easy Read Online help? We are a team that specialises in making Easy Read information. We have created 1000s of Easy Read documents for councils, charities, the NHS, government departments, housing associations, arts and culture services, international organisations, and more. We can produce Easy Read in many formats: PDFs (print-ready and accessible versions) Interactive documents with fillable fields and tick boxes Word documents Audio or video Printed booklets Text-only and image-only versions for websites or online surveys PowerPoint presentations Translations into other languages We work closely with people with learning disabilities. For example, our local Mencap group checks many of our documents and gives feedback, helping us improve. We also offer a checking service . If you’ve made your own Easy Read document, we can review it and help you make it clearer and more accessible. To learn more about our services click here . Sources NHS England. Accessible Information: Implementation plan. 2015. https://www . england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/ access-info-imp-plan.pdf Mencap. How common is learning disability in the UK? 2025. https://www.mencap.org.uk/learning-disability-explained/research-and-statistics/how-common-learning-disability Department of Health. Making written information easier to understand for people with learning disabilities. 2010. https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20130812104657/http:/odi.dwp.gov.uk/docs/iod/easy-read-guidance.pdf Disability Justice Project. Accessible information and communication discrimination guide. 2025. https://www.disabilityjustice.org.uk/learn-more-and-take-action/accessible-information-and-communication-discrimination-guide/#law

Easy Read is about making information clear and accessible for as many people as possible. To do that, we need to understand how people’s experiences shape how they see the world, and how the world sees them. That’s where intersectionality comes in. It helps us think about the different identities a person might have, and how those identities affect their needs, experiences, and how they’re represented. In this blog, we’ll explore intersectionality and how it helps us to create more inclusive and effective Easy Read documents. What is intersectionality? Intersectionality is about how the different parts of a person’s identity work together to shape their experiences. Things like your gender, race, sexuality, religion, disability and income can affect you in different ways. Intersectionality recognises that every person has a unique identity that affects how they live and understand the world. For example, a disabled woman from a wealthy family may face ableism and sexism at the same time. Because of this, she may experience the world in a different way from non-disabled women or disabled men. Meanwhile, her wealth won’t cancel out her other identities, but it would likely make it easier to deal with the extra costs of being disabled. Intersectionality in Easy Read Intersectionality and images The main purpose of images in Easy Read is to help people understand the text better. These images often include people in different poses and situations, from giving the thumbs up to playing a musical instrument. This means we also have a great opportunity to show people from all walks of life. Most Easy Read users are people with learning disabilities, so we always make sure that this demographic is well represented in our work. However, it’s not enough to stop there. When we’re creating Easy Read documents, we think about the people who might read them, and how to represent those people. Some readers may have more than one disability, or their disability may be invisible. Disabled people exist in every community, so it’s important to show people from different cultures and ethnic backgrounds. We also think about what the document is about. If we need to create a report about people in Nepal, we’ll focus on using images of Nepalese people where possible. If we’re doing an Easy Read guide for elderly people, we’ll veer away from images of children or younger adults. Asking these questions and thinking about intersectionality helps us to create accessible documents that showcase diversity. Intersectionality and language As Easy Read writers, it’s our job to use the right language for difficult topics without overloading the reader with too much information. However, the language around intersectionality and identity can be hard to simplify. If one of our writers is struggling to write a definition for a word in a document, or we think a definition needs updating, we’ll ask other team members for advice. Listening to different perspectives and ideas can help us represent ideas and identities in a better way. The way we talk about issues and identities is always evolving, so the way we write about them in Easy Read documents has to evolve along with them. This is where listening to experts comes in handy! We often work with people from different organisations, services and charities that specialise in supporting disabled people, as well as Easy Read experts from our local MenCap group. Listening to their ideas can help us understand what works well and what we need to tweak. Examples of our work If you want a better idea of the work we’ve done in the past, you can check out our projects page . Or if you want to take a closer look at our illustrations, our Instagram page has some examples of how we represent people from different backgrounds in our images.

