Burning the midnight oil with Access Easy English: Our experience at the Switzerland virtual Easy-to-Read Conference. Part 2.

 

Our team headed into Day 2 of the 2021 virtual KLAARA (Easy-to-Read) Conference feeling somewhat jet lagged by the time difference despite our feet staying firmly on Australian soil. The “jet-lag” was well worth it as we came away from the conference with fresh perspectives.

 

Day 2 talks explored:

 

·      The increased understanding of adults with ID when presented with concrete information rather than abstract.

·      The receptive language abilities of a group of primary school students with ID using the TROG-H test.

·      The problem of using negative sentences in Easy-to-Read.

·      Whether simplifying German text can inadvertently increase the complexity of the text.

·      Syntax of Easy-to-Read Polish using one idea per sentence and adjusting length of sentence to reduce complexity. What extent does this approach impact the understanding between simple and complex sentences?

·      The disconnect between experience of those who require Easy-to-Read content and those who don’t. How Easy-to-Read can lack the anticipated tact dealing with sensitive issues such as suicide.

·      The lack of Easy-to-Read sources on mental health in Australia for people with ID. Use of plain language can tick an accessibility box for organisation but not increase participation of those who have limited literacy.

·      The role of interlingual translation in providing Easy-to-Read resources for other languages where Easy-to-Read is not widely incorporated.

·      The issue of accessible websites assuming digital literacy.

·      Case studies on consumer testing and degree of supported mediation of the information.

·      Important components of Easy-to-Read and the role of knowing your reader.

  

Overall, the talks brought home the need to develop a more consistent and cohesive approach to accessible information. There is a need for society to begin to understand accessible text as a right, not a favour, and for accessible text to be backed with higher government and community expectations and standards. Not only for those with higher literacy at Plain Language level, the preferred accessible text approach by the Australian Government, but also those who require Easy English. 

 Look out for notices about the next conference in 2 years. Hopefully it will be face to face.

 Cass, Cathy and Rachel

Cathy Basterfield

Owner Access Easy English
Consultant – Speech Pathologist

Telephone: 0466 579 855

Email: cathy@accesseasyenglish.com.au
Website: https://accesseasyenglish.com.au/

 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/accesseasyenglish

Blog: http://accesseasyenglish.blogspot.com.au
Twitter: @accesseasyengli

LinkedIn Cathy Basterfield

How literate is our society?

There has been some discussion in tweets and blogs and at various conferences about literacy recently.

A range of researchers have talked about literacy from different perspectives. Each of these is important to gain a fuller understanding of what you need to consider for inclusion and participation for the people with whom you engage.

There was a discussion on RadioNational this week about the PIAAC, 2013 data which tells us 44% of the Australian adult population has non functional literacy. Listen to the broadcast to hear about 2 individuals’ issues and needs when they had non functional literacy.

Easy English is needed as part of a broad plan to engage with adults of all backgrounds so they can be included, participate and make meaningful decisions about their own lives. This may be for medical information, housing or organising a new mobile phone contract and many other things. Some examples of Easy English are here. Think about what documents you need in Easy English, and ask me how to make this happen.

Today I read about The World’s Most Literate Nations data.

This is an interesting analysis and worthy of discussion. It does address the issues about what constitutes literacy and evidence of literacy in a community. The report does agree the aspects reviewed could impact on the results. However, for this review the researchers used 

 - access to a computer (Percentage of households with either desktop or laptop computer and excludes other devices such as cell phone, personal digital assistant, or T);

- input to education (compulsory yrs of schooling and amount spent per student related to GDP);

- output of education (Data from PIRLS (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study) literacy, data from PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) and data from  YOA for 15-18yr olds);

- Libraries (Number of academic libraries, public libraries, school libraries, volumes in all (only) public libraries);

- Newspapers (including: paid-for dailies, circulation, online editions, export of newspapers) 

More details about each of these areas is in the research report. What other areas do you think need to be considered when you wonder whether Australia is a literate nation?

On the data analysed where does Australia fit in the overall schema of being a literate nation?

Where would you expect them to be?

Australia is not in the top 10 overall. Nor is it in the top 10 on any 1 of the parameters analysed. 

Australia is 16th overall according to this data. Have a look at the countries above and below Australia. Would you expect this is where our literacy is, as a country? If you agree, this is accurate, what do we need to do to develop into a more literate society?  What resources, what research, what support needs to be in place? What infrastructure, what training, what else needs to be done. I would be interested to hear your thoughts.

Cathy

Cathy Basterfield

Access Easy English

Consultant – Speech Pathologist
Telephone: 0466 579 855
Email: cathy@accesseasyenglish.com.au

Website: www.accesseasyenglish.com.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/accesseasyenglish (our recent projects)

Twitter: @accesseasyengli

Lots of connections for AAC awareness month

Below are just a couple of great awareness ideas different people around the world are putting up to remind us all about the importance of support for people, with Complex Communication Needs. Rather than reinvent the wheel, I thought I would post a couple of them here. Hopefully some will resonate with you, or there are new links you can use functionally.

24 Hour International AAC Chat on 24 October 2015  

 Enjoy sharing with people around the world: users, professionals, families and networks

 Autistikids13 October 2015  

Quote from the Autistikids Facebook site 
In the last 3 days, I've seen a couple of references to teachers taking AAC devices away as a "disciplinary" measure. W T F?!? On what planet would this be appropriate?
Seriously, if you hear of this, address this issue ASAP, whether it's your kid or someone else's. If a teacher taped your kid's mouth shut as a "disciplinary" measure, what would your reaction be?

What can we do to change this negative culture? Cathy

 Another post from a different Facebook site (Candi Brooks)

Speech Pathology Australia has posted a message about AAC awareness month. 

Remember to include a Speech Pathology/communication assessment in your NDIS plan

Have your say in the Victorian Multi Purpose Taxi review (Submission til 4 December.) AAC users often have great difficulties engaging with sectors for community inclusion and participation. Let them know what you need!

Cathy

Cathy Basterfield

Speech Pathologist

Access Easy English

cathy@accesseasyenglish.com.au

www.accesseasyenglish.com.au

0466 579 855