Negative Life Trajectory:

1. Negative Life Trajectory: a battle for plain language

2. What’s this got to do with Accessibility? • Is it really a problem? • Health literacy • Online literacy • So what is plain language? • Some examples • Some tools

3. What’s this got to do with Accessibility?

4. What’s this got to do with Accessibility? • Well, easy to read, well structured language is part of WCAG 2.1.

5. WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 3.1.5 Reading Level (Level AAA) • When text requires reading ability more advanced than the lower secondary education level after removal of proper names and titles, supplemental content, or a version that does not require reading ability more advanced than the lower secondary education level, is available.

6. WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 3.1.5 Reading Level (Level AAA) • When text requires reading ability more advanced than the lower secondary education level after removal of proper names and titles, supplemental content, or a version that does not require reading ability more advanced than the lower secondary education level, is available. • Unfortunately…this paragraph requires 22 years of education to understand

7. WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 3.1.5 Reading Level (Level AAA) • Website content should be written so that anyone who only has a Year 7 reading level can understand it. • If this is not possible, provide alternative or extra content that meets this reading level.

8. Why bother? • Traditionally good readers blamed a document if they couldn’t understand it, but poor readers blamed themselves. • ‘It’s hard stuff so it’s got to be written that way’ • ‘It’s a government (or legal) document’ • ‘I can’t understand it so it must be important’ • Today, it’s our responsibility to make our content easy to understand.

9. But it’s only a small problem • In Australia only 56% of people have the general literacy skills needed to cope with everyday life and work

10. But it’s only a small problem • In Australia only 56% of people have the general literacy skills needed to cope with everyday life and work • This means that 44% of Australians have low general literacy.

11. But it’s only a small problem • In Australia only 56% of people have the general literacy skills needed to cope with everyday life and work • This means that 44% of Australians have low general literacy. • And this means they have trouble reading: • time tables • instructions on medicines • notes from their kid’s school • forms • web pages • and loads of other stuff

12. Lets’ look at Health Literacy • I work in health, so let’s narrow it down and look at Health literacy.

13. Health Literacy • Health literacy is about • how people understand information about health and health care • how they apply that information to their lives, use it to make decisions and act on it.

14. Health Literacy • Health literacy is about • how people understand information about health and health care • how they apply that information to their lives, use it to make decisions and act on it. • While 44% of Australians have problems with general literacy, 60% have low health literacy.

15. Health Literacy Low health literacy is associated with: • increased rates of hospitalisation • greater use of emergency care • poorer ability interpret labels and health messages • poorer understanding of their own disease or condition • poorer overall health status and a higher risk of death among older people.

16. Health Literacy Low health literacy is associated with • increased rates of hospitalisation • greater use of emergency care • poorer ability interpret labels and health messages • poorer understanding of their own disease or condition • poorer overall health status and a higher risk of death among older people. • extra costs of 3–5% to the health system (That’s between $3.2 and $5.4 BILLION in Australia)

17. Literacy online Literacy skills can impact virtually every aspect of using the web.

18. Literacy online Literacy skills can impact virtually every aspect of using the web. • For example, eye tracking

19. Gaze path of a reader who does not have limited literacy skills. Source: healthliteracyonline

20. Gaze path of a reader who has limited literacy skills. Source: healthliteracyonline

21. Plain language • OK, so what is it?

22. Plain language • Plain language is every day language expressed clearly to convey a written message as effectively as possible. • It is not a special or reduced version of the language.

23. Plain language • Plain language: • means using commonly used and understood words and grammar • avoids using unfamiliar words and terms • considers design, layout, the use of colour and typography • is ‘correct’ language, but written in a conversational style • is also about how you organise written material and the way it is presented.

24. Plain language • Plain language is great because it: • gets your message across in the shortest time possible • means more people understand your message • means less chance that information will be misunderstood • is socially responsible.

25. Some bad examples

26. Some examples Making a complaint The complaint resolution process The Health and Disability Services Complaints Office’s (HaDSCO) complaints resolution service is free, impartial and confidential. It encourages parties to discuss complaints and works towards mutually agreed outcomes. HaDSCO is generally unable to deal with complaints which are more than two years old or have already been determined by a court, registration board or tribunal. In these cases referrals to alternative organisations may be suggested. In the first instance, HaDSCO encourages complaints to be raised with the service provider. Offering the provider a chance to address the issues, usually results in quicker complaint resolution. A complaint can be lodged by the service user or a nominated representative, for example, a family member, carer or guardian. If this proves unsatisfactory, complainants should call HaDSCO’s Assessment Team, (08) 6551 7600 or 1800 813 583 to discuss the complaint. The HaDSCO Assessment Team will outline the options, explain the complaints process and organise a complaint form to be sent by post. Alternatively, complaint forms can be completed online or downloaded (PDF) and returned by fax, email or post. All complaints must be confirmed in writing. Once completed forms are received, HaDSCO determines how best to deal with the complaint and may contact the service provider.

27. Some bad examples ‘external career development opportunities’

28. Some bad examples ‘external career development opportunities’ ABC chairman, Justin Milne, on wanting to sack senior journalist, Emma Alberici (This won Plain English Foundation’s Worst Phrase for 2018)

29. Some bad examples ‘negative life trajectory’

30. Some good examples U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services my.uscis.gov

31. Some good examples NT Community Legal Education Network lawinfont.org.au

32. Some tools • Tools to help you check your language: • hemingwayapp.com/ • wordscount.info • Sites about plain English and how to write it • health.gov/healthliteracyonline/ • www.plainenglish.co.uk/ • www.communications.tas.gov.au

33. The end Clare Chamberlain Publications Coordinator Child and Adolescent Health Service – Community Health clare.chamberlain@health.wa.gov.au Why did you decide to become an editor? Well, to cut a long story short…