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This Clear Language Lab webinar took place on January 11, 2024 as part of the Plain Language Foundations series. Check out the notes below or access the webinar recording and slides.
Understanding our audience
Older adults refers to a cohort of people experiencing similar life stages, such as retirement, health changes, changes to their support network, and navigating a fixed-income.
As people age, it’s normal to experience changes in hearing, vision, and mobility. Many older adults also experience changes in memory, information processing speed, and difficulty concentrating.
Using a universal design approach is one way to help reduce stigma around aging.
Writing for older adults
Communicate clearly
Put your main idea and purpose at the beginning
Use the language your audience prefers
Avoid jargon or technical language
Have clear, easy to follow action steps
Stick to one topic per paragraph
Make it easy to ask questions and get support (but don’t assume people need help)
Design for accessibility
Use easy to read fonts
Size 14 font minimum
Have strong contrast
Text & Background
Headings & Body text
Leave plenty of space to white space
Use helpful visuals
Think about processes early and often
How are people going to get to this information?
What skills do they need to access and use this information?
How often will this information change? Is there a system for updating it?
How can you use multiple mediums to share this information and give your audience choices for engagement?
In-person considerations
Provide good lighting and clear signage
Allow for additional processing time
Reduce distractions and background noise
Resources
General plain language
Writing for older adults
Accessibility
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.
© 2024 Literacy Works
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