{"id":721,"date":"2024-08-14T12:29:16","date_gmt":"2024-08-14T12:29:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cdci.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/?page_id=721"},"modified":"2025-04-08T07:41:31","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T11:41:31","slug":"plain-language-resources","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cdci.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/services\/current-cdci-projects\/accessibility-services-resources\/plain-language-resources\/","title":{"rendered":"Plain Language Resources"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"featured-cta-block d-flex uvm-block wp-full-width bg-gray\" id=\"CTA\">\n  <div class=\"container-fluid\">\n    <div class=\"row overview-columns align-items-center\">\n      <div class=\"col-12 col-md-6 details\">\n                <h2 class=\"h3\">Where to Start with Plain Language<\/h2>        \n                <ul class=\"buttons-list\">\n                      <li><a href=\"\/sites\/default\/files\/Center-on-Disability-and-Community-Inclusion\/A11y\/Plain-Language\/How-to-Get-Started-with-Plain-Language.pdf\" target=\"\" class=\"btn btn-primary\">Download this tutorial as a .pdf<\/a><\/li>\n                      <li><a href=\"https:\/\/cdci.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/CDCI-Plain-Language-Checklist.pdf\" target=\"\" class=\"btn btn-primary\">Dowload our plain language checklist (.pdf)<\/a><\/li>\n                  <\/ul>\n              <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"col-12 col-md-6 media\">\n        <figure>\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/cdci.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/plain-language-webframe.001-750x500.png\" class=\"attachment-three-two-md size-three-two-md\" alt=\"Icon of a speaking head with international accessibility sign\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdci.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/plain-language-webframe.001-750x500.png 750w, https:\/\/cdci.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/plain-language-webframe.001-1500x1000.png 1500w, https:\/\/cdci.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/plain-language-webframe.001-120x80.png 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/>        <\/figure>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Watch this tutorial as a video:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Where To Start with Plain Language\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/59Vzu9yoJ_8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Getting Started with Plain Language: A Step-by-Step Guide<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To get started with Plain Language, let&#8217;s break it down into three sections:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Why Plain Language?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The 5 Elements of Plain Language<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A Plain Language Exercise<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Plain Language?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Plain language makes reading easier for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as people who have difficulty reading because of dyslexia or other reading issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">We\u2019re writing for:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>people with permanent disabilities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>people with temporary disabilities, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>people with situational disabilities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>People with permanent disabilities<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 such as intellectual and cognitive disabilities, or dyslexia, and other reading abilities \u2014 benefit from plain language because it takes them less effort to read it. Depending on how severe the disability is, they may only be able to read things in plain language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>People with temporary disabilities<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 such as a concussion, or an eye injury \u2014 may appreciate plain language because it makes it easier for them to read things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>And people with situational disabilities<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 such as reading on a phone or tablet in bright sunlight, or reading while trying to make dinner at the same time \u2014 might appreciate plain language because it helps them in that situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who else?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Plain language also makes reading easier for people who are learning English, who are translating your work, or who are just really, really busy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s easier for people to skim and digest plain language, and will make your work more popular. Ease of reading is also one of the metrics Google uses to assign your work a rank in its search engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The 5 Elements of Plain Language<\/h2>\n\n\n<section id=\"accordion-block_c5ad879cf9ef2a2ac5baa925dcfd7928\" class=\"accordion-block\">\n\n  <div class=\"card\">\n    <div class=\"card-header\" id=\"heading1\">\n      <a class=\"collapsed d-flex align-items-center justify-content-between\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#accordion-block_c5ad879cf9ef2a2ac5baa925dcfd79281\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"accordion-block_c5ad879cf9ef2a2ac5baa925dcfd79281\" href=\"#\">\n        <h3>1. Active Voice<\/h3>\n        <i class=\"fa-plus fa-regular fa-sharp\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n      <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div id=\"accordion-block_c5ad879cf9ef2a2ac5baa925dcfd79281\" class=\"collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"heading1\">\n      <div class=\"card-body\">\n        <p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Active voice is when someone in a sentence does something. Passive voice is the opposite. In passive voice, things happen to someone.