Easy Read is an accessible format designed to make information easier to understand for people with learning disabilities, and others who have difficulty using standard versions of information. Easy Read documents present information using a combination of simple language in short sentences, clear layout, and pictures that help to convey the meaning of the text. When information is easier to understand, people are empowered to take more control over their own lives. When people are provided with clear and accessible information, they can: Take part and feel included in the world round them. Make informed decisions. Understand their rights. Have an impact on issues that affect themselves and society as a whole. Develop their knowledge and discover new opportunities. Whilst Easy Read does not guarantee comprehension (some people will still need support to understand Easy Read information, or require a different format, like video or audio) - Easy Read does provide a valuable method for breaking down difficult information and making it more inclusive and accessible. What does the law say about Easy Read? There are laws relating to Easy Read, which indicate people’s right to accessible information and organisations' obligation to provide accessible information. The Equality Act 2010 requires organisations to make reasonable adjustments - these are small changes that enable disabled people to access services like everyone else. This includes making Easy Read versions of information avaialble to people with learning disabilities. The Accessible Information Standard requires all health and care services to provide accessible communications for service users. This includes making Easy Read versions of health and care documents available so that people with learning disabilities can access important information. Other legislation is tied into the United Nations work to make the whole world more inclusive for disabled people. Countries that are part of the United Nations, including the United Kingdom, have made a promise to reduce the barriers that stop disabled people from taking part. This commitment includes making information more accessible for disabled people, like providing Easy Read documents for people with learning disabilities. What are the guidelines for Easy Read information? Easy Read should always be produced with the end user in mind. Some Easy Read information is intended for a particular individual, or group, and should be tailored to suit their needs. Where Easy Read information is intended for a wider user group, it should include clear context regarding the source and purpose of the information. The objective of an Easy Read document is to convey key information as clearly and concisely as possible. Easy Read documents that present a literal translation of an entire piece of original information, like for like, can become very long and overbearing. There are some stylistic differences in the appearance of Easy Read information, but generally all Easy Read documents should incorporate the following: Simple language No jargon, difficult words & phrases, or idioms. If any difficult words are used, they should be explained. Acronyms should be written out in full unless they are very common (e.g. NHS). Short sentences Sentences should have a maximum of 15 words ideally. Each sentence should convey one idea. Longer sentences should be broken down using bullet points. Clear layout Pages of Easy Read should have plenty of white space so they’re not too busy. Headings and subheadings should be used to help to make the information easier to follow. Colours should have good contrast (e.g. no light coloured text on a light background; or dark on dark). Text should be written in a sans serif font, like Arial, and in a large font size (minimum 16pt). Pictures Images should capture the essence of each sentence, to help convey the meaning of the words. Photos or drawings can be used, although cartoon-like images are best avoided if the information is intended for adults. Imagery should be disability-positive and represent diversity. How can Easy Read help organisations to be more inclusive and accessible? There are various ways that organisations can adopt Easy Read to make their services more inclusive and accessible for everyone. For example: Health and care organisations can provide Easy Read information to improve people's health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities. Regional councils and local authorities can use Easy Read information to meaningfully engage with their local communities, so that people can access services where they live. Government departments and organisations can use Easy Read materials to increase opportunities for everyone, in all parts of the country. Public services can use Easy Read as a way to communicate more effectively with their service users, so that they can speak up and help to make services better for everyone. International bodies can utilise Easy Read in their work to ensure no one is left behind. Charities, voluntary and support groups can use Easy Read to raise awareness of the important work they’re doing. Arts and culture organisations can produce Easy Read information to connect marginalised groups with creative opportunities and enrich more people’s lives. Who produces Easy Read information and how is it provided? Anyone can produce Easy Read information - individuals, small or large organisations, and specialist providers - like Easy Read Online. There is various training and guidance available to get started. But it’s important to get Easy Read right, so that it serves the people who are using it. That takes time and practice, and ideally the people creating the Easy Read will have experience of working with people with learning disabilities. It is always worth considering a specialist Easy Read provider, because they will have the right expertise and experience, plus access to practical resources like Easy Read images and design software. Either way, Easy Read should be produced with the end user in mind and people with learning disabilities should be involved in the process where possible. Easy Read information should be provided with the option to print out a physical copy, or to view a copy online that is compliant with accessibility regulations and compatible with screen-reader software.

