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Welcome to the May edition of our newsletter. Here are some of the things we have been up to and some free resources which you can share. What we’ve been up to This month we have worked on Easy Read documents for a variety of organisations including the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England, Ffilm Cymru Wales, Kisharon, and Cornwall Council. We had our quarterly company training day on 25 May, where we discussed a range of topics for improving the Easy Read documents we create, such as: Improvements to our Quality Assurance process. Using AI to aid our translations. Best practice for using icons in our images. During the day we also met with Mencap Liverpool and Sefton members to discuss our shared Ask for Easy Read campaign. Results of the Ask for Easy Read survey The survey to find out how much people know about Easy Read and how to ask for information in Easy Read has now closed. We will be sharing the results in full soon but some highlight facts from the survey were: 39% of people said they did not know how to ask for information in Easy Read. 40% of people said they did not know they had the right to ask services they use for information in Easy Read. This rose to 45% of people who have a learning disability. We think this shows the need for an awareness campaign to let people with learning disabilities and their supporters know about their rights. We will work with our partners at Mencap Liverpool and Sefton to further develop this campaign in the coming months. Mental health awareness resource As part of Mental Health Awareness Week we created an Easy Read document about how to deal with anxiety. You can see a copy here, please feel free to share. You can see the document by clicking the button below. Please feel free to share this document. It is a free document that can be used and enjoyed by everyone. Coming up in June… Learning Disability Awareness Week 19 to 25 June Learning Disability Awareness Week is all about sharing the successes that people with learning disabilities have and busting myths about what living with a learning disability is like. Watch out for our social media posts during the week celebrating success stories from people with learning disabilities. You can find out more about the week from Mencap here - Pride month We wish everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community a happy pride month. We have created this free Easy Read document to explain the acronym to people with learning disabilities. Feel free to share with your contacts. You can see the document by clicking the button below. Please feel free to share this document. It is a free document that can be used and enjoyed by everyone. We hope you have a great month ahead and look forward to working together with you on any future Easy Read projects. Best wishes from the Easy Read Online team

This week, from the 15th to the 22nd of May, marks Mental Health Awareness Week. This year, the Mental Health Foundation has designated the theme as ‘anxiety’. For many, this will be a very familiar term and increasing numbers of people are diagnosed with ‘General Anxiety Disorder’ every year. But what do we mean by ‘anxiety’? The NHS describes anxiety as; ‘a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, that can be mild or severe.’ It is normal for people to feel some level of anxiety throughout their lives. It is natural to feel nervous or worried before an important occasion in your life - this is usually called low-level anxiety. But for some people, those feelings of worry do not leave them and can make living their daily lives very difficult. If your feelings of anxiety do not leave or occur for no reason, or you are experiencing these symptoms, you may wish to see a GP: Feeling restless or worried. Having trouble concentrating or sleeping. Dizziness or heart palpitations. How to deal with low-level anxiety Most people will experience and have to deal with low-level anxiety in their lives. Indeed, the Workplace Health Report from Champion Health [https://championhealth.co.uk/insights/guides/workplace-health-report] found that 60% of employees are experiencing anxiety, which rises to 67% for employees aged 16 to 24. The Mental Health Foundation has put together a useful list of tips to deal with feelings of anxiety which you can read in full here: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-week/what-can-we-do-cope-feelings-anxiety Some tips that we find useful are getting out into nature and moving your body. We hope that these tips will help you to deal with any low-level anxiety you might be facing. Sources: https://championhealth.co.uk/insights/anxiety-statistics/#:~:text=60% of employees are experiencing,are seeking mental health support https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/generalised-anxiety-disorder/overview/ https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-week/what-can-we-do-cope-feelings-anxiety

What is neurodiversity? Many of us have encountered the words ‘neurodiversity’ or ‘neurodivergent’ at some point in our lives, but with little understanding of what they actually mean. Neurodiversity is all about our neurological variations - simply put, neurodiversity is when a person’s brain naturally functions in a way that is different to what is regarded as the norm. On the other hand, neurotypical refers to having a brain that works in a way that is the norm. Neurodiversity accepts and welcomes these neurological variations, and does 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 (ADHD). Dyslexia. Dyspraxia. Mental health conditions. Tourette’s Syndrome. However some neurodivergent people may not fit into a diagnosis at all, and even if they do, 2 people with the same diagnosis are not the same. Neurodiversity and accessing information Some, but not all, neurodivergent people have varying needs in making information accessible to them. This post refers primarily to text-based information that is being read either on paper or on a screen. Neurodivergent people may need information to be presented in a certain way to be able to consume and understand it. This might include: Short sentences and paragraphs. Avoiding jargon and complex language. Logical reading orders and easy navigation. Using specific colours for backgrounds, images and text. Using specific text fonts. Simple images. Underlining links that will take the reader to the relevant information in, at most, 2 clicks. Easy Read and Neurodiversity Easy Read is an accessible format that works to create easier, clearer information that is neurodiverse-friendly. Here’s a checklist of accessible features we use at Easy Read Online when creating information: Plain white background with black/dark text for ease of reading. Light, pastel backgrounds for darker pictures for ease of seeing - as exampled in this post. Use of FSMe font as the letters are easy to read, in comparison to a more embellished font. Text that is never smaller than 14pt. Complex words are bolded and explained with a simple definition. Links are underlined and blue. Navigational contents page that takes readers to the right page. Appropriate line spacing. Sentences that are around 15 words. A clear image per sentence. These features enable neurodivergent people to read and understand information in a way that meets their needs. Organisations should be striving to offer their information in Easy Read to be able to confidently assure they are a fully inclusive organisation. When people have access to information they can understand, they can make informed decisions and take more control over their own lives.

