Graphic by Justin Olivares.

No two people are alike. Everyone’s bodies look and function differently according to their genetic makeup and lifestyle. Individuality is an accepted part of everyday life that each of us is encouraged to embrace. The same principle applies to the human brain. 

We are all born with a particular neurology that influences the way in which we interact with and respond to our environment, encompassing different strengths and challenges. This is the tenet of ‘neurodiversity’, a term coined by Australian sociologist Judy Singer in 1999. 

‘Neurotypical’ vs ‘Neurodivergent’

There are two categories that fall under the rich umbrella of neurodiversity: ‘neurotypical’ and ‘neurodivergent’. 

Neurotypical means that you think, behave and learn in ways that are deemed socially acceptable. 

Being neurodivergent means that your brain functions differently from the norm, necessitating accommodations to thrive in a world that does not cater to your neurotype. 

Neurodivergence becomes apparent when people do not hit typical developmental milestones. Common neurodivergent conditions include: 

• Autism
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Dyslexia
• Dyspraxia
• Dyscalculia

For neurodivergent people, it is not the conditions themselves that are a ‘disability’, but the structure of our society that ‘disables’ them. This is most prevalent in standard communications strategies, as resource design often does not consider how neurodivergent people process information. 

By accepting neurodivergence as a set of natural neurological differences that can be easily accommodated for, rather than as deficits needing treatment, we can create an accessible and inclusive world for all. 

For neurodivergent people, it is not the conditions themselves that are a ‘disability’, but the structure of our society that ‘disables’ them.

Easy Read and Neurodivergence

Easy Read is an accessible method of presenting information that empowers neurodivergent people to make informed decisions about their lives. 

The simplistic design, using a combination of images and text, allows them to understand important details in a manner conducive to their neurology. 

Visual cues provide a clear structure and routine for neurodivergent individuals, especially autistic people, as knowing exactly what is expected of them significantly reduces anxiety. 

The presentation of text alongside images also saves people with dyslexia the struggle of decoding vast quantities of information, since the illustrations convey the key meaning. 

General Accessibility Tips 

If you are an organisation developing a resource for a neurodivergent audience, or simply want to ensure your information is accessible to neurodivergent users, follow these general principles to accommodate the spectrum of neurodivergence: 

• Write short sentences and paragraphs in minimum size 14 font: Limit sentences to 20 words or less and paragraphs to no more than four lines wherever possible. This makes text easier to read, especially on websites. 

• Avoid jargon and complex language: Long or technical wording makes information harder to comprehend; use Plain English instead. If jargon is necessary, write the unfamiliar term in bold followed by a clear, unambiguous definition. 

• Use sans-serif and FS Me fonts: The letters in sans-serif fonts like Arial, Century Gothic and Verdana are easier to read than serif fonts like Times New Roman, Cambria and Georgia. The legibility of FS Me was specifically designed for dyslexia and dyscalculia. 

• Include images: Resources for people with learning disabilities should include images with text. The sentence limit of accompanying text should be 10-15 words. The pictures and text must match each other. easyread.tech offers a diverse collection of images designed for use in Easy Read documents. 

Other benefits of icons and images in Easy Read for neurodivergence include: 

• Serving as anchors for skimming text.

• Breaking up text into smaller, digestible chunks.

• Enhancing document navigation e.g. memory of section headings, reliance on images to quickly find relevant information for slow readers.

• Strengthening memories and associations with text, aiding comprehension.

Design Tips

When designing icons and images, keep these neurodivergent-friendly tips in mind:

• Overuse of images can be confusing; stick to one image for each key idea.

• Superimposing text over graphics is harder to process and comprehend.

• Bright colours with extreme clashes, like yellow text on a white background, are overwhelming and painful for autistic and dyslexic people to read. Use pastel and light-coloured backgrounds, like sky blue, to create greater contrast between dark text. 

• Colourful clip-art can be overwhelming; select simple icons limited to one or two shades of colour.

• Photos usually convey the intent of your messaging more clearly than drawings, however they can quickly become outdated. Carefully weigh up the pros and cons of photos and drawings. 

• Text-to-speech software is unable to read images with text incorporated. If your document requires an image of text, ensure you also include alternative text and image captions below it. 

Website Accessibility Tips

• Two clicks away: Information on a website or app should be no more than two clicks away from the homepage. Easy navigation ensures that users can quickly find what they need while minimising sensory overload.

• Underline links: Always underline links to webpages and documents to increase the visibility of relevant information. These should also be in a different coloured font, e.g. blue. 

• Install an accessibility plug-in: As the needs of neurodivergent people are varied, it is good practice to implement this tool that allows them to alter features like font size and background colours to suit them specifically. WP Accessibility for WordPress.org websites is a great option. easyread.tech uses the accessibility menu developed by UserWay.

If your organisation requires assistance with incorporating Easy Read into your communications, then reach out to the team at easyread.tech to convert your resources into this format.