Welcome to our July newsletter. We hope you’ve been enjoying the sun! Remember, Easy Read Online can help if you need: Easy Read translations. Plain English translations. Original documents to be made compliant with web accessibility standards. Easy Read documents that you’d like to be checked by people with lived experience. Other accessibility features or formats. Get in touch today using our quote form: Feedback from clients We always welcome feedback from clients on our service. Here are some comments we’ve received in the last month: Disability Pride July has been Disability Pride Month. Disability Pride Month is an important moment for disabled people to come together as a community. An opportunity to share experiences and start conversations. It’s a celebration of the creativity, resilience, and achievements of disabled people. As part of Disability Pride Month, one of our team, Becky, has written a blog about how organisations can become more accessible. You can read it here: https://www.easy-read-online.co.uk/post/how-to-make-your-organisation-accessible We also created a list of questions for organisations to ask internally, and help them to assess their practices: Best wishes, The Easy Read Online team

While many organisations use Disability Pride Month to focus on raising awareness, it’s also important to reflect on how to make your organisation more accessible. Accessibility is about giving equal opportunities to people with a disability or health condition. When workplaces and services are accessible, it’s easier for people with a health condition or disability to take part in society and live good lives. Keep reading to find out how you can prioritise accessibility in your organisation. 1. Adopt accessible hiring practices When it comes to accessibility in the workplace, it’s best to focus on it from the start. Accessible hiring practices can help level the playing field for people with health conditions and disabilities, as well as people who need to juggle things like childcare. You could make the hiring process more accessible by: Giving clear instructions about how to apply and providing information in accessible formats like Large Print or Easy Read. Sharing what the recruitment process will look like. For example, how many rounds of interviews there will be and when they will take place. Offering a range of interview dates and times for people to choose from. Using the job description to outline what kind of reasonable adjustments your organisation could make to help people apply or attend interviews. Offering support with filling out the application for people who need it. Many people - disabled or otherwise - will be looking for an employer that cares about their needs. So making your hiring practices more accessible isn’t just the right thing to do: it can also make it easier to attract the best people for the job! 2. Make reasonable adjustments Reasonable adjustments are changes that your organisation can make to help disabled people take part like everyone else. Many people can benefit from reasonable adjustments, including employees, clients, service users and anyone else you interact with. Examples of reasonable adjustments could be: Flexible working arrangements. For example, allowing employees to work from home or adjust their working times to accommodate their needs. Holding in-person meetings and events in accessible venues. This could include making sure there is nearby parking and ramps for wheelchairs. Providing noise-cancelling headphones or quiet spaces where people can do their work away from the hubbub of the office. (As a person with ADHD, this can be game-changing!) Paying for assistive technology like speech-to-text apps or mobility aids. You can find out more about reasonable adjustments on the government website . 3. Share accessible information Sharing information isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s important to provide information in different accessible formats, especially if your organisation employs or works with disabled people. Accessible formats can include: Braille. Easy Read. Audio. Large print. Web-accessible documents that are compatible with speech-to-text software. For some more tips on the best way to share accessible formats, check out our recent blog post  about making your information more accessible. 4. Educate yourself and others Leaders should take the time to learn about different disabilities and the kinds of reasonable adjustments people might need. Doing your research makes it easier to build accessibility and inclusivity into your organisation. It’s not just decision-makers who should learn about accessibility. Sharing information with staff members and volunteers can mean they feel more confident about making reasonable adjustments for the people they work with and support. There are countless training courses, articles, books, podcasts and videos that can help you educate yourself and others about disabilities and accessibility. Disability charities like Mencap , Mind  and Scope  have lots of information co-created by people with disabilities and health conditions, making them a great place to start. 5. Work with people with disabilities Who knows more about accessibility than the people who need it the most? Working with disabled people is key to making your organisation more accessible. You can work with disabled people in lots of ways, like by: Listening to individuals and taking their lead when it comes to what reasonable adjustments they might need. Making sure that disabled employees have the opportunity to help shape policies that affect them. Creating surveys to find out what your disabled service users think about a new service you want to provide. At Easy Read Online, we work closely with independent groups of people with learning disabilities, like our local Mencap group. Their members routinely check our Easy Read documents, and their feedback helps us with the quality of all our work. But remember - you should always be conscious of how much you’re asking of people. For example, if a disabled employee agrees to help produce a policy, make sure that their involvement doesn’t result in an unmanageable workload! We create all kinds of accessible resources, from surveys and consultations to safeguarding policies and job application forms! Click here to Get a quote for your Easy Read document today to find out how we can help make your organisation more accessible.

