small heart logo image Plain Language Association International (PLAIN)
Fourth Biennial Conference Proceedings
Toronto, Canada — September 26 - 29, 2002        
At the Heart of Communication text image Postings in the "White Space":  Before/after
      documents from delegates and suggested resources
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Suggested Resources
Web / Print / Other Return
Suggested Resources -  HRDC (NLS)
Print / Web  
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The following is a collection of resources submitted by conference speakers and PLAIN members just before the conference. It is by no means exhaustive, but we hope it will give you a few good additions for your own lists.

Suggested Resources (Web)

Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) - National Literacy & Health Program
  This site offers a host of links to information on literacy and plain language, with a Canadian focus. This includes Canadian literacy statistics, and how these relate to the need for plain language. You can also link to an extensive bibliography. All is available in multiple formats, and often in both English and French.
   
Can You Read This?
  The literacy portion of Dr. Ellen Schuster’s web site: Quick and Practical Nutrition Education Information.
   
Clarity
  Clarity is an international association of lawyers and writers interested in plain legal language.
   
Clear Language and Design
  An interactive Reading Effectiveness Tool, online plain language thesaurus, and more.
   
Directory of Plain Language Health Information CPHA
  Released in 1999, this directory is available, in English or French, from their site to read in Adobe Acrobat. Or, you can order it in hard copy.
   
The Editorial Eye
  Considered one of the best newsletters for professional editors.
   
The Electronic Editors
  A free macro library that helps you work more effectively on screen.
   
The 5 C's: Areas to consider for making your health messages accessible to a wider population
  By Michelle Black in May 2002, in the Ontario Health Promotion E-mail Bulletin #258.1.
   
Health Canada Online: How Does Literacy Affect the Health of Canadians?
  This oft-referenced report addresses how literacy is a significant factor in health.
   
National Adult Literacy Database (NALD)
  This site offers a treasure trove that includes literacy statistics, directories of literacy organizations across Canada and discussion groups.
   
The Oxford Dictionary
  The Oxford Dictionary web site’s plain English page.
   
Overview of Health Communication Campaigns
  Produced by the Centre for Health Promotion (University of Toronto) this workbook includes a section that allows health communicators to closely analyze their audiences.
   
Plain Language Association International (PLAIN)
  Includes a free Listserv for plain language practitioners.
   
Plain English Campaign
  UK Plain English Campaign free resources.
   
Reviewer's Guide to Evaluating Health Information Materials
  From the Prenatal Ed site in the United States, this guide aims to aid the reviewer in checking the fit between health information material and the people who will use it.
   
Shel Holtz
  Shel Holtz gives seminars all over North America on Writing for the Wired World and maintains a very useful web site.
   
Society for Technical Communication (Toronto Chapter)
   
A Guide for Web Site Creators
  An excellent resource on older adults and the World Wide Web.
   
United States government plain language campaign
   
Useit
  Jakob Nielson’s valuable, ongoing research into reading behaviour on the Internet.
   
Web Accessibility Initiative
  The Web Accessibility Initiative is a collection of links and resources from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to help Web content developers ensure their pages are accessible by people with disabilities. You can find the guidelines related to plain language by following these links:
Guideline: http://www.w3.org/WAI/wcag-curric/gid15-0.htm
Checkpoints: http://www.w3.org/WAI/wcag-curric/chk15-0.htm
Examples: http://www.w3.org/WAI/wcag-curric/sam113-0.htm, and …/sam114-0.htm


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Suggested Resources (Print)

Acadia Health Education Coalition. Face to Face (video). P.O. Box 308, Hollowell, Me 04347, 1993.

Asprey MA, Plain Language for Lawyers, Federation Press, Sydney, 1996.

Bailey, Edward P. Plain English at Work. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996.

Baldwin, Ruth. Clear Writing and Literacy (Revised Edition). Toronto: Ontario Literacy Coalition, 2000.

Canadian Labour Congress. Making it Clear: Clear Language for Union Communications. Ottawa: The Canadian Labour Congress, 1999.

Dept. of the Secretary of State of Canada. A Way with Words: Guidelines and Appropriate Terminology for the Portrayal of Persons with Disabilities. Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services Canada, 1991.

Doak L., Doak C.C. and Root, J. Teaching Patients with Low-Literacy Skills Lippincott: Philadelphia, 1985.

Farkas et al. An Evaluation of the Readability of Health Education Materials Canadian Journal of Public Health 1987; 78: 374-378.

Federation canadienne pour l’alpahabetisation en francais. Ecrire Simplement. 235 chemin Montreal, Vanier, Ontario K1L 1A7, 1995.

