Introduction to Plain Language Writing and Plain Language Resources
We posted a version of this on our Twitter in July of 2022.
Plain language is not just for people with intellectual disabilities. Plain language helps everyone. When we want to educate the public about fascist movements, we should try to use plain language.
Using plain language includes people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the fight against fascism. This is important because fascists target people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Using plain language also makes sure people who do not have intellectual disabilities understand, too.
Most Americans can’t read above an 8th grade reading level, disabled or not. Other countries have similar literacy rates.
Plain language is important for people with intellectual disabilities and for everyone.
Here are some plain language resources:
This website helps federal agencies, like the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, write plain language. It has tips to help everyone write in plain language.
autisticadvocacy.org/resources/accessibility/easyread/
This guide is from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (@autisticadvocacy).
This guide is in plain language. It gives great advice on making both plain language and easy read/easy-to-read resources. Easy read uses pictures/icons to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities understand the information.
inclusion-europe.eu/easy-to-read/
This website is from Inclusion Europe. They also make Easy-to-read materials. This website includes a guide to making them. Easy-to-read guides have helpful tips that work well for plain language.
nyc.gov/html/adulted/downloads/pdf/easy-to-read-nyc.pdf
This guide is from New York City. New York City made it to help its government agencies talk clearly and effectively to people who live in New York City. This guide can also help you with making your communications easier to understand or in plain language.
This website is in German. It is in the format Leichte Sprache. That means “easy language” in English. Leichte Sprache is the German version of plain language. This website includes instructions to make easy read, too. Plain language isn’t just for English!
selfadvocacyinfo.org/resources/sartac-zoom-meetings/
The Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC) recorded webinars on making plain language and easy read materials. You can watch those at the link above.
Making written information easier to understand for people with learning disabilities - U.K Government
The United Kingdom makes a lot of plain language and easy-to-read resources. This is one of them.
Making plain language and easy read material is hard. It takes a long time. That is part of why we take a long time to publish articles. We commit ourselves to informing all of our community. So we try our best to be accessible. You should try your best, too.
1) Use active voice, not passive voice. Active voice is easier to understand for people with intellectual disabilities.
2) Use jargon the right way. Explain the jargon. Ask yourself if it is needed to explain what you want to explain.
4) Use acronyms the right way. You can use an acronym, but always spell it out first. Try to spell out the acronym every few paragraphs to prevent confusion. This also helps the reader keep track of many different acronyms
5) Build on every concept to explain the big picture
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network has a great toolkit on the federal budget that does this. The federal budget process is very complicated. Most people don’t get it. They built on each concept to make sure you understand. Take a look: autisticadvocacy.org/policy/toolkits/budget/
6) Shorter sentences. Long sentences are hard to follow. They are harder to read. Try to make them shorter.
7) Break up long sentences into two or more sentences.
8) One idea per line. This is more than just a formatting trick. This helps you build on each concept.
Those are not all the things involved in plain language writing. But it is a good start. And most of these tips are just tips for good writing in general. Be clear. Say what you mean. Break down the concepts for the reader.
Does this sound difficult? I hope so. Because it is.
Plain language writing is really hard to do. You need to take a lot of time to edit it. But you do not need to be perfect. And you don’t need to start out perfect. You just need to try. You will get better at it. Your writing will be accessible. And it will be better for it.
Just starting out with a few of these tips will help. Plain language won’t make it so everyone will always understand you. That is especially true if they read what you write with the intention to not understand you. But it will be clearer to more people, including people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
