We’re thrilled with the response to the launch of our blog and thank everyone for their feedback.

Some of you have asked if it’s possible to have an Easy Read or plain language version of the stories we are posting. Yes it is, and from this week you will notice that all our posts will have a plain language version.

From this week you can also opt in to receive notification of new posts and initiatives from Disability and Me.

With your support and regular feedback, we hope we can grow this blog to be a gold-standard communications tool for people in the disability community.

On the subject of plain language / Easy Read, we’d like to remind everyone that it’s vital to stay up to date with the latest Government information on Covid-19.

For people with intellectual disability, that means locating trusted information in an accessible format.

Luckily, there are some reliable resources in the standard Easy Read format.

It’s just a matter of sharing them.

If you are a person with intellectual disability, a family member, social worker, carer or friend, please pass on these valuable resources.

And don’t forget to stay in touch.  The social isolation of Covid-19 can be even harder for people with intellectual disability who usually rely on one-on-one support.

COVID-19 EASY READ RESOURCES

• Easy Read about coronavirus: https://www.thegrowingspace.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Easy-English-Coronavirus-TheGrowingSpace-2020.pdf

• For a range of information on the virus, and staying physically and mentally healthy and visiting the doctor, please see resources developed by New South Wales Council of Intellectual Disability (NSW CID): https://cid.org.au/resources/
  
• Intellectual Disability Rights Service (IDRS) developed COVID-19 Easy Read fact sheets: https://idrs.org.au/2020/04/09/covid-19-easy-read-fact-sheets/

• Easy Read Facebook Group developed COVID-19 glossary: https://www.easy-read-online.co.uk/media/53259/coronavirus-glossary-easy-read-v1d.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2KEmW4JEamlsVEbosLWCK-4DKU06TxDcFg_a2jdIMMktHwGvwCCrmf2-Y

• The Australian government has released a plan of how health sector will help people with disability during the Coronavirus pandemic: https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2020/04/management-and-operational-plan-for-people-with-disability-easy-read-version-of-the-management-and-operational-plan-for-people-with-disability.pdf?utm_source=CID+contacts&utm_campaign=0859cb988c-enews_Apr20&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6edf5012ca-0859cb988c-46005895
  
  
  

PLAIN LANGUAGE VERSION

Iva and I are happy with the responses to the launch of our Blog.

We thank everyone for their feedback.

It is easy to do a plain English version of what we are posting. All our posts will have one.

From this week you can get a notification of new posts from Disability and Me.

With your support and feedback, we hope this blog will grow to be a gold standard tool for people in the disability community.

It is important to stay up to date with information from the Government on COVID-19. This means getting information you trust and having information in a way you understand.

There is some reliable information in easy read format, and it is important to share this with others you know.

Stay in touch with others. For people with intellectual disability COVID-19 is harder for them. They usually have one on one support.

Iva Strnadová and Julie Loblinkz are research partners and friends. They host the blog Disability and Me. Both are strong advocates for people with intellectual disability.