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Plain Language Training

Online Lessons
Classes

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Online Lessons

Improve your plain language skills online. Start with either option:

  • Transcend’s CALI Author® Lessons
  • Transcend’s Training Video

CALI Author® Lessons

Transcend and LawNY, Inc. used CALI Author® to create three 25-minute plain language lessons. Here is what you will learn:

  • Lesson 1: Evaluate for Readability
    Evaluate the readability of print materials, and apply readability guidelines to your own document.
  • Lesson 2: Reading Theory
    Learn about reading theory and how you can use it to improve your work.
  • Lesson 3: Case Study
    Apply what you learned in Lessons 1 and 2 to create a document.

Transcend Training Video

Watch Transcend’s fun and informative training video on the visual aspects of plain language. These six 3-minute tips help you write documents that your clients will want to read.

screen shot of a scene from the video

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Plain Language Training & Support

Transcend offers the following training and support options:

Student Feedback

“I thought the class was very informative, and made me look at my writing in a different way.”

“The class materials were awesome. Thanks!”

“I thought it was an excellent class! I hope to get a chance to participate in another one.”

  1. Why Plain Language?

    An overview of plain language, including economic advantages, legal requirements, relative effectiveness, and how plain language fits into the ABA language access standards.

  2. Register

    Learn how to use readable language and a clear writing style, including working words & glue, legalese and brevity, measuring and understanding reading grade level, practice opportunities, and resources for further study.

  3. Looks Matter

    Visual accessibility and design theory, including page real estate, fonts and text enhancement, chunking and white space, reading interest & persistence, graphics/images, and a Case Study Review.

  4. Evaluate Readability

    Get to know the most widely used readability instruments & plain language checklists. Learn how to apply the Plain Language Center’s scoring criteria.

  5. Test for Usability (UX)

    Learn how to do UX testing, design a testing instrument, and make iterative testing part of your document development cycle.

  6. Formatting for Readability

    Learn how to produce highly readable documents in Word using style sheets, easy to read fonts, images, and efficient formatting techniques; i.e., make your documents look good and be highly readable – quickly!

  7. Workshop Your Own Materials

    Make any class all about the content you are working on now. Choose you own materials or documents. Apply plain language techniques from start to finish.

  8. Writing Situations

    Key elements of writing a readable info sheet, form, and letter.

  9. Cultural Competency

    The most effective documents are written for their audience. Our writing is best when we know about the people we write for, including educational level, English proficiency, ethnicities, age, gender, disabilities, and other characteristics.

Or contact end@transcend.net to tailor a class to your organization's needs, including:

  • Individual Tutoring
  • Small Groups (2-5 students)
  • Content Review
  • Specialized Webinars (6-15 students)

Classes can be 1 hour or longer. We can design a class to focus on your content and scheduling needs.

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Other Services:

Cultural Competency
Emergency Preparedness
Plain Language
Plain Language Training
Translation
Voice Talent
Web Accessibility