By Erin Casey
Information is in plain language when the words and design are easy to understand and use.
See what I did there? Right off the top, I told you what plain language is. And I did it IN plain language.
Do you know why I did that? So you didn’t have to ASK what plain language is. You didn’t have to feel left out or self-conscious. You and I understand each other from the get-go.
What’s the big deal about asking?
In my last blog about plain language, I wrote that it’s a quick win for accessibility. No building renovations, no policy change, no major decision-making required! Since that blog, I’ve facilitated plain language workshops across the province. I’ve talked to dozens of public sector folks about the challenges and rewards of communicating more clearly.
One key point comes up over and over. Using plain language can remove a barrier we all face sometimes, and many of us face all the time. That barrier is having to ASK: Ask for more information, ask what words mean, ask how something works, or ask for help.
What happens when we use plain language?
Some awesome things happen when we speak and write clearly!
- more people understand the first time
- more people feel included
- more people get what they need faster
Not that there’s anything wrong with asking for help!
We could all stand to ask for help a little more often. But for the almost one in three Nova Scotians with disabilities, having to ASK for barriers to be removed is a daily burden.
“Can I have the key to the elevator to get upstairs?”
“Can you help me fill out this form so I can apply for benefits?”
“Where can I find an all-gender bathroom?”
“Is there a sensory-friendly area I can go to if I need a break?”
If you’ve never had a disability, or struggled to understand something, you might think, “What’s the big deal? I’m happy to help if someone asks.”
But the problem is having to ask over and over, all the time, every day. Using plain language takes some of that burden away.
Plain language is key to unlocking an accessible future.
It’s unfair to place the burden of asking for barriers to be removed ON the people affected by those barriers. This is the foundation of an accessible future: a fair chance for us all to take part in work, play, education, and life.
Putting information in plain language is — get this! — an accessible way to build accessibility. It’s pretty quick, you don’t need special equipment, and you can take it step by step.
Yes, you’ll need a little time to update old information and create new information. But it’s worth it. When we build clear language in from the beginning, we:
- include more people more often
- save time because people understand the first time
- save money because… people understand the first time!
You can’t tell who needs plain language.
Spoiler alert! We all do. Every one of us, at least sometimes, doesn’t understand something. And what happens when we don’t understand?
We feel left out. We feel stressed. We feel embarrassed.
We’ve all been there. Sitting in a meeting where someone throws around complicated ideas while everyone around the table nods. Listening to a doctor explain a test result. Trying to fill out a confusing form so you can get a service you really need.
It’s hard to raise your hand and say, “I don’t get it.” Using plain language takes away worry and invites people to be part of things.
Plain language is a powerful tool for accessibility and equity.
Who is most likely to benefit from plain language? People:
- With disabilities
- With low literacy
- Whose first language is not English
- Who are stressed
Just to name a few!
We ALL get more out of information that’s easy to understand and use. And using plain language helps take away one of the most common barriers of all: The barrier of asking.
This blog post reads at a grade 3 to 5 level.