What is Easy Read information?

Most of my Easy Read design follows the Disibility Equality Scotland standards. I might deviate slightly from these standards to suit a particular project, under the guidance of people with learning disabilities and the client's own branding and design requirements. Common features of all Easy Read include large print, clear font, easy words, short sentences, illustrations and minimalist page design. 

Who is Easy Read information for?

Easy Read has been developed for - and by - people with learning disabilities. But many more people also benefit - including people with visual impairments, dyslexia, or who simply do not have enough time to read the full version! 

What is the difference between Easy Read and plain English?

I can produce both. Plain English documents do not have illustrations for every paragraph, and the font is not usually as large. It is written in "everyday" English, and is suitable for a wider audience. 

What kind of documents can you translate?

Anything! If it is an entirely unfamiliar topic I may come back to you with questions about things like acronyms and jargon, but otherwise, no document is too gnarly. My most familiar topics are social care, health, housing, advocacy, research, education and personal budgets. I am always up for a challenge! 

Can you write and design new information from scratch?

Yes, absolutely! I have made guidebooks, leaflets, posters and more, where there has not been an "original" document to work from. 

What are the advantages of using a freelancer?

Organisations have told me that it is very useful to have a "fresh pair of eyes" on a project. Also, when permanent staff are tied up on other projects, I can work quickly to get the job done. Many organisations do not have enough Easy Read work to create a dedicated role, but they keep me on-hand, ready to help when needed. I also have the flexibility to work over the weekend if you are up against a really tight deadline. 

Do you involve people with learning disabilities in making your Easy Read?

For larger projects, yes. I work with a group of people with learning disabilities at Muntsy's Day Opportunities who can review your document. I can also convene and run groups to work on specific projects in a more in-depth way. For a faster and cheaper consultation / proof-read, I have individuals with learning difficulties who I approach for one-off reviews. 

Can you manage, or integrate with, co-produced projects?

Yes, absolutely. I spent 15 years working for a locally-run self-advocacy charity, People First Dorset, running a wide range of co-produced projects alongside people with learning disabilities. It is something I absolutely love to do! 

Do you use AI to make Easy Read?

I never use AI to summarise long documents and produce Easy Read text. This is for 2 main reasons: 

• I need to have a deep understanding of the source material. Using short-cuts would mean that I understand a lot less about the topic at hand. This creates a danger of prioritising the wrong things, missing the point, or making a giant political blunder. 

• Confidentiality: many of the documents I work on are highly confidential. For example, government reports and local consultations. I will NEVER trust AI with such documents! 

I do use AI for queries such as: 

• "Give me 5 simple ways to say "Strategic vision" in an Easy Read style." This is especially useful at the end of the day when my brain is tired! It never seems to come up with the perfect answer but often does accelerate my thinking! 

• "What are the 3 main functions of the Office of Rail and Road?". This kind of query gives me an overview of a specilist organisation or topic that I have not come across before. I would always double-check against the organisation's website, in the case of this example. 

I do use AI for images: 

• I no longer use a bespoke image bank for Easy Read - it was expensive and restrictive.

• I now use Adobe Firefly AI instead, because I have far more control over the images - I can literally generate anything! AI images are rapidly improving in terms of speed, accuracy, diversity and quality. 

How long does it take to complete a project?

Anything from an hour to a month - or longer! I can usually turn around 1 or 2-day projects very quickly, and can sometimes work through the weekend if you are on a very tight deadline. 

Please email me or book a call to talk about your project, and the needs of your organisation and the people you serve. I will give you a completion date along with your quote, which we can agree together. 

Can you train my staff team to make their own Easy Read?

Yes, I can provide training workshops, online or in-person. See my homepage for more details and some reviews. 

How much does your writing and design service cost?

I write quotes based on my day-rate, and how much work I can get done in a day, or fraction of a day. I do not charge per word or per page, because every project is so different. I have been making Easy Read information for over 20 years, and I work fast, so I hope you will be pleased with your quote!

2 rounds of amendments are always included in the price of my work. This gives you the opportunity to ask the people you work with for their opinions, which we can integrate into the final version.

How can I get a quote?

Email me. Tell me as much as you can about your organisation, the information you would like translated, how quickly you need it, your branding requirements and anything else that may help me. Also send me the original file if you have it ready. I am happy to provide an estimate if you cannot do this - perhaps it is not ready, or you cannot share it for confidentiality reasons. That's fine - it is a common scenario! 

I will look at all of the information, then give you a price and a finish date. If the project is complex, an online meeting can be helpful. 

I look forward to hearing from you!