In this blog post, we will focus on the link between disability pride and accessible information. Every July, Disability Pride Month celebrates the history and achievements of disabled people, while also challenging the different types of ableism that disabled people face. Like most pride movements, an important part of Disability Pride Month is empowerment - because being proud, confident and heard is very difficult if you are not empowered. A key aspect of empowerment is equal access, which means making sure disabled people can access all the same things as non-disabled people can, including information. What is empowerment? Empowerment is about having the freedom and power to control what happens to you and make decisions for yourself. It is about being able to live the life you want to live and have your rights respected wherever you go. Accessible information like Easy Read resources can help disabled people feel empowered. When a disabled person is empowered, they are: Heard, respected and believed by the people, organisations and services around them. Able to make their own decisions, or make their decisions with the help of someone they choose. Able to access the services they need without shame. Able to live the life they want and need. Confident and proud of who they are. When a disabled person is not empowered, it can look like: The person being spoken about, instead of spoken to. Decisions being made for them without being included in the decision-making process. Being excluded from opportunities because of inaccessible physical spaces, online spaces and information. Being denied the tools or support they need to be able to live their life. If a disabled person is not empowered, this can lead to many negatives, such as internalised ableism, loneliness and a lower quality of life. Empowerment and accessible information Accessible information is not just a tool for communication; it is also a way of empowering disabled people. When disabled people are able to access information and tools, they can achieve things that will make them feel empowered. For example: A disabled person could use an Easy Read information booklet about common illnesses to decide whether they would like to get a flu vaccination. A disabled person could fill in an Easy Read version of a council survey to have a say in what happens to their local park. A disabled person could use a large print version of a job application form to have the same chance at getting a job as a non-disabled person. As an organisation, you can help to empower disabled people by committing to accessibility and providing your information in accessible formats. This is a great way of communicating to your disabled service users, customers and employees: your presence matters, your voice matters . To learn more about providing accessible versions of your information, you can take a look at our website: https://www.easy-read-online.co.uk/ Or if you want to read more about the disability and accessibility sector, you can read some of our other blog posts: https://www.easy-read-online.co.uk/blog

Halfway Through 2025 - See What’s New at Easy Read Online! We're officially halfway through 2025! June has been a rewarding and busy month at Easy Read Online, with several exciting projects on the go. One highlight is our brand-new guide on sharing Easy Read documents, which we’re now giving to our clients. Keep reading this newsletter for a sneak peek of what's inside the guide! Celebrating Learning Disability Week The month of June hosts the fantastic Learning Disability Week, which this year took place from 16th June to 22nd June. The theme for this year’s Learning Disability Week was ‘Do You See Me’, which aimed to highlight the importance of seeing, hearing, including, and valuing disabled people in all areas of life. In support of Learning Disability Week, we centred our online presence around the theme of ‘visibility’. We wrote two blog posts that discuss the importance of visibility in the lives of disabled people. You can check out the blog posts here: Learning Disability Week 2025: Why visibility matters Do you see me? Understanding non-visible disabilities We also shifted some focus onto how organisations can support the visibility of disabled people using accessible information, and in particular, Easy Read. For help with making your information more inclusive, take a look at our guide to commissioning and sharing Easy Read versions of your organisation's information One of our team members also took part in a Learning Disability Week event hosted by Mencap Liverpool & Sefton. The event celebrated Mencap’s history and presented some of the projects the Liverpool & Sefton branch is currently working on. Here is what our team member Karen had to say about the experience: “It was lovely to see some of the members again, and to learn more about the history of the cottage, and to see some of the different projects they've been involved in, like the travel training and work they've been doing at Liverpool John Moores University, where they wrote a sea shanty.” A success story in Manchester Manchester University Hospital NHS Trust asked us to create an Easy Read version of a patient letter being sent to those on the waiting list for a hospital operation or procedure. The original letter followed delays caused by COVID and asked