Some of the most important work that the Network does is give advice on how to make information clearer. We also give advice on how to make services like banking easier for all Canadians to use. Here are some examples of the projects we have been working on.

Canadian Public Health Association
We began our work for the Canadian Public Health Association last winter. We met with them twice. We told them about our experiences with the health care system. The Canadian Public Health Association wanted to learn more about literacy and health care issues from adult literacy learners. Our stories and suggestions helped to improve a report that they wrote. The name of their report is Plain Language and Clear Verbal Communication.

Audio Banking
In October 1997 the Royal Bank started a new banking machine system for the blind. We were asked to test the system to find out if it made banking easier for learners. We had fun testing it and gave our feedback. We’re looking forward to seeing if our suggestions are put into action!

Food Tips Project
We started the Food Tips project during the winter of 1997. The Consumers’ Association of Canada wanted to create eight easy-to-read “tip sheets” about nutrition and food shopping.

Last summer we organized the testing of the sheets with literacy students across Canada. We asked the provincial and territorial literacy coalitions to find programs that would like to work with us.

We sent the tip sheet packages to over 90 literacy programs across Canada. Teachers and students worked together to answer questions. The questions helped to make the information in the tip sheets easy to understand.

The results were great! Over 70 programs answered. Over 600 literacy students took part in the project!

Right now a plain language writer is working with the suggestions made by learners. Our client, the Consumers’ Association of Canada, is really pleased with our work.

This project benefits everyone. Canadians will get easy-to-understand information on how to eat well. Learners and English as a Second Language programs will use the tip sheets to improve reading skills. We hope you’ll enjoy reading the food tip sheets in class!