Creating Informed Communities

For over a decade, the VRRI has been a leader in advocating for plain language information. To participate fully in the community, people must have access to information. Our service benefits persons with developmental disabilities and their families, immigrants with English as a new language, senior citizens, and anyone who has, or who works with people who have, difficulty reading. The VRRI is the only organization in Alberta receiving stable, core funding from the Provincial Government’s Persons with Developmental (PDD) Boards for our plain language translation services.

How We Do Plain Language Translation

Our translation approach is successful because our translators read at a similar level as the intended audience.

We hire persons with developmental disabilities who work with a facilitator to:

• read the information and identify words that are difficult to understand
• suggest easier alternative words or phrases
• assess the appropriateness of the graphics accompanying the text

Using this approach, we have successfully translated information on topics such as:

• employment
• health
• guardianship
• sexuality
• public policies and programs (e.g., AISH)

Plain and Simple: Providing What you Need

We offer a full range of plain language services:

• workshops on how to produce plain language information
• reviewing plain language documents written by others
• translating existing documents into plain language
• creating new information in plain language
• testing graphics to determine if they are clearly understood by readers

Our plain language materials have been used or distributed by many organizations or groups who value accessible information:

• non-profit groups
• the Government of Alberta
• Calgary Health Region
• university researchers
• advocacy groups

Our plain language service is affordable and offered at a discounted rate to non-profit organizations and services to persons with disabilities. Consult our plain language coordinator for more information on how we can meet your needs at a reasonable price.

Plain Language Documents

View samples of our plain language documents.