Clear Language Subgroup

This is the landing page for the Clear Language subgroup.

Summary

• The Clear Language Subgroup is part of the W3C’s Cognitive and Learning Disabilities (COGA) Task Force.
• We are developing the Clear Language guidelines for the next set of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 3).
• “Clear language” is sometimes called “easy reading,” “easy to read,” or “plain language.” It refers to text content that is accessible and easy to understand. * Clear language helps everyone process information, but is often especially useful for people with cognitive and learning disabilities.

Comments on WCAG3 FPWD

• Github issues assigned to Clear Words - the Github comments from WCAG3 First Public Working Draft (FPWD) filtered to those assigned to the Clear Words subgroup.
• Google drive folder for storing proposals

Participants

• Katy Brickley, Researcher on the Feeling at Home NIHR (SSCR) funded study, King’s College London
• E.A. Draffan, Speech and Language Therapist/Assistive Technologist, University of Southampton and Global Symbols
• John Kirkwood, Internet Pioneer and Digital Accessibility and Inclusion Subject Matter Expert
• Jan McSorley, Accessibility Specialist
• Rebecca Monteleone, Assistant Professor of Disability and Technology, Disability Studies, The University of Toledo
• Julie Rawe (leader), Associate Director of Editorial Strategy, Understood.org
• John Rochford (leader), Program Director and Faculty, Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, UMass Chan Medical School
• Jeanne Spellman, Co-Lead for W3C Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 3.0 Silver Task Force

Former Participants

• Rachael Montgomery Bradley, Disability Accessibility Architect, Library of Congress, and Co-Chair of the W3C’s Accessibility Guidelines Working Group
• Angela Hooker, Senior Accessibility Program Manager and Co-Founder and Co-Lead of Disability in Marketing, Microsoft
• Rain Breaw Michaels, Staff UX Design Manager, Google

Drafts

Current

• Clear Language working draft (2023)

Archive

2022:

• Clear language: COGA Silver Structure draft (multiple outcomes & methods)
• Clear language examples

2021: Use clear language (single outcome with single, multi-part method)

2020:

• Clear Words How-to
  • Method: Simple Tense
  • Method: Help Users Understand
  • Method: Clear Words
• Use Clear and Understandable Language
• Clear Language Functional Outcomes - May & June 2020
• Guideline - March 2020
• How-to - March 2020
• Method - March 2020
• Silver Draft of Clear Language - draft in the Editor's Draft of Feb - April 2020.
• Clear Words Scope Exploration
• Clear Words Tests & Methods
• Clear Words - Original proposal from COGA

Resources

• Objective 3: Use Clear and Understandable Content in Making Content Usable for People with Cognitive and Learning Disabilities
• John Rochford’s W3C Clear Words Resources (with many helpful links to other docs)
• Clear Language: Proposed tests for WCAG 3 - TPAC 2022 slide deck
• Design for Reading - plainlanguage.gov
• Coming soon: ISO Plain Language standard, to be published June 21st, 2023

Older Resources

• Making content usable for people with cognitive and learning disabilities - W3C Editor's Draft 16 July 2020
• W3C Clear Words Resources - from John Rochford
• Plain language around the world
• Plain Language Guidelines for Simplifying App Content - from John Rochford
• Template for Content Creation Process for Migrating WCAG SC (component-based) - This is the template we are following
• COGA User Research
• COGA Issues Paper
• Cognitive Functions from COGA TF and ETSI - this doc belongs to the COGA TF where they are working on how the breadth of disabilities grouped under COGA can be more granular
• Personalization Overview
• Personalization Semantics Content Module 1.0
• NYC Education Department - Making Accessible and Inclusive Content
• How to Write User-Friendly Content - Usability.gov

Next Steps

• AG to send directional-feedback survey on our Clear Language working draft
• Clear Language to build out tests and methods for each outcome