Because of my own experiences with dyslexia, I believe that many more books should be available in Easy Read formats. Easy Read should not only be used for very young children. Adults and teenagers who experience reading difficulties should also have access to books that are easier to read and understand.
This does not mean that traditional books need to disappear. Standard versions of books will always remain important for many readers. However, creating Easy Read versions alongside them would allow more people to access the same stories, knowledge, and information.
Accessible books should also be designed in a way that respects the reader. Layouts should be clear, simple, and easy to follow, but they should not look childish or babyish when they are intended for adults or teenagers.
The design of an Easy Read book should depend on the subject and the age group it is written for. For example, books written for adults could include:
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Larger and clearer text
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Good spacing between lines
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Simple and direct language
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Helpful images or symbols where needed
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A clean and professional layout
These features can make reading easier without making the material feel like it is only for children.
Accessible books help people with many different needs, including those with dyslexia, learning disabilities, visual difficulties, or those who are learning a new language. Clear layouts and accessible language can make a big difference in whether someone feels confident reading a book.
Everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy books, learn new information, and explore stories in ways that work for them.
Creating Easy Read versions of more books would make reading more inclusive and ensure that people are not excluded simply because the format is difficult to read.
1. Article
Easy Read Books Should Exist for All Ages
For many people, reading is a natural part of childhood. Children often begin reading books from the age of eight, nine, or ten, and continue reading throughout their teenage years and adult life. Books open doors to imagination, knowledge, and education.
However, this is not the experience for everyone.
For people with dyslexia or other reading difficulties, reading can be challenging. Books are often written in complex language and printed in very small text. This can make reading slow, tiring, and sometimes frustrating.
When I was younger, I often struggled to read books. The print was small, the language was complicated, and the layout was difficult to follow. At the time, I believed I was the only one experiencing these difficulties.
It was not until I became older that I realised many other people had similar experiences. Many individuals with dyslexia, learning disabilities, or language processing difficulties face barriers when reading traditional books.
Accessible formats can make a huge difference.
Easy Read is one approach that helps make information clearer and easier to understand. Easy Read uses simple language, shorter sentences, larger text, and supportive images to help readers process information more easily.
The idea of Easy Read began in Sweden during the 1980s, when organisations and self-advocacy groups began producing accessible materials for people with learning disabilities. Over time, the approach spread across Europe, helping to make information more inclusive.
Despite this progress, Easy Read materials are still mostly used for short documents or information leaflets. Many books, especially books written for teenagers and adults, are rarely available in Easy Read versions.
This creates a gap in accessibility.
Easy Read books should not only exist for young children. Teenagers and adults who experience reading difficulties should also have access to books that are easier to read and understand.
Creating Easy Read versions does not mean replacing traditional books. Standard versions can continue to exist, while accessible versions are created alongside them. This allows readers to choose the format that works best for them.
Another important issue is design. Easy Read books for adults should not appear childish or patronising. Layouts can be simple and clear without looking like children’s books.
Accessible books for older readers could include:
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Larger and clearer text
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Simple but respectful language
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Clear spacing and layout
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Helpful illustrations when needed
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Professional and age-appropriate design
These changes can make reading more comfortable without changing the meaning or value of the book.
Accessible publishing benefits many groups, including people with dyslexia, learning disabilities, visual difficulties, and people who are learning a new language. Clearer text and better design can help many readers who might otherwise struggle with traditional book formats.
Reading should be something everyone can enjoy.
Creating more Easy Read books for teenagers and adults would help ensure that people are not excluded from literature and learning simply because of the way information is presented.
Accessible books are not about lowering standards. They are about removing unnecessary barriers so that more people can access knowledge, stories, and education.
2. Proposal to Publishers
Proposal: Creating Adult-Friendly Easy Read Editions
Accessible publishing is becoming increasingly important as more organisations recognise the need to make information available to a wider audience.
One important development in this area would be the creation of Easy Read editions of existing books, particularly books aimed at teenagers and adults.
Many people with dyslexia, learning disabilities, visual processing difficulties, or language barriers struggle to read traditional book formats. Small print, dense text, and complex language can make reading difficult and discouraging.
Creating Easy Read editions would help address this issue while allowing the original versions of books to remain available.
Key principles for adult Easy Read editions could include:
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Larger, clear fonts
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Shorter sentences and simplified wording
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Clear structure and layout
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Visual support where helpful
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Professional, age-appropriate design
Importantly, Easy Read books for adults should avoid designs that appear childish. The goal is accessibility, not simplification to the point of removing meaning or depth.
Providing accessible editions would allow more readers to engage with literature, education, and information. It would also support readers who may have previously felt excluded from books due to reading barriers.
