Innovations in Dementia have launched a new guide to writing accessibly for people with dementia, co-produced with the Dementia Diarists DEEP group and aimed at anyone who wants to make their written information easier for people to read.
Informing this work – which was supported by an Awards for All grant from the National Lottery Community Fund and the European Social Fund – was a survey Innovations in Dementia conducted that showed 82% of people with dementia found that their dementia had affected their ability to read.
The knock-on effect of this is individuals finding it harder to navigate their way around or understand instructions, causing people to get lost or disoriented more easily or find everyday things harder to do. This can ultimately have a huge impact on self-confidence, independence and wellbeing.
Lead author and Co-Director of Innovations in Dementia, Steve Milton, said:
“Good writing for people with dementia is good writing for everyone. So, it doesn’t matter who your audience is we hope that these guidelines will help you to get your message across more clearly to all of your readers”
You can read the new guidelines here: http://www.innovationsindementia.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/accessible-writing-guide.pdf