patients to confirm whether they wished to remain on the waiting list or be removed, for instance, if they no longer needed the procedure. The Trust was so impressed with how clearly our Easy Read version communicated the message more effectively than the original letter that they chose to use it as the main version for all  patients, not just those with a learning disability. The result was a record number of patient responses, with many specifically commenting on how easy the letter was to understand. This shows the powerful impact of clear, accessible communication, both in increasing engagement and in making sure that patients who rely on Easy Read information feel recognised and included. Your organisation’s sharing checklist In June, we introduced a new resource: a quick guide titled ‘How to Make the Most of Your Easy Read Document’. We now share this with clients once their final Easy Read document is complete. This initiative came about after multiple clients approached us for advice about how to increase engagement with their Easy Read versions of information. While our full guide to commissioning and sharing Easy Read versions of your organisation's information  offers a deeper dive, we’ve also created a practical checklist outlining where and how you can share your Easy Read content: Make your Easy Read versions of information easy to find, as easy as              the main version of your information! Make sure people are aware that you provide Easy Read versions of your information. Announce your Easy Read information on your organisation’s social media. Reach out to local self-advocacy groups and disability groups to promote your Easy Read information. Train your team so that all staff members feel confident sharing Easy Read versions of information when asked.

When you think of a person with a disability, the most common stereotype is to think of someone with a visible disability. However, it has been estimated that 80% of all people worldwide who live with disabilities are living with a non-visible disability, which is equal to over a billion people globally.  You might have heard of the terms ‘hidden disability’ or ‘invisible disability’ before, however, the term ‘non-visible disability’ is now widely accepted. This is because the word ‘hidden’ suggests somebody is hiding their disability from others, and the word ‘invisible’ gives a feeling that the person with the disability is themself ‘invisible’.  What is a non-visible disability?   According to the UK government website: “A non-visible disability is a disability or health condition that is not immediately obvious.” That is to say, a non-visible disability is not something that someone is hiding purposefully; it is just not always immediately visible to others. However, people who know of or share the same non-visible disability can often see their disability in others who also share it.  Which types of disabilities are non-visible? Non-visible disabilities cover a wide range of disabilities, including, but not limited to:  mental health conditions  learning disabilities sensory, processing difficulties cognitive impairment or learning difficulties autism and Asperger’s syndrome visual impairments or restricted vision hearing loss non-visible health conditions As you can see, the list of non-visible disabilities contains a variety of disabilities, which means that people’s experiences are very different, and they will all require different types and levels of support. Some people will overlap with multiple non-visible as well as visible disabilities and require different support at different stages of their lives. As well as this, some of the support will overlap, and the same support can be useful to people with different non-visible disabilities.  Learning difficulties and learning disabilities, aren’t they the same thing?  It is important here to explain the difference between a learning difficulty  and a learning disability.  A learning difficulty may be described as having specific problems processing certain forms of information.  Learning disabilities  are specific disorders that impact an individual's ability to acquire, process, or use information effectively. You can read more about this in our previous blog, “ What is the difference between learning disabilities and learning difficulties ?” Why does it matter if someone’s disability is visible or not? The overwhelming benefit to having a non-visible disability versus a visible disability is that individuals have the choice whether to keep their disability private or not. This has some advantages, such as being treated equally to non-disabled people. The disadvantage to this is when a person with a non-visible disability requires support.  It may be more obvious to offer support to a person with a visible disability. However, for people with, or carers of people with, non-visible disabilities to receive support, they are more likely to have to:  use their own initiative  seek out information   understand what support is available to them   advocate for themselves This can often be met with  judgement, misunderstanding, discrimination and exclusion, which can feel unfair, confusing and exhausting.  