Easy Read… Easy English… Plain Language? Decision-Making in the Production of 'Easy' Information in Australia.
Ariella Meltzer, Emma Barnes, Ayah Wehbe
PMID 39961312WHAT IT FOUND
Australian providers of easy-read materials disagree on whether terms like Easy Read and Easy English mean the same thing.
They set reading levels between Grade 1 and 9 and choose photos or symbols based on who they think will use the document. No single format suits all audiences.
Key findings
01Providers disagree on definitions, with some treating Easy Read and Easy English as interchangeable while others distinguish them by reading level and image type.
02Reading levels range from Grade 1 to Grade 9, depending on whether the provider expects the user to read independently or with a support person.
03Image choices vary between photos and symbols based on audience preference, with some users finding photos more relatable and others finding symbols more generalisable or validating for AAC users.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample was small, including only 12 organisations. The study did not directly collect data from people with intellectual disability, relying instead on providers' perspectives. It did not address new developments like the use of generative AI in creating accessible information.
Declared interests
One author, Ariella Meltzer, is a Board member of an organisation that makes ‘easy’ information.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that a document labelled 'Easy Read' or 'Easy English' has a standard reading level or image type across different providers. The terms are used inconsistently in Australia, so you must check the actual features and intended audience of any specific document before using it with a patient.