Many people will have heard the terms learning difficulty and learning disability but it can be difficult to know what the difference between the two is. To the uninitiated, learning disability and difficulty may seem like interchangeable terms. However, they have different and specific meanings. Fundamentally the difference between the two terms is the effect of the condition on intellectual ability. Learning difficulties are experienced without any effect of intellectual ability. Learning disabilities have an impact on intellectual ability. Let’s take a closer look at what this means in reality for people who are affected by these conditions. Learning difficulties Learning difficulties is a broad term to describe conditions that will affect a person’s ability to learn in a traditional classroom setting. Learning difficulties are usually diagnosed in childhood, although children and adults can be diagnosed with learning difficulties at any time in their lives. Learning difficulties are usually lifelong conditions. Examples of learning difficulties include: Dyslexia - this is a difficulty with reading and writing fluently. Dyspraxia - this is a difficulty with movement and bodily coordination. This is also called Developmental Coordination Disorder. Dyscalculia - this is a difficulty with understanding numbers and mathematics. ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) - this is a difficulty with regulating behaviour and concentration. There are many other learning difficulties that can be experienced. It is possible for someone to have multiple different learning difficulties. Someone with a learning difficulty will need to learn and take in information in a specialised or adapted way. Their need for this should not be seen as having an intellectual challenge. Support and rights for people with learning difficulties Schools should have trained staff who can support children with learning difficulties so that the learning environment can be adapted to help them learn. Everyone with diagnosed learning difficulties has rights that are laid out in the Equality Act (2010). Under this Act, employers and services must make reasonable adjustments to support the person to fully participate and reach their potential. This includes making information accessible, like providing Easy Read materials. Or, for example, if someone with dyslexia could be given more time to complete a reading or writing task at work. This would be a reasonable adjustment to support them. Learning disabilities Learning disability affects every individual differently. It is often difficult to identify if someone has a learning disability. A learning disability is a lifelong condition that starts before adulthood. It can be defined as: A reduced ability to understand new or difficult information and to learn new skills. A reduced ability to cope and live independently. Having a lasting effect on development. Learning disabilities can be separated into four types: mild, moderate, severe or profound. Mencap is a charity that works to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities. They define learning disabilities as: A reduced intellectual ability and difficulty with everyday activities which affects someone for their whole lives. For example: household tasks, socialising or managing money. Someone with a learning disability may have difficulty with: Remembering basic information, for example their date of birth or address. Understanding and writing text, and filling in forms. Explaining emotional experiences. Understanding and processing new information. Understanding and telling the time, or a chronological order of events. Recognising risks. Recognising signs, numbers or money. Planning and organising activities for themselves. You can hear from people with learning disabilities talk about how they see learning disabilities in this video produced by Mencap. It’s important to remember that someone with a learning disability could also have a learning difficulty. Support and rights for people with learning disabilities People with learning disabilities will need support throughout their life. However, the level and type of support will differ from person to person. Someone with a mild learning disability may only need support with something like applying for a job. Someone with profound learning disabilities may need round the clock care and support with all aspects of their life. As with learning difficulties, learning disability is also covered by the Equality Act (2010). People with learning disabilities can expect the businesses and services they use to make reasonable adjustments to help them participate. For example, someone may need an Easy Read version of an appointment letter, health materials, an agreement or form, a report or information about a consultation so that they can provide feedback. These would be reasonable adjustments. Sources: Mencap: https://www.mencap.org.uk/learning-disability-explained/what-learning-disability The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/learning-disability/current-projects/oliver-mcgowan-mandatory-training-learning-disability-autism NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/symptoms/ UK Government: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/reasonable-adjustments-for-people-with-a-learning-disability

