“If I can’t find some information in Easy Read, I give up looking. If you have to go out and look for it, you don’t really know where to go. In that case, I’d have to give it to my support and get them to read it.”

That’s how Rachel, a Health Checker’s Project Assistant, described the reality of trying to access important information in one of our first sessions working with her and her colleagues at SpeakEasy N.O.W.

Why Easy Read Matters

For many people with learning disabilities, Easy Read isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s what makes the difference between being able to read and act on information yourself, or having to rely on someone else to explain it. But too often, Easy Read comes as an afterthought. Government consultations, health information, even letters from public services are usually published in standard formats first, leaving people like Rachel waiting.

That wait creates a gap. A gap in independence, in confidence, and in the time available to take part. As Rachel points out, “I would rather be able to read a letter from my doctors myself, because especially if it’s for me, I’d rather read it myself first.”

Closing the gap with EasyMaker

This is where EasyMaker can make a difference. It helps organisations create Easy Read quickly and consistently, so people don’t have to wait. Instead of weeks of delay, or no Easy Read at all, information can be shared in a way that works for everyone, right from the start.

In this week’s video, Rachel talks about some of the ways she uses Easy Read, both in her work at a self-advocacy charity based in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, and in her own life. She also talks about the different ways that people she knows and works with use and access information.

EasyMaker is free to try and could be the first step in making your information more accessible. Why not see what it can do for you and your team?