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s an example:<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {\"level\":5} --><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">ACTIVE VOICE:<\/h5>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe eat the cake.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u201d are the someone, and what we are doing is eating cake.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {\"level\":5} --><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">PASSIVE VOICE:<\/h5>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe cake was eaten.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>What is happening? The cake is a thing and what\u2019s happening to it is that it is getting eaten. But who is doing all that eating? It is a mystery.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Plain Language tries to avoid mysteries.<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"card\">\n    <div class=\"card-header\" id=\"heading2\">\n      <a class=\"collapsed d-flex align-items-center justify-content-between\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#accordion-block_c5ad879cf9ef2a2ac5baa925dcfd79282\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"accordion-block_c5ad879cf9ef2a2ac5baa925dcfd79282\" href=\"#\">\n        <h3>2. Shorter Sentences<\/h3>\n        <i class=\"fa-plus fa-regular fa-sharp\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n      <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div id=\"accordion-block_c5ad879cf9ef2a2ac5baa925dcfd79282\" class=\"collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"heading2\">\n      <div class=\"card-body\">\n        <p><!-- wp:heading {\"level\":4} --><\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">We eat the cake quickly.<\/h4>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Shorter sentences are easier to follow than long ones. Shorter sentences give your brain time to reset between sentences. They make a long passage of text bite-sized.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {\"level\":5} --><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SO INSTEAD OF A LONG SENTENCE:<\/h5>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s exciting to present these cakes to you as triumphs of the art of baking, the spirit of baking, and the joy of eating cakes of all shapes, flavors, and compositions!\u201d<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {\"level\":5} --><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">USE MANY SHORT SENTENCES:<\/h5>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s exciting to present these cakes to you! They are triumphs of the art of baking. They are triumphs of the spirit of baking. And we hope everyone enjoys cakes of all kinds.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>A good rule of thumb is to keep your sentences to 15 words or less.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"card\">\n    <div class=\"card-header\" id=\"heading3\">\n      <a class=\"collapsed d-flex align-items-center justify-content-between\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#accordion-block_c5ad879cf9ef2a2ac5baa925dcfd79283\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"accordion-block_c5ad879cf9ef2a2ac5baa925dcfd79283\" href=\"#\">\n        <h3>3. Use simple, familiar language<\/h3>\n        <i class=\"fa-plus fa-regular fa-sharp\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n      <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div id=\"accordion-block_c5ad879cf9ef2a2ac5baa925dcfd79283\" class=\"collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"heading3\">\n      <div class=\"card-body\">\n        <p><!-- wp:heading {\"level\":4} --><\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Use Common Words<\/h4>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Words that are simple and familiar take less effort to read than words you don\u2019t run into very often. Whenever possible, use common words. For instance, instead of \u201cutilization\u201d, choose \u201cuse\u201d. Or instead of \u201centrepreneur\u201d use \u201cbusiness owner\u201d.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {\"level\":4} --><\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Avoid Jargon<\/h4>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Whenever possible avoid jargon. Stop and think about the words you\u2019re using; would someone you met on the street understand those words? Words that are only used by a certain group of people, such as doctors, or lawyers, or scientists, or childcare professionals \u2014 those are jargon. They\u2019re harder for people who are not part of that group to understand.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {\"level\":4} --><\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Three Syllables or Less<\/h4>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Words that are shorter take less effort to read than longer words. Whenever possible, use words that are no longer than three syllables. For instance, instead of \u201cwordsmithing\u201d, use \u201crewrite\u201d, or \u201cedit\u201d.