Goldsmith, Penny et al. Reaching your Readers: A Fieldtesting Guide for Community Groups. Vancouver: Legal Services Society of B.C., 1993.

Government of British Columbia. Words, Images, Disabilities: A Guide for Media professionals. Vancouver, BC Rehab, 1995.

Grotsky, Rose. Get to the Point: A strategy for writing clearly at work. Toronto: Praxis Adult Training and Skills Development, 1998.

King S, On Writing, Hodder & Stoughton, London, 2001.

May, Claire B & May, Gordon S. Effective Writing - A Handbook for Accountants. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 1999.

McKay, Melanie & Rosa, Elizabeth.The Accountant's Guide to Professional Communication.Thompson Learning, New York: Harcourt College Publishers, 2000.

Mowat, Christine. A Plain Language Handbook for Legal Writers, 1999. (Order from www.carswell.com.)

Multiculturalism and Citizenship Canada. Plain Language Clear and Simple. Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services Canada, 1991.

Neiditz, Minerva. Business Writing at its Best. New York: Richard D. Irwin Inc., 1994.

O’Conner, Patricia. Woe is I: the Grammarphobe’s Guide to Better English in Plain English. New York: Grosset/Putnam, 1996.

Ontario Women’s Directorate. Words that Count Women In. Toronto: Manager, Speeches and Information, 1993.

The Penguin Working Words, Penguin Books Australia Ltd, Ringwood, 1993.

Style Manual, John Wiley & Sons (for Commonwealth of Australia), 2002.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission: A Plain English Handbook. Washington, D.C., 1998.

Williams et al. Inadequate Functional Health Literacy Among Patients at Two Public Hospitals JAMA 1995; 274: 1677-1682

Williams, Robin. The Non-designer’s Design Book: Design and Typographic Principles for the Visual Novice. Berkeley, California: Peachpit Press, 1994.

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Other Resources You’ve Learned of…

Please feel free to use this space to add others you hear about at the conference:

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Suggested Resources - HRDC (NLS) (Print)

CANADIAN PLAIN LANGUAGE RESOURCES & TOOLS
NATIONAL LITERACY SECRETARIAT

SEPTEMBER 2002

First Aid for Everyone; The Vital Link
Price: $10.95 plus GST
Ordering Information:
Canadian Red Cross
170 Metcalfe Street Ottawa, ON K2P 2P2
Phone: (613) 790-1900
Fax: (613) 740-1911
Web Site: http://www.redcross.ca/article.asp?id=000668&tid=001

The Literacy Audit Kit; Tools to Help Make your Services More Accessible
Includes a Video
Price: $80.00 for non-profit organizations
          $120.00 for all others
Ordering Information:
The Alberta Association for Adult Literacy
605, 332 – 6 Avenue S. E. Calgary, AB T2G 4S6
Phone: (403) 297-4994
Fax: (403) 297-6037
Web Site: http://www.nald.ca/PROVINCE/ALT/Aaal/Store/auditkit/auditcov.htm

Plain Language: Clear and Simple
Price: $10.95
GoC Catalogue Number Ci53-3/3-1991E
Issued by: Multiculturalism and Citizenship
Ordering Information: 1-800-635-7943 or (819) 956-4800
Government of Canada Publications: http://canada.gc.ca/publications/publication_e.html

Pour un style clair et simple
Price: $10.95
GoC Catalogue Number Ci53-3/3-1991F
Issued by: Multiculturalism and Citizenship
Ordering Information: 1-800-635-7943 or (819) 956-4800
Government of Canada Publications: http://canada.gc.ca/publications/publication_e.html

Plain Language: Clear and Simple - Trainer’s Guide
Limited quantities available from the National Literacy Secretariat http://www.nald.ca/nls.htm
Tel.: (613) 946-1388

Pour un style clair et simple - Guide du formateur
Limited quantities available from the National Literacy Secretariat http://www.nald.ca/nls.htm
Tel.: (613) 946-1388

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Suggested Resources - HRDC (NLS) (Web)

CANADIAN PLAIN LANGUAGE RESOURCES & TOOLS
NATIONAL LITERACY SECRETARIAT

SEPTEMBER 2002

Canadian Public Health Association
http://www.cpha.ca/

Consumers Association of Canada
http://www.consumer.ca/
See the information regarding the new magazine Consumer Aware, which is in plain language

Plain Language Fact Sheet on the National Literacy Secretariat Web Site
http://www.nald.ca/nls/nlsild/fact6.htm

Plain Language Links on the National Literacy Secretariat Web Site
http://www.nald.ca/nls/inpub/plain.htm

Plain Language Materials in the NALD Literacy Collection (National Adult Literacy Database)
http://www.nald.ca/clr/plain.htm


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