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a group of people with learning disabilities in the United Kingdom collaborated to make it easier for them to read and understand important information. The group recognised that many documents and pieces of information were written in a way that was difficult for them to understand, and hard to access, and they wanted to change that. Their efforts resulted in the creation of Easy Read information. Easy Read is a method of presenting key information in a simplified format that is easier-to-understand. It uses simple language, clear layout, and pictures to help convey information and support the meaning of the words. This method has been used to create Easy Read versions of a wide variety of documents, such as health leaflets, letters, reports, consultation surveys, contracts, policies and even information on websites. Throughout the 2000s Easy Read information started to become more commonplace. As part of the continued drive to support disabled people to be more independent, living in local communities, Easy Read was recognised as a way to make information more accessible to enable people to do more for themselves. The Equality Act in 2010 introduced a ruling for all organisations to provide information in an accessible way. The Act refers to reasonable adjustments - these are small changes that organisations should make to enable disabled people to take part like everyone else. Easy Read constitutes a reasonable adjustment, it makes information accessible so that people with learning disabilities can understand the things they need to know, or want to find out about. Following the Equality Act 2010, the Accessible Information Standard was introduced. The Standard requires all health and care services to provide accessible communications for service users. This includes providing Easy Read versions of health and care documents so that people with learning disabilities can access important information. The use of Easy Read information in health and care services can help to reduce health inequalities, which is good for everyone. Other legislation includes 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. Easy Read is used in other countries outside the UK. Elsewhere it is called Easy-to-read. Some countries have variations on Easy Read, like Easy English - this uses more simplified text, in sentences of up to 5 or 6 words. In Germany they have a format called ‘Leichte Sprache’ which translates to easy language. It’s generally text-only (without pictures) and doesn’t go as far as Easy Read to breakdown information, but provides a more accessible alternative for people with low literacy. Easy Read is continuing to become more widely produced as a way to communicate information. Some research has questioned how effective Easy Read is, and it’s true that Easy Read does not guarantee comprehension - some people will still need support to understand Easy Read documents, or need alternative formats like video or audio. But for those who have experience of good quality Easy Read information, it is clear how directly it enables people to take part, have more freedom of choice, discover new opportunities and make the most of their lives. The impact of Easy Read in the future will further reduce inequalities so that no one is left behind.

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.

“On this day and every day, let us work together in finding innovative solutions to build an accessible and equitable world for all.” António Guterres (Secretary-General of the United Nations) Over 1 billion people in the world have some form of disability, and in 1992 the United Nations marked the 3rd of December as the official day to promote the rights and well-being of disabled people globally. The International Day of Persons with Disabilities aims to highlight the barriers and challenges disabled people encounter in every aspect of their life. Raising awareness of such barriers can encourage us all to participate in creating a more inclusive world, incorporating the needs of disabled people. It is imperative that organisations, both Government and independent, commit to inclusion. Understanding Disability Under The Equality Act of 2010, a disability is a long-term physical or mental impairment that substantially affects a person’s life. This could be a person’s movements, their senses, the way they perform activities or the way they socialise and communicate with others. A disability can affect either one or a combination of these things. What can you do to recognise The International Day of Persons with Disabilities within your organisation? Working to actively include disabled people in your organisation, as both employees and service users, is important to organisation development and progression - as well as contributing to making the world a fairer place. One way you can do this is by devoting effort to making ‘reasonable adjustments’ to your organisation for both disabled employees and service users. ‘Reasonable adjustments’ are changes organisations can make in order to remove disadvantages disabled people are experiencing - this can involve offering your information in accessible formats. How can we help you to do this at Easy Read Online? An essential part of everyone’s life is being able to comprehend the world around us, and all the information it throws our way. Some disabled people might not be able to understand or decipher information in the same way as others. The Equality Act of 2010 states organisations are required to produce information in accessible formats. Easy Read is an accessible format that translates difficult information, making it easy to understand. This ensures that disabled people have equal access to information, and are not discriminated against. At Easy Read Online we are dedicated to providing organisations’ information in Easy Read, for the benefit of everyone involved. You can find more information about requesting Easy Read on our website: www.easy-read-online.co.uk/ Example Susan requires financial help with social care and the support that she needs to live a full life. She asks her local council for some information about benefits she might be eligible for, to help her pay for this social care. The local council sends Susan a lengthy reference booklet of 30 or more pages that uses complicated jargon and confusing concepts. Susan opens the booklet and becomes immediately overwhelmed as she cannot understand the information - she dismisses the booklet and avoids applying for the financial help she needs and deserves. This situation could have been avoided if the council had asked what kind of format Susan would like her information in - an Easy Read booklet of information would have been more suited to Susan’s needs.

Hello, and welcome to our new website. We wanted to create a website that helps people to understand more about: What we do. What Easy Read is. How Easy Read information enables people to do more for themselves. On the website you’ll see lots of our Easy Read illustrations. These were first developed with a group of people with learning disabilities from Mencap in Liverpool. Every illustration has been drawn by our in-house illustrator Danni. Some of the illustrations she has created were commissioned by the United Nations - because their Easy Read documents required representation of cultures and nationalities from around the world. What’s new The new website is completely new in its design and layout. New features include: A new quote form - this asks clients to answer a few quick questions about their requirements and upload the document(s) they want us to transform into Easy Read. FAQs - a page dedicated to questions that we get asked regularly, so that people can see them at a glance. Intros to our team - at the bottom of the ‘About us’ page you’ll find an illustration of each of the Easy Read team and what each of us likes to get up to. What’s next We’re continuing to develop our website. If you have any feedback, please send us an email to kelvin@easy-read-online.co.uk We’re intending to write some blogs about the work we do, including tips for Easy Read, the importance of making information accessible and other matters along the way. We’re also intending to start a monthly newsletter for 2023 which will keep subscribers up to date on the work we’ve done + any other good Easy Read information that is available publicly. You can subscribe at the bottom of our new ‘Homepage’.