Easy-to-Read Sign Project - WordPress.com Sign Project ©2012 Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network...
30
Introduction: Easy-to-Read Sign Project • ©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012 Clear signage helps everyone. It is especially important for these groups: n adults with lower literacy skills n adults learning English as a second language n seniors with mild dementia n adults with vision loss n adults with developmental disabilities n patients who are scared or upset about an illness Can you understand the sign below? Confusing, isn’t it? That’s how some people may feel when they try to read signs in medical offices. PLEASE BE DESIVDA THAT NOT ALL RECIVSES ARE DEVEROC BY LANCIVIORP HEALTH CARE. Before and after Compare these two signs. Images: ambulance, pill bottle, glasses : Art Explosion; AHC card: AB Health and Wellness Inside Everyone benefits when doctors and their staff use easy- to-read signs. Guidelines for easy- to-read signs Sample signs • No food, No drinks • No gum • Alberta Health Care • Free flu shots • Turn off cellphone • New contact info • No perfume • Use hand cleaner • Pregnant? Tell us • Have a cough? Use a mask • Remove dirty shoes • Please check in • Next appointment • Open, closed Other resources Q & A Posting tips Comments PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT NOT ALL SERVICES ARE COVERED BY PROVINCIAL HEALTH CARE. ➜ Alberta Health Care does not pay for some services. For example: n prescriptions n glasses n an ambulance Questions? Talk to someone at the front desk. Easy-to-Read Sign Project ©2012 Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network You may print and use these signs for non-commercial purposes. Our non-profit group has produced some easy-to-read signs for doctors’ offices. The signs are free to print and use. You are welcome to share this handout with others and to use our signs. However, the photos and drawings in our signs are copyrighted. You may not reuse the images in other materials.
Transcript of Easy-to-Read Sign Project - WordPress.com Sign Project ©2012 Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network...
Introduction: Easy-to-Read Sign Project • ©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
Clear signage helps everyone. It is especially important for these groups:
n adults with lower literacy skills
n adults learning English as a second language
n seniors with mild dementia
n adults with vision loss
n adults with developmental disabilities
n patients who are scared or upset about an illness
Can you understand the sign below? Confusing, isn’t it? That’s how some people may feel when they try to read signs in medical offices.
PLEASE BE DESIVDA THAT NOT ALL RECIVSES ARE DEVEROC BY LANCIVIORP HEALTH CARE.
Before and after Compare these two signs.
Images: ambulance, pill bottle, glasses : Art Explosion; AHC card: AB Health and Wellness
InsideEveryone benefits when doctors and their staff use easy-to-read signs.
Guidelines for easy-to-read signs
Sample signs
•Nofood,Nodrinks
•Nogum
•AlbertaHealthCare
•Freeflushots
•Turnoffcellphone
•Newcontactinfo
•Noperfume
•Usehandcleaner
•Pregnant?Tellus
•Haveacough? Useamask
•Removedirtyshoes
•Pleasecheckin
•Nextappointment
•Open,closed
Other resources
Q & APosting tipsComments
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT NOT ALL SERVICES ARE COVERED BY PROVINCIAL HEALTH CARE.➜
Alberta Health Care does not pay for some services. For example:
n prescriptions
n glasses
n an ambulance
Questions? Talk to someone at the front desk.
Easy-to-Read Sign Project ©2012 Northeast Edmonton Literacy NetworkYoumayprintandusethesesignsfornon-commercialpurposes.
Our non-profit group has produced some easy-to-read signs for doctors’ offices. The signs are free to print and use.
You are welcome to share this handout with others and to use our signs. However, the photos and drawings in our signs are copyrighted. You may not reuse the images in other materials.
Tips: Easy-to-Read Sign Project • ©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
Caution:Somesignsmayrequireapprovalfromyourorganization,aprofessionalbodyorgovernmentdepartment.
4 Make the signs large enough so readers can see them from a distance.
4 Don’t use a glossy finish. Choose a matte finish if laminating.
4 Choose a simple, easy-to-read font. Our reviewers preferred a sans serif font (no curly parts) for signs with a small amount of text.
