Aims: Access to written information is vital to support wellbeing and participation in decision m... more Aims: Access to written information is vital to support wellbeing and participation in decision making about health. This study aims to investigate what makes ‘easy read’ material easier to read than mainstream material for people with intellectual disabilities. Methods: Stage 1 comprised a structured survey of the properties of ‘easy read’ literature, followed by a multi-level linguistic analysis (quantitative and qualitative) of text samples from ‘easy read’ material and matching mainstream versions from the UK Department of Health website. Data were analysed and differences between ‘easy read’ and mainstream documents were compared. Results: Significant differences between ‘easy read’ and mainstream texts on quantitative multilevel linguistic measures largely support the hypothesis that ‘easy read’ material is less linguistically complex than its mainstream comparator. Qualitative discourse analysis reveals ‘easy read’ material to be more restricted, more directive and less inclusive than similar information in mainstream format. Conclusion: Initial findings from linguistic analyses demonstrate the need to readdress some of the commonly held principles for the production and use of ‘easy read’ material. Stage 2 of the study involves people with intellectual disabilities undertaking a series of reading comprehension tasks informed by the results of Stage 1
Health information is often conveyed in printed or digital form. This can present challenges to p... more Health information is often conveyed in printed or digital form. This can present challenges to people with intellectual disabilities, many of whom experience literacy difficulties and are therefore disadvantaged in reading and understanding such information. ‘Easy read’ versions of health-related documents purport to circumvent these difficulties, but there is little evidence to demonstrate their effectiveness in doing so. The aim of the current research was to address how effective adapted health-based ‘easy read’ literature was in contributing to the construction of meaning for people with intellectual disabilities. Four studies investigated different areas of ‘easy read’ information and its use. 1. A survey compared presentational features found in ‘easy read’ and ‘non-easy read’ literature published by the UK Department of Health and aligned these with advice given in published guidelines for ‘easy read’ material. 2. Critical differences between the linguistic features in these...
Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 2019
The version in the Kent Academic Repository may differ from the final published version. Users ar... more The version in the Kent Academic Repository may differ from the final published version. Users are advised to check http://kar.kent.ac.uk for the status of the paper. Users should always cite the published version of record.
Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 2018
People of all ages with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) experience signifi... more People of all ages with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) experience significant challenges in relation to communication, with limited comprehension of speech and communication at pre-symbolic or proto-symbolic levels (Bellamy, Croot, Bush, Berry,
Services available for people with disabilities in Bolivia tend to be fragmented and costly. Chil... more Services available for people with disabilities in Bolivia tend to be fragmented and costly. Children and adults with intellectual disabilities are more likely to have a related communication disability and are thus both literally and metaphorically excluded from having a voice. The following research aimed to explore the experiences of accessing services by people with communication disabilities in Bolivia through semi-structured interviews and one focus group carried out with family members, professionals, service providers, educators and policymakers. It aimed to establish the nature of current services in Bolivia where knowledge, information and resources are scarce. Findings indicated the need to consider an alternative to a medical model approach through a focus on empowering other stakeholders to participate more fully in meeting communication support needs. Conclusions plot ideas for future service delivery and emphasize the central power of sharing practical and expert know...
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a commentary on Mander's paper on people wi... more Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a commentary on Mander's paper on people with learning disabilities’ first-hand experience of accessible information. Design/methodology/approach – The commentary reflects on some of the findings presented by Mander and builds on these, with particular emphasis on what it means to understand information. Findings – Everything from initial product design to building capacity and constructing knowledge requires expertise and attention to detail. Originality/value – There are no easy fix solutions to achieving understanding of information for people who have learning disabilities.
