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This Clear Language Lab webinar took place on October 20, 2022 as part of the Plain Language Foundations series. Check out the notes below or access the webinar recording and slides.
Connecting to plain language
Using plain language means centering your audience’s needs and goals, and writing in a way that they can find, understand, and use the information you're sharing.
Processes designed from a plain language perspective carefully consider:
Audience - who is going through this process & why
Format - what information needs to be shared & what’s the best method
Circumstance - what conditions surround this process
Purpose - what is the end goal of this process
Big takeaways
Strategies for designing user-friendly processes
Use case studies to explore processes from your audiences’ perspectives
Apply trauma-informed practices, such as providing: clear instructions, details about how long things will take, information about how to access support, and the reasons why you're asking for information/actions.
Make sure you use the appropriate formats for information sharing (e.g. QR codes are useful in-person but less so via email)
Always test your process by walking through the steps. Make mistakes on purpose to see what happens.
Have systems in place to train staff & keep information up-to-date
Use feedback to make improvements
Strategically collect feedback from your audience
Document pain points and reflect on challenges so you can identify trends and make adjustments
If you’re in a leadership role: make space for staff to share challenges & offer changes
If you’re not in a leadership role: document your challenges & use plain language to create supports for your audience
Interested in learning more about professional development at Clear Language Lab? Check out other past webinars, find upcoming events on our training page, or contact Sarah Glazer, Sr. Program Manager, at sarah@litworks.org to learn more about our offerings.
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