New standard helps employers communicate more inclusively

Plain language is all about meeting the needs of your target audience. That includes making sure it's accessible to people of all abilities. According to Statistics Canada data from 2024, 49% of people in Canada have Level 1 or 2 literacry. That's about half of the population who can read short, simple texts and find clear information. But they often have trouble when longer text that uses big words or requires comparing or combining ideas. This makes it difficult for them to do everyday things — like understand forms, work documents, and health information (including medicine labels). It affects their jobs, health, and daily life. Accessibility Standards Canada has released the country's first plain language standard to help organizations communicate clearly and concisely, so everybody in Canada can benefit from the information. You can read the plain langauge summary of the standard at https://lnkd.in/etemmZgj Protect your Rights. Demand to Understand. PLAIN Canada CLAIR, Plain Language Association International (PLAIN), Editors/Réviseurs Canada, #PlainLanguage #Accessibility

Despite the release of Canada’s new plain language standard, countless disabled workers on long-term medical leave—especially those with invisible, non-occupational disabilities—are still subjected to benefit communications that are vague, coercive, or deliberately opaque. Group LTD policies often demand irrevocable authorizations that allow insurers to collect sensitive private medical records without clear explanation or plain-language disclosure. These authorizations frequently overreach, extending to children and family members, and are positioned as “voluntary” despite being tied to benefit continuation—leaving no real choice. For accessibility laws and plain language standards to be meaningful, they must explicitly include LTD recipients, non-payroll employees, and disabled caregivers.

Plain language is accessible language for all! It’s not “dumbing it down” and this is sadly a very common myth. Whether you can read well or not, plain language is essential! Plain language is neuro-inclusive and believe it or not, it increases productivity in the workplace for all employees. People understand what is being asked of them. People no longer skim and miss important information. I am consistently educating about the value of plain language in my work with Specialisterne Canada. Whether it’s live education or reviewing policies and procedures, plain language is the most common improvement that we cite in our recommendations. #NeuroInclusion #Accessibility #PlainLanguage

Clear communication should never be a privilege—it should be the standard. That’s why this new milestone from Accessibility Standards Canada is such a big deal. Canada now has its first National Standard on Plain Language (CAN/ASC-3.1:2025), giving organizations a concrete way to make information easier to find, understand, and use. Plain language isn’t about “simplifying.” It’s about respecting your reader and removing the barriers that keep people from fully participating in conversations that affect them. This standard sets clear guidance on what plain language is, when to use it, and how to remove obstacles that make communication harder than it needs to be. It’s freely available in both official languages, with summaries in sign language as well. A big step forward for accessibility and inclusion across Canada. 🔗 Learn more here: https://ow.ly/m9qk50X9XJo #Accessibility #PlainLanguage #Inclusion #Communication #Canada

Exciting news for Canadians! This team is doing some great work. The goal of Accessibility Standards Canada is “to develop accessibility standards. But we can't fix things unless we know they're broken. And the only people that can tell us that they're broken, is you. The lived experience of people of all abilities is the most critical thing we can possibly have.” Check out this brand new Standard that "will help organizations to create accessible, clear, and efficient communication. It shows how to identify, prevent, or remove barriers to communication that their audiences, including persons with disabilities, may face."

💫 Great news! 🔍 Accessibility Standards Canada has officially published a Plain Language Standard! “For those of us who promote and practice plain language, this is a major milestone,” said learning and literacy expert Brigid Hayes in her ‘As I was saying…’ blog. “We now have the support of a national standard that validates and strengthens our work. Literacy organizations, in particular, can use this standard to introduce plain language to a broader audience, including employers and community partners.” A communication is in plain language if its wording, structure, and design are so clear that the intended audience can easily do each of the following: • find what they need, • understand what they find, and • use that information. The Plain Language standard provides organizations with practical requirements and principles to remove communication barriers. It: • explains when plain language should be used, • describes barriers people may face, • sets out clear steps and strategies for removing and preventing those barriers. 🔗 Read the news release at: https://lnkd.in/gvD2fG5D #PlainLanguage #Literacy #Accessibility

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝘂𝗿 #brains 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲 -Speaking a second or even a third language can bring advantages -But , occasionally the words, grammar and even accents can get mixed up -When a multilingual person wants to speak, the languages they know can be active at the same time, even if only one gets used -These languages can interfere with each other -Interference can manifest itself not just in vocabulary slip-ups, but even on the level of grammar or accent Thoughts? Source https://loom.ly/8xo1t1U

11/10: American Translators Association. (ATA)- “…[O]ffers Language Access Cards that you can present in settings like hospitals and courtrooms to request assistance in your language and to prompt language services providers for assistance with language access resources.” 🔸”The card is designed so that LEP individuals can carry it in their wallets or on their phones.” 🔸”The front of the card indicates to the English-speaking provider or recipient of the card what the LEP is requesting, in what language, and how to find a translator or interpreter easily in ATA’s online Language Services Directory.” 🔸”The back of the card is for the LEP individual to get a basic understanding of their rights in their language and access more resources on the ATA website’s Language Access page. The PR Committee plans to continue building out the resources on this page with more helpful content and translations over time.”

This was a valuable resource and reference for anyone creating or maintaining .gov content. Those laws are still on the books, even if the website no longer exists. With AI slop polluting our information spaces, plain language websites and communications will continue to be important primary sources of information.