International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 2014
• Users may download and print one copy of any publication from Discovery Research Portal for the... more • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from Discovery Research Portal for the purpose of private study or research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain. • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal. Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Download date: 28. May. 2020 periventricular leukomalacia, which can cause visual processing difficulties (e.g. Fazzi et al., 2009), as well as gross motor problems (e.g. Fetters et al., 2007) and epilepsy (e.g. Gurses et al., 1999). These children and adults experience difficulties in making use of the incoming visual information. Prevalence & Heterogeneity PMLD is a description rather than a diagnostic category but pupil census data from England in spring 2010 (Glover, Evison & Emerson, 2011) has 1.2 per 1000 children between 7 and 15 years recorded as having PMLD. Estimated figures from Emerson (2009), suggest that, due to demographic changes and medical intervention, the number of adults with PMLD in the UK will increase by 1.8% per annum to 2026. Given the variety and multiplicity of impairments, and the diversity of causes (e.g. chromosomal anomalies, degenerative conditions, infection, perinatal brain damage), within a low prevalence, people with PMLD can be seen to be a relatively small and heterogeneous group (Nakken & Vlaskamp, 2002). Communication Impairments in speech, language and /or communication, and a consequent need for intervention, are identified by many researchers (e.g.,
International journal of speech-language pathology, 2013
Implications of the World Report on Disability for people with communication disabilities (PWCD),... more Implications of the World Report on Disability for people with communication disabilities (PWCD), as described by Wylie, McAllister, Davidson, and Marshall (2013), include a drive for better demographic information, increased campaigning, and organizational change to improve speech-language pathology services. Qualitative data collected from PWCD and their families in Bolivia provide the baseline for this response. The benefits of collecting population survey information are recognized, but data reinforce the continued need to ensure a positive impact at caseload level. In a country where rhetoric is far removed from lived experience, the starting points for change are very different from those in Minority world countries. A supply and demand model is suggested as an equitable way of balancing efforts to overcome barriers to a better service. Knowledge and information are shown to be key in catalyzing the demand side for the service, while the importance of a solid evidence base for...
As a matter of policy, the editorial staff of the Journal of Learning Disabilities (JLD) consider... more As a matter of policy, the editorial staff of the Journal of Learning Disabilities (JLD) considers for publication reports and position papers prepared by professional organizations which concern persons with learning disabilities. Such material is subject to the peer review process and can be rejected if the consulting editors feel that the information presented is inappropriate for JLD. In this issue the second of several reports by the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities (NJCLD) is presented. The report is entitled 'Adults with Learning Disabilities: A Call to Action." The Committee lists nine specific recommendations that they feel are important steps for the field to take at this time. In the January issue of JLD we presented two research reports on the needs of adults with learning disabilities and employers' attitudes toward hiring learning disabled persons. In this issue we follow the Joint Committee report with three additional papers focusing on adults with learning disabilities: (1) the transition needs of college-bound students with learning disabilities, (2) a survey of programs and services for students with learning disabilities in graduate and professional schools, and (3) a research report on the use of the SAT to identify college students with learning disabilities. Each of these articles relates to specific recommendations made by the Joint Committee. The staff of JLD is very interested in data based manuscripts on adults with learning disabilities. We actively encourage researchers to submit their man uscripts to our office. We are also interested in readers comments regarding issues in this area.— JLW
Aims: Access to written information is vital to support wellbeing and participation in decision m... more Aims: Access to written information is vital to support wellbeing and participation in decision making about health. This study aims to investigate what makes ‘easy read’ material easier to read than mainstream material for people with intellectual disabilities. Methods: Stage 1 comprised a structured survey of the properties of ‘easy read’ literature, followed by a multi-level linguistic analysis (quantitative and qualitative) of text samples from ‘easy read’ material and matching mainstream versions from the UK Department of Health website. Data were analysed and differences between ‘easy read’ and mainstream documents were compared. Results: Significant differences between ‘easy read’ and mainstream texts on quantitative multilevel linguistic measures largely support the hypothesis that ‘easy read’ material is less linguistically complex than its mainstream comparator. Qualitative discourse analysis reveals ‘easy read’ material to be more restricted, more directive and less inclusive than similar information in mainstream format. Conclusion: Initial findings from linguistic analyses demonstrate the need to readdress some of the commonly held principles for the production and use of ‘easy read’ material. Stage 2 of the study involves people with intellectual disabilities undertaking a series of reading comprehension tasks informed by the results of Stage 1
Health information is often conveyed in printed or digital form. This can present challenges to p... more Health information is often conveyed in printed or digital form. This can present challenges to people with intellectual disabilities, many of whom experience literacy difficulties and are therefore disadvantaged in reading and understanding such information. ‘Easy read’ versions of health-related documents purport to circumvent these difficulties, but there is little evidence to demonstrate their effectiveness in doing so. The aim of the current research was to address how effective adapted health-based ‘easy read’ literature was in contributing to the construction of meaning for people with intellectual disabilities. Four studies investigated different areas of ‘easy read’ information and its use. 1. A survey compared presentational features found in ‘easy read’ and ‘non-easy read’ literature published by the UK Department of Health and aligned these with advice given in published guidelines for ‘easy read’ material. 2. Critical differences between the linguistic features in these...
Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 2019
The version in the Kent Academic Repository may differ from the final published version. Users ar... more The version in the Kent Academic Repository may differ from the final published version. Users are advised to check http://kar.kent.ac.uk for the status of the paper. Users should always cite the published version of record.
Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 2018
People of all ages with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) experience signifi... more People of all ages with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) experience significant challenges in relation to communication, with limited comprehension of speech and communication at pre-symbolic or proto-symbolic levels (Bellamy, Croot, Bush, Berry,
Services available for people with disabilities in Bolivia tend to be fragmented and costly. Chil... more Services available for people with disabilities in Bolivia tend to be fragmented and costly. Children and adults with intellectual disabilities are more likely to have a related communication disability and are thus both literally and metaphorically excluded from having a voice. The following research aimed to explore the experiences of accessing services by people with communication disabilities in Bolivia through semi-structured interviews and one focus group carried out with family members, professionals, service providers, educators and policymakers. It aimed to establish the nature of current services in Bolivia where knowledge, information and resources are scarce. Findings indicated the need to consider an alternative to a medical model approach through a focus on empowering other stakeholders to participate more fully in meeting communication support needs. Conclusions plot ideas for future service delivery and emphasize the central power of sharing practical and expert know...
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a commentary on Mander's paper on people wi... more Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a commentary on Mander's paper on people with learning disabilities’ first-hand experience of accessible information. Design/methodology/approach – The commentary reflects on some of the findings presented by Mander and builds on these, with particular emphasis on what it means to understand information. Findings – Everything from initial product design to building capacity and constructing knowledge requires expertise and attention to detail. Originality/value – There are no easy fix solutions to achieving understanding of information for people who have learning disabilities.
International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 2014
• Users may download and print one copy of any publication from Discovery Research Portal for the... more • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from Discovery Research Portal for the purpose of private study or research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain. • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal. Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Download date: 28. May. 2020 periventricular leukomalacia, which can cause visual processing difficulties (e.g. Fazzi et al., 2009), as well as gross motor problems (e.g. Fetters et al., 2007) and epilepsy (e.g. Gurses et al., 1999). These children and adults experience difficulties in making use of the incoming visual information. Prevalence & Heterogeneity PMLD is a description rather than a diagnostic category but pupil census data from England in spring 2010 (Glover, Evison & Emerson, 2011) has 1.2 per 1000 children between 7 and 15 years recorded as having PMLD. Estimated figures from Emerson (2009), suggest that, due to demographic changes and medical intervention, the number of adults with PMLD in the UK will increase by 1.8% per annum to 2026. Given the variety and multiplicity of impairments, and the diversity of causes (e.g. chromosomal anomalies, degenerative conditions, infection, perinatal brain damage), within a low prevalence, people with PMLD can be seen to be a relatively small and heterogeneous group (Nakken & Vlaskamp, 2002). Communication Impairments in speech, language and /or communication, and a consequent need for intervention, are identified by many researchers (e.g.,
International journal of speech-language pathology, 2013
Implications of the World Report on Disability for people with communication disabilities (PWCD),... more Implications of the World Report on Disability for people with communication disabilities (PWCD), as described by Wylie, McAllister, Davidson, and Marshall (2013), include a drive for better demographic information, increased campaigning, and organizational change to improve speech-language pathology services. Qualitative data collected from PWCD and their families in Bolivia provide the baseline for this response. The benefits of collecting population survey information are recognized, but data reinforce the continued need to ensure a positive impact at caseload level. In a country where rhetoric is far removed from lived experience, the starting points for change are very different from those in Minority world countries. A supply and demand model is suggested as an equitable way of balancing efforts to overcome barriers to a better service. Knowledge and information are shown to be key in catalyzing the demand side for the service, while the importance of a solid evidence base for...
As a matter of policy, the editorial staff of the Journal of Learning Disabilities (JLD) consider... more As a matter of policy, the editorial staff of the Journal of Learning Disabilities (JLD) considers for publication reports and position papers prepared by professional organizations which concern persons with learning disabilities. Such material is subject to the peer review process and can be rejected if the consulting editors feel that the information presented is inappropriate for JLD. In this issue the second of several reports by the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities (NJCLD) is presented. The report is entitled 'Adults with Learning Disabilities: A Call to Action." The Committee lists nine specific recommendations that they feel are important steps for the field to take at this time. In the January issue of JLD we presented two research reports on the needs of adults with learning disabilities and employers' attitudes toward hiring learning disabled persons. In this issue we follow the Joint Committee report with three additional papers focusing on adults with learning disabilities: (1) the transition needs of college-bound students with learning disabilities, (2) a survey of programs and services for students with learning disabilities in graduate and professional schools, and (3) a research report on the use of the SAT to identify college students with learning disabilities. Each of these articles relates to specific recommendations made by the Joint Committee. The staff of JLD is very interested in data based manuscripts on adults with learning disabilities. We actively encourage researchers to submit their man uscripts to our office. We are also interested in readers comments regarding issues in this area.— JLW
Uploads
Papers by Susan Buell