Let's remember how many times we re-read the same text when we look through regulatory documents, read instructions for medicines, or, for example, study the terms of a contract. It's difficult for any unprepared person to understand everything written from the first or even the second time will. Now let's imagine that we see most of the words in the text for the first time, there is no logic in long sentences, and the further we read, the more incomprehensible the text becomes. It is unlikely that we will finish reading such a text to the end, right? This is exactly what people with intellectual disabilities do when they read almost any text. As a result, they are left without the opportunity to obtain any information on their own. During the spread of COVID-19 we all made sure that promptly received information not only allows us to keep abreast of events, but also makes it possible to protect our health and life.

Eduard, Alena, Vitaly and Artem know about this problem from personal experience. Each of them has difficulty in perceiving and understanding the text. Every day, they face an information barrier that is invisible to most people - in public transport, clinics, shops, not to mention news sites and newspapers. However, instead of accepting this situation, these people are trying to change it. For two years they have been working as experts and evaluators in the public association "Life guide" also known as “Belarusian Association for Assistance to Children with Disabilities and Young Disabled People” (BelAPDIiMI), which translates information into an easy language –  a language that is clear for people with intellectual disabilities. The easy language uses only simple words, there are no complex and long constructions, and also sentences in the text are placed according to certain rules. In addition, texts in easy language are accompanied by pictograms – pictures and diagrams that explain what is written in words. The experts with different levels of information perception read translated texts several times, point to incomprehensible words, difficult-to-understand constructions, and evaluate clearness of translation.

According to the guys themselves, this year it has become especially difficult to understand events happening around. The emergence of COVID-19 has become unexpected and incomprehensible to most people on the planet. Information about what a pandemic is, and how to behave in new reality was constantly updated and was full of contradictions. News sites were filled with interviews with experts who used a lot of technical details and professional terms. It has become impossible for people with intellectual disabilities to understand this information flow.

–  I first heard about the coronavirus from a colleague at the bakery where I worked. But nobody explained to me what it is and why it is important, – says Artem. – A bit later, I was also told that we needed to wash our hands often, wear medical masks and keep our distance from other people. Basically, that was all I knew about the coronavirus back then.

Alena and Eduard learned about the beginning of the pandemic at the community center, where they study together. At the general meeting, the management told their wards about the basic protection measures against a new virus. However, according to the guys, none of them could understand what a coronavirus and a pandemic are and how it all differs from the usual flu outbreak in winter.

–  Most of us are very withdrawn and shy people. Few can dare to ask for more details or ask questions. Everyone is afraid to look stupid and say something superfluous, - says Alena. - Easy language helps to avoid such situations. If from the very beginning we were told about the coronavirus in easy language, everyone would immediately understand everything.

BelAPDiMI specialists also saw the need to communicate in easy language about the COVID-19 pandemic. to people at risk. The organization came up with one of the most important initiatives this year –  translation into an easy language and production of information brochures about the coronavirus. This initiative was supported by UNDP. Materials for one of the brochures on the rules of home treatment were developed and released as part of the UNDP initiative to rapidly respond to challenges related to the spread of COVID-19 in Belarus.

Artem, Vitaly, Alena and Eduard joined the team of text evaluators on this topic. According to Vitaly, working on these texts was especially important for him, because people's health and lives depend on whether they will own this information. The main goal was to make materials accessible to people with different levels of information understanding.

–  When evaluating the texts, I always tried to put myself in another person's shoes. I have been doing this for a long time and my level of understanding has grown significantly. But for other people, many words and phrases may be completely incomprehensible, so I tried to make the information as accessible and understandable to everyone as possible, – Vitaly shared.

The guys believe that materials about COVID-19 translated into an easy language will be useful not only directly to people who experience difficulties with reading and understanding information, but also to their relatives and specialists who work with them.

–  When I just started working as an evaluator, my mother did not understand what exactly I was doing and why this was needed. But she did not forbid me to do this, although she was not particularly interested in the details. Now I can share with her the information I received while working. For example, we can discuss how to act in order not to get sick with coronavirus, or even how to treat ourselves for milder forms of the disease. She saw that my work was beneficial, –   said Eduard. –  I think that this information in a easy language should be used by parents of other people who cannot read it somewhere  else themselves. Not all parents or even social workers are able to explain such complex topics themselves.

According to Veronika Kovaleva, BelAPDiMI specialist, wide usage of an easy language will help people with intellectual disabilities to be more independent and take responsibility for themselves and their health.

–  Many people with intellectual disabilities are not deprived of legal capacity, they work, start their own families, move around the city on their own and even travel, such as our evaluators Eduard and Alena, –   says Veronika. –  However, it is very difficult for such people to get any information on their own. Therefore, already in adulthood, many remain dependent on elderly parents who during the pandemic were at the greatest risk themselves. The widespread dissemination of easy language will help these people not to be unnoticed, they will be able to protect themselves and respond in a timely manner to changes in the world.

The brochures very simply and clearly tell the most important things that any person needs to know in order to reduce the risk of illness and infection of others, as well as precautions and treatment for milder forms of coronavirus. The printed manuals will be distributed to community centers and organizations working with people with disabilities throughout the country.