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {\"level\":4} --><\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Acronyms Are Hard to Remember<\/h4>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>An acronym is a set of letters where each letter stands for a word in a phrase or name. For instance, \u201cNASA\u201d is an acronym that stands for\u00a0<strong>N<\/strong>ational\u00a0<strong>A<\/strong>eronautics and\u00a0<strong>S<\/strong>pace\u00a0<strong>A<\/strong>dministration. Acronyms take more effort to read because each time you read an acronym, your brain has to connect it with the full name or phrase it stands for. Use acronyms when you need them, but think about whether you could say it another way.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"card\">\n    <div class=\"card-header\" id=\"heading4\">\n      <a class=\"collapsed d-flex align-items-center justify-content-between\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#accordion-block_c5ad879cf9ef2a2ac5baa925dcfd79284\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"accordion-block_c5ad879cf9ef2a2ac5baa925dcfd79284\" href=\"#\">\n        <h3>4. Keep it at a 6th grade reading level<\/h3>\n        <i class=\"fa-plus fa-regular fa-sharp\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n      <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div id=\"accordion-block_c5ad879cf9ef2a2ac5baa925dcfd79284\" class=\"collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"heading4\">\n      <div class=\"card-body\">\n        <p><!-- wp:heading {\"level\":4} --><\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Meet <a href=\"http:\/\/readable.com\">Readable.com<\/a><\/h4>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>A good rule of thumb for Plain Language is to write at a 6th grade level. But how do you know if what you\u2019re writing is at or above this level?<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>You measure it.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-724\" src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/readable-thumbnail-1024x671.jpg\" alt=\"Thumbnail of the front page of Readable.com\" width=\"1024\" height=\"671\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdci.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/readable-thumbnail-1024x671.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdci.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/readable-thumbnail-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdci.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/readable-thumbnail-768x503.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdci.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/readable-thumbnail-1536x1006.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdci.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/readable-thumbnail-2048x1342.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cdci.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/readable-thumbnail-1040x681.jpg 1040w, https:\/\/cdci.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/readable-thumbnail-640x419.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If you go to\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/readable.com\/\">Readable.com<\/a>, you\u2019ll find an online readability calculator. You can paste text paragraphs, or whole documents into the site, and Readable will tell you what grade level the text is. It will also give you suggestions for how to decrease the grade level, such as by shortening sentences, or changing words.<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"card\">\n    <div class=\"card-header\" id=\"heading5\">\n      <a class=\"collapsed d-flex align-items-center justify-content-between\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#accordion-block_c5ad879cf9ef2a2ac5baa925dcfd79285\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"accordion-block_c5ad879cf9ef2a2ac5baa925dcfd79285\" href=\"#\">\n        <h3>5. Think about layout<\/h3>\n        <i class=\"fa-plus fa-regular fa-sharp\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n      <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div id=\"accordion-block_c5ad879cf9ef2a2ac5baa925dcfd79285\" class=\"collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"heading5\">\n      <div class=\"card-body\">\n        <p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>The way you present information can help people understand it. There are ways you can format text to make it easier to understand.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {\"level\":4} --><\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Formatting For Plain Language<\/h4>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>Provide a glossary for any words of more than 3 syllables, as well as your acronyms. The glossary itself should be in plain language.<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>Write shorter paragraphs.<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>Include more white space on your page, whether it\u2019s a web page, or a flyer, or a report.<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>Include headings on your page. Headings help people skim large pieces of text. They also help people remember what they\u2019ve read. Plus people who use screen readers or keyboard-only navigation need them.<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>And if you\u2019re not comfortable making something plain language, offer two versions. Write one the way you\u2019re comfortable with it, and also provide a plain language version.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Plain Language Exercise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pick one piece of text and make it plain language.