Summary

Users with Reading Disorders and Cognitive Disabilities Benefit from

• illustrations that support meaning

• text reduced to a bare minimum

• short paragraphs and lists

• content that is as literal as possible

Writing Guidelines for All Users

• create an outline before beginning to write & revise during the writing process

• use headings to organize content

• for each point or idea, introduce, explain, summarize, and add relevant details to keep readers interested

• write for your audience – keep in mind education, expertise, culture, gender, etc.

• assume your audience is intelligent but don’t know as much about the subject matter as you do

• paragraphs should be constructed around a single major idea

• avoid:

  • slang and jargon; use familiar words

  • double- or multiple-negatives

  • acronyms and abbreviations, but or explain them in the first instance if they are needed

• use:

  • active voice (mostly)

  • short sentences

  • forceful verbs (avoid overuse of “to be”)

  • parallel sentence construction

  • positive terms (for example, limit the use of “don’t”, “didn’t”, etc.)

• check spelling

• give direct clear instructions using the simplest verb tense (for ex., “Read chapter 5” instead vs. “Students should read chapter 5”)

• ensure that every word, sentence, and paragraph is necessary