Thread by @ayesha_chari

First session of the last day of @The_CIEP's 2nd annual conference. Easy English: principles of writing for people with low literacy and what editorial professionals can learn from them w/ @accesseasyengli. #CIEP2021

Access Easy English came about to help those who don't talk (ie, use other means of communication). Intellectual or acquired disabilities and illiteracy prevent people from managing day to day reading tasks. All over the world. 1/ #CIEP2021

Think about your own literacy.
What language do you use to describe it? (eg, reading for pleasure, enjoyment? Learning?)
How much time do you spend reading in the day?
What do you read?
2/ #CIEP2021

We are forced to read things everyday, all the time. Most often, it is *not* optional, but a vital part of everyday life. Instructions, directions, info as consumers - the list is endless, digital or otherwise. 3/ #CIEP2021

'Access to written information is *not* a reading test'. Such a critical reminder by @accesseasyengli. 4/ #CIEP2021

(Aside: I digress cos I didn't expect this session to make me emotional. I realise I'm privileged in being a third generation learner in India. Having had access to learning that is easy to take for granted. 5/ #CIEP2021

But people in my life - family and friends - are first generation learners or illiterate. And given that they're 'tested' every day, not just in their own languages but in English and are *expected* by the world to succeed in a failed system, is hard to face. 6/ #CIEP2021

Gaining literacy in your own language to function daily is hard enough. Demanding that in an unequal world is exclusive and plain wrong.)

Sorry I'm not going to be able to live-tweet this session any more, as I'm trying to process the avalanche of thoughts. 7/ #CIEP2021

Hope the discussion will continue. End. #CIEP2021