Easy and Plain Language

Both writing styles help people understand information, but they serve different audiences. 

According to the Center on Disability, plain language materials and communications are typically written at a 6th- to 8th-grade reading level. Easy language communications are written between a 3rd- to 5th-grade level, with one idea per line and often including pictures to help explain the information.

Plain Language

People with intellectual disabilities or cognitive impairments should have access to all information in the media, and having media content in plain language helps with that.

Harvard University’s Digital Accessibility project explains, “Plain language benefits all users, including people with cognitive disabilities, low reading literacy, and people who are encountering an unknown topic or language.”

The British disability organization Mencap says that because reading is difficult for many people, it recommends multiple formats, if possible, as in images, audio, and/or video. When creating written text in plain language:

• Use clear and simple text (plain English) with short sentences, simple punctuation, and no jargon.
• Use larger print (at least 12 point), a clear typeface, and plenty of spacing
• Use bullet points or story boxes and fact boxes to make the main points clear.

Easy Language

GADIM creator and co-founder Patricia Almeida, who is an Easy Language specialist, says Easy Language helps people with intellectual disabilities and others who need content to be more accessible so they can learn about significant issues in society.

Almeida organized a book to teach everyone about how to create materials for people with disabilities in Easy Language. It is called Simple As This: How to use Easy Language. It is available here as a free pdf or it can be purchased through Amazon.

Almeida also collaborated with the Fiocruz National School of Public Health in Brazil for a series of Easy Language booklets on health topics for people with disabilities. The booklets are available here in Portuguese, English, Spanish, and Cordel.