Learn to make Easy Read!
Making Easy Read combines creativity with thoughtful design, clear writing, digital accessibility, and a deep understanding of your audience, particularly people with learning disabilities.
My training uses this holistic approach, showing your team how to craft information that is accessible, attractive, consistent with your organisation's branding, and most importantly - makes a real difference to the people you help.
By mastering Easy Read, your organisation can communicate more effectively, become truly inclusive, and build stronger connections with the people you serve.
Easy Read Training: who is it for?
Administrators, support workers, receptionists, communications professionals, project managers, report-writers, minute-takers, teachers and graphic designers. I have trained people from local authorities, charities, the NHS and companies who provide care services, who come with a very wide range of experience and expertise.
What will I learn?
What each delegate will get from the training will depend on their existing skills and experience, especially their ability to use MS Word and/or desktop publishing software. Beginners and design experts alike will certainly find something to improve their practice. I design bespoke training according to the needs of your team, your budget and the time available. As an example, a half-day course can cover;
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why Easy Read is important: the legal and ethical context
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learning disability and other difficulties: why does Easy Read help?
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techniques for summarising and organising complex information, including the use of tools like Chat GPT
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finding, choosing and using images
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page layout and fonts
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the pros and cons of different formats - print, PDF, web, audio and video
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managing the Easy Read project; decisions, resources, stakeholders, co-production
What will I be able to do?
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You will be able to explain why good quality Easy Read will help your organisation to communicate better with people with learning disabilities and other sensory difficulties.
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You will know how to plan an Easy Read project and include your target audience in its development.
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You will be able to make simple, well-designed and more accessible information, using a combination of planning and design techniques.
How do I book?
I offer bespoke training packages to organisations, for up to 30 delegates per course. Please contact me to talk about your team's needs and possible dates. I can present a 1-hour online introductory workshop, right up to a full day of in-person training. I can present online training via your own online systems (eg. Teams) or via my own Zoom account.
If you only have 1 or 2 members of staff who want to improve their skills, I can offer weekly mentoring sessions plus ongoing reviews of their designs as an alternative and much more personal way to rapidly improve their skills.
Testimonials
"Really informative training session which took us from the planning stages through to completed documents. Essential tips on how to decide on content and format to make clear and clean documents – Easy!"
"Very interesting training, eye opening. Provided information that can be used not only for easy read purposes, but in general to make communication more accessible."
"When people say “make this Easy Read” they assume that it is easy to do – it isn’t and this training has highlighted what skills are needed to simplify our complicated information."
"An informative, interactive and interesting course which certainly engages you and inspires you to have a go! Thanks!"
"The training was very useful and easy to follow. Kept us all well engaged with thought provoking exercises. I look forward to putting it into practice."
"Really informative course; a good introduction to the skill. Good to think of the target audience in the way it was explained. Clare’s experience and personable manner really helps to learn and apply to real life."