CAN-ASC 3.1 Plain Language: Public review draft - 0. Introduction
Table of contents for section 0
0.1 What is plain language?
This standard on plain language uses the International Plain Language Federation definition:
"A communication is in plain language if its wording, structure, and design are so clear that the intended audience can:
- easily find what they need
- understand what they find, and
- use that information."
0.2 Benefits of plain language
Plain language has many benefits for organizations and the diverse audiences who need and want to use their information. People in Canada and around the world access information for many reasons, including to:
- Follow instructions or fill out forms.
- Access important information and services.
- Buy products and services.
Millions of people with a broad range of disabilities face unnecessary barriers to accessing information. This standard puts audiences first by working toward removing barriers and preventing new ones.
Applying this standard has practical benefits and adds value.
Using plain language helps organizations to:
- communicate effectively and efficiently with their entire, diverse audiences, which include more than 22% of people in Canada who identify as having a disability;
- recognize the diversity of audiences across Canada and around the world, and promote inclusion;
- improve customer and client satisfaction;
- become a trusted source of useful and accurate information;
- lower the risk of accidents, injuries, complaints, and damages;
- save time and money organizations may otherwise spend to answer questions, repeat instructions, make follow-up calls, or issue new messages.
These and other benefits are documented in the References section.
0.3 Values support accessibility
The Accessibility Standards Canada (ASC) technical committee on plain language honours the obligations and applies the principles and values in these documents:
- the Accessible Canada Act;
- the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms;
- the Canadian Human Rights Commission;
- the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action;
- the ISO 24495-1 Standard for Plain Language;
- the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
0.4 Principles guiding this standard
This standard incorporates principles of plain language, accessibility, inclusion, and diversity. It provides guiding principles here and guidance throughout.
People in Canada have the same fundamental right to accurate information that is easy to find, understand, and use.
Only the intended audience can say whether a communication is in plain language for them.
This standard aims to achieve the highest level of accessibility for people with disabilities, while recognizing plain language will also help language learners, people with lower literacy, Deaf people, and other audiences in Canada.
This standard counters ableism in communication. Countering ableism requires a deliberate effort to identify and eliminate barriers at both individual and organizational levels.
This standard adopts an intersectional approach to identify and address barriers to information access which are mutually reinforcing and shall be addressed to prevent one form of inequality from reinforcing another.
This standard promotes person-centred communication, putting information needs and dignity at the forefront, speaking of the person first and not the disability.
Organizations should learn from, with, and about the audiences who need information and not make any assumptions.
Plain language is an ongoing process that involves developing and revising communications based on audience needs and feedback.