How do we get more plain language?

We travel a lot.
And we often ask ourselves:
Why is there only difficult language?

In many places, language must become easier:

In adverts.
On signs.
When staff talk to us.
Or when you want to apply for a job.

Many people want this.
But what do we have to do?

We believe:
A points system can change things.

The rules go like this:
Places get points.
And every area gets points.
Offering Easy-to-Read information gives points.
Removing obstacles gives points.
And we give out the points.

The points system is called: a11y-Score.
a11y is short for “accessibility”.
You say it like this: “ally score”.
The name roughly means:
Points for being accessible.

The system needs 3 steps:

First we need to know:

How good are all the places?

The authorities send people out.
Many people help as volunteers.

Then the people go everywhere.
For example to cinemas.
Or into all the restaurants.
Or to the nearest hospital.

There the people write down:
Is it easy to get around here?
Is there Easy-to-Read information here?

The people use a collecting app for this.

In the collecting app they write:

• There is Easy-to-Read information here.

Or:

• There is no Easy-to-Read information here.

Results ready?

Then we can go on.

The results go to a11y-Score.

a11y-Score works out the points.

The rules:

• Every place gets between 0 and 100 points.
• 0 points means:
  😒🫸 There are only barriers here
• 50 points means:
  😑 This could be better.
• 100 points means:
  ☺️👉 This place is quite accessible!
• More points are better.
• There are also points in between.

An area has more good places?
And few bad ones?
-> Then it gets more points.

We call the number of points: “score”.
Score is another word for points.

Everyone can see the number.

The press too.
And politicians.
And the authorities.

The points are used to make a plan.
The plan:

• Use money.
• Call places.
• Make the score better together.

The score shows:

• Where do we need to do something?
• What are other cities doing well?

Some plans are better.
Some are worse.

• The score does not go up?
  -> Then the plan must get better.
• The points go up?
  Then you can see:
  -> The plan is good.

Everyone should look together:
Is the number getting bigger where we live?

You can also use it to estimate:
How much does an improvement cost?

Without the score, it is hard for cities.
Because they do not know:
How do we spend the money well?

With the score, it is easier.
Cities can save money with it.
Because they get more good places for the same money.

So we believe:
a11y-Score makes places better.