Reverse type
4 Include meaningful images to help the reader understand the text.
4 Remember that readers may not understand “funny” signs.
4 Get feedback about signs from the intended audience.
Tips for making easy-to-read signs
Try it
Can you make this sign easier to read and understand?
➜Refrain from wearing perfume
at the doctor’s office. Scented products can
aggravate health problems for some people.
✎
4 If possible, use colour to liven up signs and convey meaning.
4 is hard to read (e.g., white text on a black background). Use sparingly.
4 Most text should be black on a white or very light background.
4 Don’t use ALL CAPS. All caps are more difficult to read than upper and lower case letters. For emphasis, use bold text or colour.
4 Blocks of text should be flush left (also called ragged right).
4 Use as few words as possible. Avoid unneccessary or difficult words and phrases.
4 Try to have only one message per sign.Some simple sans serif fonts include: Arial, Helvetica, Helvetica Neue, Verdana.
Serif fontSansseriffont
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx x x x x x x x x x x xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
flushleft centred justified
No drinks.
Please
Water is okay.
No food.
Please
Some people have food allergies.
©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
No food.Some people havefood allergies.
No drinks.Water is okay.
Images—Art Explosion
No drinks.
Please
Water is okay.
No food.
Please
Some people have food allergies.
©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
Images—
Art E
xplosion
Images—
Art E
xplosion
©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
No gum
Please
Image—
Art E
xplosion
©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
No gum
Please
Image—
Art E
xplosion
©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
Some people are allergic to chemicals in gum.
Allergy alert!
Alberta Health Care does not pay for some services. For example:
n prescriptions
n glasses
n an ambulance
Questions? Talk to someone at the front desk.
Images—pills, glasses, ambulance: Art Explosion; AHC card: AB Health & Wellness©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
Free flu shots here.Flu shots can help protect you from the flu.
Image—Simply Put Consulting, Inc.©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
Free flu shots here.
Flu shots can help protect you from the flu.
©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012 Image—Simply Put Consulting, Inc.
Please turn off your cellphone.
Image—iStockphoto©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
Please turn off your cellphone.
Please step outside to use your cellphone.
©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012Image—iStockphoto
New address?
New phone number?
New health care information?
We need to know.
Please stop at the front desk.Images—house: Art Explosion; phone: iStockphoto; AHC card: AB Health & Wellness©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
New address?
New phone number?
New health care information?
Please let us know.Images—house: Art Explosion; phone: iStockphoto; AHC card: AB Health & Wellness©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • February 2012
Allergy alert!
Please do not wear perfume or anything with a smell to the doctor’s office.
Images—Art Explosion©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
Allergy alert!
Please do not wear perfume or anything with a smell to this office.
Images—Art Explosion©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
Allergy alert!
Please do not wear perfume to the doctor’s office.
Images—Art Explosion©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
Perfumes can be in:
n soap n deodorant
n hairspray n talc
n lotion n aftershave
Perfumes can makesome people sick.
Please use this hand cleaner:
n whenyouarrive
n whenyouleave
Images—Simply Put Consulting, Inc.©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
Please use this hand cleaner.
n Useitwhenyouarrive.
n Useitwhenyouleave.
Images—Simply Put Consulting, Inc.©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
Tell usbeforeyou have an x-ray.
Pregnant?Maybe pregnant?
Images—iStockphoto©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
Tell usbeforeyou have an x-ray.
Pregnant?Maybe pregnant?
Images—iStockphoto©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
Do you have a cough?
Please usea mask.
Images—Simply Put Consulting, Inc.©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
Do you have a cough?
Please ask for a mask.
Images—Simply Put Consulting, Inc.©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
Please take off dirty or wet shoes and boots.Thanks!
Image—Simply Put Consulting Inc.©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
Please check inat the front desk.
©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
Please check in here.
Image—Art Explosion
Do you need to see the doctor again?
©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
Next appointment
Name
Date
Time
Stop at the front desk.