What can we do to better support people with non-visible disabilities? Non-visible disabilities are often overlooked in discussions about accessibility and inclusion. Acknowledging and spreading awareness of non-visible disabilities and the support that people may require is one way to improve this situation.   Awareness campaigns, such as last week’s Learning Disability Week, help to spread awareness. The Learning Disability Week theme was all about people with a learning disability being “seen, valued and heard”, which is highly relevant to the lives of people with non-visible disabilities. Making all information accessible is also a simple way to ensure equality and support for all people, whatever their disability.  Links: Hidden Disabilities Website: https://hdsunflower.com/uk/insights/post/what-is-a-hidden-disability Easy-Read-Online Blog post, What is the difference between learning disabilities and learning difficulties?: https://blog.easy-read-online.co.uk/what-is-the-difference-between-learning-disabilities-and-learning-difficulties   Department of Health and Social Care, ‘Valuing People - A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century’ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7b854740f0b62826a041b9/5086.pdf   Foundation for people with learning difficulties https://www.learningdisabilities.org.uk/learning-disabilities/a-to-z/l/learning-difficulties

Learning Disability Week 2025 is just around the corner, giving us a great opportunity to talk about why people with a learning disability need visibility. Starting on Monday 16 June, this year’s theme, “Do you see me?”, is all about people with a learning disability being seen, valued and heard. From challenging barriers to celebrating achievements, this Learning Disability Week aims to shine a light on the lives and experiences of people with a learning disability. In this post, we dive into why visibility is so important for people with a learning disability - and how you can get involved. 1) Change minds Many people make unfair assumptions about what people with a learning disability can and cannot do. This can make it harder for people with a learning disability to be seen as individuals and take part in activities in their local community. We can challenge these assumptions by helping more people understand what it is really like to live with a learning disability. This also includes explaining things like the difference between learning disabilities and learning difficulties . Awareness campaigns like Learning Disability Week can help people with a learning disability feel more included in their communities. If people are seen, heard and valued by everyone around them, this can help them feel safer and supported to live happy and healthy lives. 2) Break down barriers Learning Disability Week 2025 is also about highlighting the problems that people with a learning disability face in different parts of their lives. According to Mencap’s 2024 Manifesto, 86% of adults with a learning disability want a paid job, but only 26.7% have one. Patients with a learning disability have also told Healthwatch England  that they struggle to find accessible information about healthcare. But when people with a learning disability share their experiences, it’s harder to ignore the barriers they face. This visibility can encourage organisations to provide better opportunities and make services more accessible for everyone. 3) Celebrate achievements People with a learning disability bring a lot to society, and it’s important to celebrate that! They can be role models for others and challenge assumptions by simply being seen as they are: confident, capable, and in charge of their own lives. Just take a look at MenCap’s Myth Busters  - 18 people on a mission to show everyone what it’s really like to live with a learning disability. Made up of campaigners, artists, athletes and more, the Myth Busters show that when people with a learning disability are given the right support, they can achieve great things. Sharing these achievements can help open up more opportunities for people with a learning disability in the future. 4) Empower people Decisions about people with a learning disability have often been made for them instead of with them. But by giving people a platform to speak up about their personal experiences, they can gain more control over their lives and the issues that affect them. For example, when councils provide Easy Read versions of their public consultations, this can make it easier for people with a learning disability to have their voices heard. As a result, councils can make better, more inclusive policies throughout the year, not just during Learning Disability Week! Get involved with Learning Disability Week 2025 Remember, Learning Disability Week 2025 runs from Monday 16 June to Sunday 22 June. There are lots of ways to take part in Learning Disability Week. For example, you could: Follow and share stories from people with a learning disability. Use the hashtags #learningdisabilityweek or #LDWeek2025 in your social media posts. Start a conversation about visibility with your friends or colleagues. It’s also important to keep championing learning disability visibility throughout the year. By providing Easy Read materials, organisations can help more people with a learning disability take part in events and make decisions that affect them. Check out our Easy Read services  to find out how we can help you during Learning Disability Week and beyond.

