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Plain language is writing or speaking that is clear, simple, and easy to understand. It is one piece of the complex web that makes up health literacy. These are resources, tools and training opportunities to create effective written materials and spoken messages for your target audience.
Clear and Simple: Developing Effective Print Materials for Low-Literate Readers
These guidelines from the National Cancer Institute outline a process for developing publications for people with limited literacy skills. The process is derived from communications, health education, and literacy research and practice.
http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancerinformation/clearandsimple
Clear Language Group
This group provides training and consulting for health literacy, plain language, and cross cultural communications.
http://www.clearlanguagegroup.com/
Health Literacy Advisor
This commercial, interactive software tool "checks" documents for plain language and readability.
www.HealthLiteracyInnovations.com
Health Literacy & Plain Language Resource Guide
This guide created by Health Literacy Innovations and supported by the AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies includes resources on health literacy and plain language.
www.HealthLiteracyInnovations.com
Health Literacy Institute
From the Maine Area Health Education Center (AHEC) at the University of New England, this group provides advice and training in using plain language for clear health communication.
http://www.une.edu/chppr/hli.cfm
Health Literacy Online
From the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), this how-to guide for Web managers and professionals includes research-based recommendations and examples to help create clear, user-friendly health Web sites.
http://www.health.gov/healthliteracyonline
How to Create and Assess Print Materials
This site has guidelines and resources for creating and assessing plain language in written health materials.
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/practice/additional-resources-for-creating-and-assessing-materials/
National Public Health Information Coalition (NPHIC)
The Health Literacy page from this site links to communication and plain language tools, training modules, and articles.
http://www.nphic.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=199:health-literacy-main&catid=337
Pfizer Clear Health Communication Initiative
This site introduces health literacy and provides practical resources for providers, public health professionals and others.
http://www.pfizerhealthliteracy.com/
PlainLanguage.Gov
This site provides tools and resources for promoting and using plain language in government communications.
http://www.plainlanguage.gov/
The Plain Language Initiative
This site lists the guidelines for using plain language at the National Institutes for Health.
http://execsec.od.nih.gov/plainlang/guidelines/index.html
WordsCount
Paste in your text to see several readability scores. WordsCount Analytics also describes how the various measures are calculated.
www.wordscount.info
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