How to produce an Easy Read document for your volunteers
An Easy Read is a version of a document that is easier for someone with a learning disability to understand.
To achieve this, simple words in short sentences are used alongside pictures to help explain the words.
Easy Read role description
An Easy Read role description for your volunteering opportunity can be very helpful for a volunteer with a learning disability.
We ask for organisations to include an Easy Read when they are uploading a volunteering opportunity they want to promote on our Volunteering Hub.
Images
- Images should be easy to understand. For example, a light bulb does not represent thinking, it is too abstract. But someone with a thoughtful facial expression and body language does.
- Images should be to the left of the writing.
- Each key point should have an image.
Styling text
- Important words are in bold.
- Do not write in all capitals.
- Do not use italics neu underlined text.
- Text should be in black with a white background. There should be no images or patterns behind the text.
- Make sure there is plenty of space around the text. You may need to increase the line spacing.
Font and sizing
- Font size should be a minimum of size 16.
- Fonts should be clear. Good examples are Quicksand a Tenorite.
Sentence structure
- Sentences should contain 2-10 words with a maximum of 15 words.
- Paragraphs should be 1-3 lines with a maximum of 5 lines.
Numbers
- Numbers should be written in digits, not words.
For example:
1
22not
one
twenty-two
Language
- Do not to shorten words. ‘You are’ is better than ‘you’re’ and ‘do not’ is better than ‘don’t’.
- There should not be more than 4 words in the listing that you think people may find hard to understand. Examples we have come across are ‘conservation’, ‘empowering’, and ‘cooperation’.
Document design
- Give the document a title page.
- Include your organisation’s logo and contact details at the end of the document.