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Choose a sample paragraph from the real-world examples below. The examples cover academic writing, a news article, a podcast summary, an accessibility website, and a popular media article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\" border=\"1\"><thead><tr><th>Piece<\/th><th>Sample Paragraph<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/severe-winter-storm-warning.jpg\" alt=\"Screenshot of an MSN.com news story about a winter storm\"><br><br>A news story:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.msn.com\/en-us\/news\/other\/hefty-fines-for-endangering-roadside-emergency-workers-set-to-take-effect-in-november\/ar-AA1iFSRM\">\u00a0\u201c<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.msn.com\/en-us\/weather\/topstories\/severe-winter-storm-warning-issued-for-upstate-ny-heavy-snow-strong-winds-expected\/ar-AA1y4pEy?cvid=991cb70bd2014beab6d545044bb50ffe&amp;ei=12\">Severe Winter Storm Warning Issued for Upstate NY &#8212; Heavy Snow, Strong Winds Expected\u201d<\/a>\u00a0(MSN.com)<br><br><\/td><td>\u201cWhile the primary storm will begin to move out by\u00a0<strong>Thursday<\/strong>, another storm system from the southeast may bring a\u00a0<strong>wintry mix<\/strong>\u00a0and additional lake-effect snow on\u00a0<strong>Friday<\/strong>. Forecast models remain\u00a0<strong>uncertain<\/strong>, but this system could produce\u00a0<strong>freezing rain, sleet, and more snow<\/strong>.\u201d<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/tunein.jpg\"><br>An academic book:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/book\/show\/61238567-turn-on-tune-in-drift-off?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=jTCYcTw6vw&amp;rank=1\"><em>Turn On, Tune In, Drift Off: Ambient Music\u2019s Psychedelic Past<\/em><\/a>, by Victor Szabo<\/td><td>\u201cAmbient music, while appearing in name to be an asocial and suprastylistic artform, was in truth a socially savvy stylization of the intoxicating affective and embodied pleasures of psychedelic drone- and loop-based atmospheric audio for a presumptively white hip and high-middlebrow market.\u201d<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Summary of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/thewaroncars.org\/2023\/08\/22\/109-inclusive-transportation-with-veronica-o-davis\/\">an episode of the podcast \u201cThe War on Cars\u201d<\/a>, featuring transportation planner Veronica O. Davis<\/td><td>\u201cIn her new book,&nbsp;<em>Inclusive Transportation: A Manifesto for Repairing Divided Communities<\/em>, Veronica O. Davis \u2014 the Director of Transportation and Drainage Operations for the city of Houston, Texas \u2014 takes a hard look at the ways in which planning a world for cars has harmed communities and how that affects anyone working to change things today. How do you repair a system that continues to divide communities? In a world where \u201cequity\u201d can sometimes just be a buzzword, what does equity truly look like if we can achieve it?<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Read each sample paragraph and think about the 5 Elements of Plain Language. Ask yourself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Is it in active voice, or passive voice?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Could the sentences be shorter?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is the vocabulary simple? Does it use common words? Are there a lot of acronyms?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What does the layout look like?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Could the average sixth grader understand this paragraph?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n<section class=\"info-highlights-block d-flex uvm-block wp-full-width bg-gray\" id=\"Highlights\">\n  <div class=\"container-fluid\">\n    <div class=\"row overview-row\">\n      <div class=\"col-12 col-lg-10 details\">\n                <h2>Why is plain language important?<\/h2>        <p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Accessibility is a journey. It\u2019s a process. And there are a lot of things to remember. But every time you try to move closer to plain language, you\u2019re moving ahead with that process. If you\u2019re not comfortable using only plain language for a report or web page, spend some time thinking about why that is.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Ask yourself:<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>Who are you afraid you\u2019re leaving out?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Who are you leaving out when you don\u2019t use plain language? What are you saying about who\u2019s welcome in the community you\u2019re creating?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"info-highlights-grid row\">\n            <div class=\"info-highlight col-12 col-md-6 col-lg-4\">\n        <span class=\"highlight-icon\"><i class=\"fa-sharp fa-solid fa-bullseye-pointer\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span>\n        <h3>Bonus exercise: do you like plain language?<\/h3>        <p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>As a bonus activity, think about one piece of media you really like. It could be a podcast, a book, a tv show, or a website.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Then ask yourself:<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true} --><\/p>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>Does it use plain language?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Would you recommend it to a friend who you know has a cognitive disability?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>There are no wrong answers in this exercise. But thinking about why we like what we like can be useful in learning to make things more accessible.<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n            <div class=\"info-highlight col-12 col-md-6 col-lg-4\">\n        <span class=\"highlight-icon\"><i class=\"fa-sharp fa-solid fa-clock\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span>\n        <h3>Take the 30-Day Challenge:<\/h3>        <p><!