What is neurodiversity? Many of us have encountered the words ‘neurodiversity’ or ‘neurodivergent’ at some point in our lives, but many people are unsure of what they actually mean. Neurodiversity refers to the neurological variations in people’s brains and minds - it is about people experiencing and interacting with the world in different ways. An individual whose brain functions differently from the societal norm may be described as neurodivergent. Whereas neurotypical is used to describe someone who has a brain that functions in a way that is considered the norm. Advocates of neurodiversity emphasise accepting and welcoming neurological variations, and do not view them as: Disorders. Defects. Deficits. Illnesses to be cured. Some neurodivergent people have a diagnosis. They may be diagnosed with one of these conditions: Autism. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Dyslexia. Dyspraxia. Tourette’s Syndrome. Some people also include certain mental health conditions under the definition of neurodivergent, although this remains a topic of ongoing discussion. However, some neurodivergent people may not fit into a diagnosis at all, and even if they do, two people with the same diagnosis are not the same - it is a wide spectrum of variation. Neurodiversity and accessing information Neurodivergent people may have varying communication and information needs, meaning they need information to be presented in a certain way to be able to read, understand and use it. It is important to remember that owing to the spectrum of neurodiversity, what works well for one neurodivergent person may not work for another. Accessible information formats for neurodivergent people can include: Audio versions of information. Video versions of information, with subtitles included. Interactive digital content. Text-to-speech tools. Large print versions of information. Easy Read or Plain English.   Easy Read and Neurodiversity One accessible information mentioned beforehead was Easy Read. Easy Read is a way of translating difficult information and making it easier to understand, by using: Shorter sentences and paragraphs. No jargon and complex language, and when more difficult words are used, they are defined and explained within the context of the information. Logical reading orders and easy navigation. Using specific accessible colours for backgrounds, images and text. Using specific accessible text fonts. Images to support the meaning of the text. Underlining links that will take the reader to the relevant information in, at most, 2 clicks. At Easy Read Online, our Easy Read work features: Light, pastel backgrounds for darker pictures for ease of seeing, as exampled in this blog. Use of the FSMe font as the letters are easy to read, in comparison to a more embellished font. Text that is never smaller than 14pt. Bolded text for more complex words with simplified definitions. Underlined, blue and interactive links. A navigational contents page that takes readers to the right page. Appropriate line spacing. Sentences that are around 15 words. A clear image per sentence. Easy Read can be a useful and accessible format for neurodivergent people for many reasons, for example: Many neurodivergent individuals may find complex sentences, jargon, or abstract language overwhelming or difficult to understand. Easy Read uses short sentences, plain vocabulary, and avoids ambiguity, which helps people focus on key information without getting lost in language complexity. Easy Read is accessible to neurodivergent individuals who are visual thinkers through the use of images alongside text. Neurodivergent people with ADHD or sensory sensitivities can find dense text tiring or overstimulating, but Easy Read's clear layout, spacing, and use of bullet points make it less visually overwhelming.