by | April 30, 2009 · 3:23 pm

Plain English Plain Language and Easy Read

Recently I have been talking with a few people about these three ways of conveying information, and have noticed a fair bit of confusion in how people understand them. I want to establish some clarity.

Plain English and plain language are essentially the same thing. Both are concerned with communicating in language that the audience can easily understand on a first reading. Plain English and plain language are not about dumbing down language, but about everyday clearly written prose which is free of jargon so the reader can find what they need, and understand and use the information.

Plain English applies equally to electronic and to all printed material.

Easy Read is quite different. It is an accessible alternative information format along with others such as large print or audio. Some features of easy read documents or web pages are easy words, big writing, and clear pictures. Sound – so that you can listen to the words can be used on web sites. Whether the information is in print or on the web it must also be easy to find the page you want.

The creation of Easy Read requires a careful simplification of the information which is usually targeted at adults not children. Those readers may have learning disabilities of various kinds, or have English as their second language. This format will also be useful for people who have poor literacy.

There is information on how to create Easy Read material on the Office for Disabilities Issues web site.  Information in easy read format is available from IHC Advocacy who have produced some excellent material in that format.

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by | April 7, 2009 · 4:02 pm

From Waitangi to Wanaka

I have been revelling in having more family around me than I have had for a long time. Both daughters were at home and we have family for the UK here as well. It has been full on socialising with good food and wine, and a bit of work squashed in around the edges.

Enjoying my family and holidaying with them have been responsible for the lack of posts over the last few weeks. We travelled around the North and South Islands mostly by car which was very cool for someone who doesn’t drive.

We stayed at motels ancient and modern and visited places as diverse as the Bay of Islands where the weather was warm and the sun shone, and Lake Wanaka where it rained, and many places in between.

We introduced our English rellies to tuataras and the summer pleasures of birds and bush at the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary and the culinary delight of Bluff oysters. Yum! Visitors are always a good excuse to sample great kiwi kai and wine! I will really have to start swimming again!

We tried the paddle steamer on the Wanganui or is it Whanganui river. The Waimarie is pleasantly slow and rather smutty – I mean coal smuts not the other kind. It was interesting to learn something about the history of the river, but I suspect it was sanitised.

Visiting the Govett Brewster gallery in New Plymouth was noisy and rather challenging with some very modern art – not quite sure about the continuous rounding up of the same mob of sheep, but I really like Len Lye’s work and look forward to visiting the planned Len Lye Centre one day. (The web site is hideous I have to say though.)

At the kiwi house at Otorohanga and I got closer to a large speckled kiwi than I have ever been to any kiwi! Another horrible web site.

We dove straight through Auckland (for once) and headed north to the Bay of Islands, stopping to see the huge graceful swamp Kauri carvings just outside Wellsford. The best bit for me though, was the Treaty Grounds at Waitangi. I understand that 80% of visitors are from overseas, yet there is so much of our own history there that I was very surprised by that figure. It is really worth a visit, and should be a ‘must do’ for all kiwis.

After all that, I took a flight to Christchurch with a change to some southern scenery. Omarama was our destination, with a call at Geraldine and Lake Tekapo on the way. The McKenzie County is just as breathtaking as I remember it, even with very little snow on the tops. Trees were beginning to turn; we ate salmon from the local salmon farm, watched our host and hostess water ski from their boat in late afternoon sunshine and spent an evening soaking steamily under the stars in a hot tub with scented wood smoke drifting lazily from the heating chimney. (They said they have an accessible tub and they are keen to attract older and disabled customers so check it out southerners.)

All good things must come to an end. Our UK rellies have gone home and our globe trotting daughter has set off on the next instalment of her OE, while the other one is immersed in work to save up for hers. Sadly I have no excuse now not to be working.

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by | March 9, 2009 · 3:19 pm

Beat the recession with accessible information

Three ways to beat the recession with accessible information

It is important in tough times to make the most of the market.
Accessible information can help you make money by increasing your market reach. Not everyone is the same – 20% of people in NZ have disabilities. Our population is ageing, with numbers of people over 65 approaching 14% of the population. There are increasing numbers of people for whom English is a second language

You will save money by careful planning to provide multiple sources of information. An accessible web site can mean fewer calls to call centres. If I can’t use a site easily I will use the phone to find the information I want. This will cost the information provider more.

You will prevent waste. If people have access to clear and understandable information they will be able to use products and services properly and minimise waste. In the health services people need clear, understandable and accessible information so they can make the most of their medication and treatment.

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by | March 2, 2009 · 9:57 am

Screen Reader user survey

Webaim has released its Survey of Preferences of Screen Readers Users conducted December 2008 through January 2009  It makes interesting if somewhat frustrating reading. While 1121 responses were received we are not told where they came from – I know some kiwi users responded – that might make a difference as different countries have different access to resources for users to have up to date technology.

The survey covered preferences in the following areas:

The conclusions the survey draws are hardly surprising.
“What it tells us is that there is no typical screen reader user.”
It goes on to say “This survey emphasizes that screen reader accessibility is about real people – and people that have diverse abilities and preferences. As developers, we must do our best to accommodate the needs of this diverse group.”

“In general, these results suggest that following accessibility guidelines and standards, using technologies that support high levels of accessibility, and providing users with options is of the highest importance.”

There was a wide range of responses to the survey so it was difficult to make any hard and fast recommendations Webaim said.

One thing I found particularly interesting was the number of respondents who had more than one impairment, 118 respondents (10.4%) reported multiple disabilities.  Perhaps since the respondents were self-selected people with more than one impairment are more likely to experience accessibility barriers and therefore more likely to respond. Developers might take this into account.

It is worth a read, and I recommend it to developers in particular. It is also worth noting that of course screen reader users are not the only people who experience web site accessibility barriers.

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