-- wp:heading {\"level\":4} --><\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Take It One Element At A Time<\/h4>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>As you get started with plain language, pick one thing you\u2019re going to try for the next 30 days. Maybe it\u2019s just shorter sentences. Maybe you choose to focus only on active voice. Write yourself a post-it note and stick it on the corner of your monitor as a reminder.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>At the end of the 30 days, pick another element of plain language and write another post-it note.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>And above all: get feedback from people with disabilities on your work!<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n      <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"quick-links-block d-flex uvm-block wp-full-width bg-gray\" id=\"Quick-Links\">\n  <div class=\"container-fluid\">\n    <div class=\"row overview-columns\">\n      <div class=\"col-12 col-md-6 col-lg-5 details\">\n                <h2>Additional Plain Language Resources<\/h2>        <p><!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aucd.org\/docs\/ABCs%20of%20Plain%20Language_final.pdf\">The ABCs of Plain Language<\/a>\u00a0(.pdf)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1XIjLTG5_uQ&amp;embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.selfadvocacyinfo.org%2F&amp;source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&amp;feature=emb_title\">Plain Language Formats<\/a>\u00a0(video)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/gmsavt.org\/resources\/plain-language-writing-is-a-skill\">Plain Language Writing is a Skill<\/a>\u00a0(recorded webinar)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n              <\/div>\n\n          <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"quick-links-block d-flex uvm-block wp-full-width bg-green\" id=\"Quick-Links\">\n  <div class=\"container-fluid\">\n    <div class=\"row overview-columns\">\n      <div class=\"col-12 col-md-6 col-lg-5 details\">\n                <h2>Accessibility Quicklinks<\/h2>        \n              <\/div>\n\n            <div class=\"col-12 col-md-6 offset-lg-1\">\n        <ul class=\"quick-links-list\">\n                  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/cdci.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/services\/current-cdci-projects\/accessibility-services-resources\/basic-accessibility-guidelines\/\" target=\"\"><span>Basic Accessibility Guidelines<\/span><i class=\"fa-arrow-right fa-regular fa-sharp\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/a><\/li>\n                            <li><a href=\"https:\/\/cdci.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/services\/current-cdci-projects\/accessibility-services-resources\/accessible-events\/\" target=\"\"><span>Accessible Events<\/span><i class=\"fa-arrow-right fa-regular fa-sharp\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/a><\/li>\n                            <li><a href=\"https:\/\/cdci.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/services\/current-cdci-projects\/accessibility-services-resources\/accessible-documents\/\" target=\"\"><span>Accessible Documents<\/span><i class=\"fa-arrow-right fa-regular fa-sharp\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/a><\/li>\n                            <li><a href=\"https:\/\/cdci.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/services\/current-cdci-projects\/accessibility-services-resources\/accessible-media\/\" target=\"\"><span>Accessible Multimedia<\/span><i class=\"fa-arrow-right fa-regular fa-sharp\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/a><\/li>\n                            <li><a href=\"https:\/\/cdci.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/services\/current-cdci-projects\/accessibility-services-resources\/web-accessibility\/\" target=\"\"><span>Web Accessibility<\/span><i class=\"fa-arrow-right fa-regular fa-sharp\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/a><\/li>\n                            <li><a href=\"https:\/\/cdci.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/services\/current-cdci-projects\/accessibility-services-resources\/authentic-accessibility\/\" target=\"\"><span>Authentic Accessibility<\/span><i class=\"fa-arrow-right fa-regular fa-sharp\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/a><\/li>\n                            <li><a href=\"https:\/\/cdci.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/services\/current-cdci-projects\/accessibility-services-resources\/accessibility-resources-at-uvm\/\" target=\"\"><span>Accessibility Resources @ UVM<\/span><i class=\"fa-arrow-right fa-regular fa-sharp\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/a><\/li>\n                          <\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Watch this tutorial as a video: &nbsp; Getting Started with Plain Language: A Step-by-Step Guide To get started with Plain Language, let&#8217;s break it down into three sections: Why Plain &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":2472,"menu_order":30,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-721","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Plain Language Resources - UVM Center on Disability &amp; Community Inclusion (CDCI)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cdci.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/services\/current-cdci-projects\/accessibility-services-resources\/plain-language-resources\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Plain Language Resources - UVM Center on Disability &amp; 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