©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
Open
Closed
©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
Open
©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
Closed
Other resources: Easy-to-Read Sign Project • ©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
Health Canada—flu postershttp://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fniah-spnia/alt_formats/pdf/diseases-maladies/influenza/poster-affiche-fn-eng.pdf
Public Health Agency of Canada—Stay safe poster for seniors, Eat well and be active poster (24x36 inches/61x92 cm)
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/seniors-aines/publications/public/injury-blessure/safety-securite/safety-securite-eng.php
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/educ-comm/toolkit-trousse/index-eng.php
Do Bugs Need Drugs?—Handwashing posterhttp://www.dobugsneeddrugs.org/public/handwashing-sign.pdf
Alberta Health and Wellness—Cover cough posterhttp://www.health.alberta.ca/documents/Influenza-Poster-Cover-Cough.pdf
Alberta Health Services—Handwashing posters
http://www8.albertahealthservices.ca/Hand-Washing-Posters.html
http://www.tinyurl.com/CHHandWashing
Vancouver Coastal Health—How to wash your hands; Handwashing poster (Multilingual)www.vch.ca/staying_healthy/communicable_diseases/educational_materials/
Do you know of other easy-to-read health posters? Please let us know so we can add them to this list.
Other resourcesEasy-to-read posters about the flu, handwashing, fitness and safety
Comments: Easy-to-Read Sign Project • ©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
Volunteersrevieweddraftsofoursigns.Herearesomeoftheircomments:
Dislikes
nshowingsomeonegettingashot
ndifficultwords,e.g.,technologist,reception,sanitizer, refrain,avoid,physician
Other suggestions
nTrytokeepsignspositive.
nWarnpatientsaboutperfumesaheadoftime (e.g.,whenstaffconfirmanappointmentorwhen apatientmakesanappointment).Also,haveanote togivepatientsasareminder.
nSometimesyouneedtoexplainthe“why”behind theactionrequestedonthesign.
Likes
nsizeoftext
nsansseriftext
nboldtext
nimagesoneverysign
ntheword“please”
nyellowbackground
nthesimplerthebetter
“Lovetheworkyouaredoingonthesigns. Theywillbeabighelptoourpatients. Thelayout,colourandconceptsareright ontarget.”
—Dr.T.Vu’sofficestaff,Edmonton
Thankstothevolunteerswhohavereviewedthesigns.
The sign project is a work in progress. We welcome your feedback.
“Thanksforthegreatjobonthesigns.Good photography;veryprofessionallydoneand graphicallyinformative.Theyarealready beingusedinourofficeofsevenphysicians! Wehopetheseeasy-to-readsignswill helpuscommunicatewithourpatients.”
—AbbottsfieldMedicalGroup,Edmonton
Pre-testing comments User comments
Q & A / Posting tips: Easy-to-Read Sign Project • ©Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network • March 2012
Where can I get information about the sign project?
ContactBevBurke.
Phone:780-440-9833(inEdmonton,Alberta,Canada)
Email:[email protected]
Where can I download a PDF of this booklet?
GototheNortheastEdmontonLiteracyNetworkblogat:
http://literacyfriendly.wordpress.com/
Who can use the signs?
Thesignsarefreefornon-commercialuse.
4Printthesignsonheavierpapertomakethem moredurable.Forexample:65lb.cardstock.
4Laminatingthesignsworkswell.Butuseamattefinish. Theglarefromaglossyfinishmakesindoorsignsharder toread.Youmighthavetolookaroundtofindabusiness thatdoesmattelaminating,butitisworththeextraeffort.
4Tryusingremoveableadhesiveputtyratherthantape toputupyoursigns.
4Getfeedbackaboutthesignsfrompatients.
Areyoumakingyourofficemoreliteracyfriendly?Great!We’dlovetosendyouourspecialdecal.ContactSusantoreceiveadecal:
The sign project is a work in progress. Check our blog for updates:
http:// literacyfriendly.wordpress.com/
Q & A Posting tips