Publishers who adopt accessible formats are contributing to a more inclusive reading culture where knowledge and stories are available to everyone.
3. Design Guidelines for Adult Easy Read Books
Layout
Use a clean and clear page design.
Avoid:
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crowded text
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long paragraphs
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complicated formatting
Font
Recommended fonts include:
Font size should usually be 14–18 point or larger.
Sentence Structure
Use:
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short sentences
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clear vocabulary
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direct explanations
Avoid complicated or overly academic language where possible.
Spacing
Good spacing helps readers follow text.
Use:
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wide margins
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space between paragraphs
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clear headings
Images
Images should support understanding, not distract.
Use images that:
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explain the idea
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match the content
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are age-appropriate
Tone
The tone should always be respectful and adult.
Accessible writing should never:
Goal
The goal of Easy Read is clarity and inclusion.
Accessible books help people:
During my time visiting libraries, I noticed an interesting difference between types of accessible reading materials.
For example, the Ridgefield Library offers a range of graphic novels. Graphic novels can be helpful because they combine pictures with text, which can make stories easier to follow for some readers.
However, when I used libraries in the United Kingdom, I rarely found Easy Read books unless they were written for very young children. For adults or teenagers with learning disabilities or dyslexia, the options were extremely limited.
This shows an important gap in accessible reading.
While there are some alternative formats such as graphic novels, there are still very few Easy Read books that are written for adults.
At one time, I was supported by Mencap, a learning disability charity. With their support, my colleague Jessica and I started an enterprise called Access All Areas Now. As part of this work, we delivered a training session at a local library.
During the session, we spoke about the lack of Easy Read books available for adults. We explained that many people with learning disabilities, dyslexia, or other reading difficulties struggle to access traditional books because the language, layout, and font size can be difficult.
Library staff were interested in what we had to say, and it helped raise awareness about accessibility in reading.
However, one important issue is that libraries can only provide the books that publishers produce. If publishers do not create Easy Read versions of books, libraries cannot easily offer them to readers.
This means that improving access to Easy Read books will require cooperation between:
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publishers
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libraries
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disability organisations
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accessibility advocates
Working together, these groups could help create a wider range of books that are accessible for readers of all abilities.
Reading should be something everyone can enjoy, and libraries can play an important role in making that possible.
Your experience with training libraries is actually very strong evidence for your article. Editors and researchers often look for real examples where accessibility issues appear in everyday life.
Your story shows three important points:
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Libraries want to help.
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Readers with disabilities need accessible formats.
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Publishers often control what formats exist.
Digital Reading and Online Access Challenges
These days, many books and resources are available as ebooks or online materials. This can make reading more accessible in some ways. For example, you can change font size, use text-to-speech, or highlight text to make reading easier.
However, digital reading also brings new challenges.
One of the biggest challenges I face is creating and remembering passwords. Many websites and apps require complicated passwords with numbers, symbols, and capital letters. For someone with dyslexia, this can make accessing ebooks, online libraries, or even simple services stressful and confusing.
Even if someone can read digital text easily, logging in or managing passwords can be a barrier to accessing information. This can mean that some people avoid digital resources, even when they could help.
This is not just a personal issue. Many people with learning disabilities, memory difficulties, or processing differences face the same problem.
It highlights an important point: accessibility is not just about readable text. It also includes digital usability, login systems, and online design.
Solutions could include:
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Clear instructions for creating passwords
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Password management tools that are accessible and simple
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Login systems designed for accessibility
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Support from libraries, schools, or organisations for digital access
Making digital reading truly accessible means thinking about every step of the user experience, not just the words on the page.
Real-Life Example: Adult Book Clubs and Accessibility
I am part of a special needs book club, where we read together as a group. Recently, we read Robin Hood.
The reading materials were not in a book. Instead, they were typed out on sheets of paper, stapled together. Many of the words were long and difficult. The text had not been adapted into Easy Read, which made it hard for several members to follow.
During the session, each person would read a page or paragraph aloud. Even with this support, some people struggled with certain words. For example, one person with speech difficulties helped another member read parts of the text.
This experience highlighted several important points:
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Traditional text can be inaccessible to adults with learning disabilities or reading difficulties.
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Peer support can help, but it is not always enough.
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Even motivated readers can find texts frustrating, discouraging, or tiring.
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Accessible formats, such as adult Easy Read or simplified texts, would make participation easier and more enjoyable.
This example shows that accessibility is about more than just availability. It is also about how information is presented and whether it allows people to fully engage and participate.
It also reinforces why publishers, libraries, and advocacy groups need to create and provide accessible books for adults, not just for children.
