Three Different Accessible Writing Styles

 

1. Easy Read

Easy Read is designed mainly for:

• people with learning disabilities

• some people with autism

• people with communication difficulties

Organizations such as Mencap use Easy Read widely.

Key features

• very short sentences

• simple vocabulary

• one idea per line

• pictures or symbols

• large clear text

• lots of white space

Example:

Standard text

People with dyslexia may benefit from assistive technology and structured literacy instruction.

Easy Read

Some people have dyslexia.
Dyslexia can make reading hard.
Tools can help people read.

Easy Read focuses on understanding information quickly.

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2. Plain English

Plain English is different.

It is designed to make complex information easier for everyone.

It is often used by governments and legal organisations like the Plain English Campaign.

Key features

• shorter sentences

• everyday language

• clear structure

• fewer technical terms

Example:

Original text

Individuals experiencing dyslexia may encounter challenges related to phonological processing and written language decoding.

Plain English

People with dyslexia may find reading and spelling difficult.

Plain English removes unnecessary complexity, but it still assumes normal reading ability.

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3. Dyslexia-Friendly Writing

Dyslexia-friendly writing focuses on visual readability, not just language.

It is supported by organisations such as the British Dyslexia Association.

Key features

• larger font size

• clear fonts

• good spacing

• short paragraphs

• bullet points

• clear headings

Example:

Dyslexia-friendly text might look like this:

What is dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a learning difference.

It can affect:

• reading

• spelling

• writing

Many people with dyslexia are also very good at:

• problem solving

• creativity

• practical thinking

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The Key Difference

Style	Main Purpose	Who It Helps
Easy Read	Simplify information	Learning disabilities, communication needs
Plain English	Remove complex language	General public
Dyslexia-friendly writing	Improve visual reading	Dyslexic readers

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Why This Matters for Your Work

Because you are creating education and awareness materials, you may actually use all three styles in different situations.

For example:

Teaching materials

• Dyslexia-friendly formatting

Disability awareness

• Plain English explanations

Accessible versions

• Easy Read with symbols

Many organisations now produce multiple versions of the same information.

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Something You Noticed That Is Very Insightful

Earlier, you mentioned that you want to read books but they are not always accessible.

This is a perfect example of why format matters as much as content.

A book might be:

• well written

• interesting

• informative

But still difficult to read if the layout is not accessible for dyslexia.