Easy Read is a way of presenting text in a highly simplified and visual way. It’s particularly designed for people with intellectual and learning disabilities, and may also be useful for people with English as a second language, older people and people with low literacy.
An Easy Read document is split into 2 columns. Images are placed on the left, paired with directly relevant text on the right. This image is carefully selected to help convey the meaning of the text.
The text is also set at a larger font size than usual.
Easy Read pages are often printed, so the layout works well as a handout.
Here is an example of a text and image pair:
You can see live examples of Easy Read pages on the Easy Read hub.
Why Easy Read matters
The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 requires us to ensure people with disabilities have equal access to information and services. All NSW Government digital products and services must meet the current version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to level AA.
Easy Read content is one technique you can use provide information in a way that is accessible to a wide range of people.
When to use Easy Read
Easy Read content helps people access a wide variety of government information and services. It should not be used just for information or services related to disability.
Although it can benefit many different groups of people, you should be aware that Easy Read may not suit all audiences. A target user group might prefer another format, such as a checklist or video. We recommend researching your customers' needs and preferences when deciding how to present your content.
Creating Easy Read content
Easy Read resources require careful consideration in the choice of language and images.
Easy Read documents should also be tested with your intended audience before being published, to ensure they are fit for purpose.
We recommend using the services of a specialist vendor when creating Easy Read content. Agency partners can obtain these services from vendors listed on buy.nsw.gov.au.
If you are planning to create your own Easy Read content, make sure you read and follow the Easy Read guidelines and other accessibility advice in the Accessibility and Inclusivity Toolkit provided by Digital NSW.
Publishing Easy Read content on nsw.gov.au
The nsw.gov.au CMS includes a specific Easy Read content type to publish your Easy Read content. See Creating an Easy Read page for detailed instructions.
More information
- Easy Read - Digital NSW
- Accessibility and Inclusivity Toolkit - Digital NSW
- Easy Read hub - nsw.gov.au
- Easy Read - Australian Government Style Manual
- Easy Read | Online Accessibility Toolkit – Government of South Australia
- Accessible communication formats - GOV.UK
Need any more help?
If you have any questions, or require assistance with anything mentioned on this article, submit a request via the webform.