Easy Read information
Easy Read is a way of presenting information so more people can understand it. It uses short, plain sentences with pictures that support the words and a simple layout. It is often used for people with an intellectual disability or low literacy, and for people who read English as a second language.
Easy Read information
Easy Read is a way of presenting information so more people can understand it. It uses short, plain sentences with pictures that support the words and a simple layout. It is often used for people with an intellectual disability or low literacy, and for people who read English as a second language.
The NDIS publishes Easy Read versions of many of its factsheets alongside the standard versions, in PDF and Word formats, and some also come in Braille. Titles include How the NDIS can help, Community connections, Confirming your identity and Understanding consent.
Getting and using Easy Read
- Look for the Easy Read version of a factsheet on the NDIS booklets and factsheets page, or ask for a printed copy by calling 1800 800 110 or at an NDIS office.
- Ask a provider for its service agreement, schedule and complaints information in Easy Read, or ask for it to be explained in person. Ask before you sign, not after.
- Treat Easy Read as a summary. For an important decision, ask for the full document to be explained as well.
- Check the date on the page: official information changes and an Easy Read copy can be older than the standard version.
- Ask someone you trust to read it with you if that helps.
Easy Read helps with reading, not with deciding. The person should still be given time and the chance to ask questions.
Official information
- NDIS: booklets and factsheets, with Easy Read and Braille versions
- NDIS: information in other languages
Providers that list Easy Read Materials
No SolDirectory member provider lists Easy Read Materials at the moment. Providers supply their own language information, so confirm the specific worker, fluency, dialect, communication method and availability directly.
Questions to ask before support begins
- Ask who arranges and books Easy Read Materials for the person, and who pays for it.
- Confirm which information needs to be accessible (spoken, signed, written, Easy Read) and by when.
- Ask when a qualified independent interpreter or translator will be used instead of a family member or a bilingual worker.
- Check current availability, funding, privacy and the written service agreement.
How bilingual support, interpreters, privacy and funding differ is explained on the language support guide.
Frequently asked questions about Easy Read Materials
Does a listing prove that a provider can arrange Easy Read Materials?
No. Providers supply their own information. Confirm what they can arrange, how it is booked and who pays before support begins.
Is a bilingual worker the same as an accredited interpreter?
No. A bilingual worker may communicate directly during support, while an accredited interpreter has a separate interpreting role. Ask what is appropriate for important, technical or consent-related discussions.
Official sources
- NDIS information in other languages
- TIS National: interpreting services (call 131 450)
- NAATI practitioner directory
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
Browse other language and communication guides
Helpful reading
- Registered or unregistered? What it means when you choose an NDIS provider: Registered and unregistered providers can both be legitimate, but the rules, checks and options for your plan are not the same. Here is how to think about the difference.
- Making a complaint about an NDIS provider or worker: where to start: Raising a concern can feel daunting. Here is a clear order of steps, who deals with what, and how to keep a record as you go.
- How to choose an NDIS provider: 12 questions to ask before you commit: A practical checklist for comparing providers, from how a service fits your plan to what happens when something goes wrong.