Mental Health Problems ▬ Easy Health UK

Mental Health Problems

Mental Health

Easy Health UK

People with a learning disability can be more likely to experience poor mental health, and mental health conditions are not always recognised.  #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek

Download our full guide to anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia (pdf)

Browse all of our resources about mental health

Read more about the relationship between mental health and learning disability

READ MORE ➤➤

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 6

Reading Level: fairly easy to read.

Reader's Age: 10-11 yrs. olds

(Fifth and Sixth graders)

College App Helping Address Adult Literacy ▬ City of Glasgow College

College App Helping Address Adult Literacy

Citizen Literacy APP

FE News: 4.16.2021 by City of Glasgow College UK

A new smartphone app which supports adult literacy learners has been launched in Apple and Googleapp stores.

The Citizen Literacy app has been developed by City of Glasgow College in partnership with leading literacy experts and software developers from across the UK. 

It has grown from the college’s successful City Phonics programme which offers a first step in literacy for the adult beginner learner.

🔽
The app is specifically designed for low literacy users so traditional text-driven interfaces are not used. It uses voice and handwriting recognition technologies for learner input, and features virtual tutor voices who provide information and directions to learners. Adopted AI tools tune the app to an individual user’s local accent, making it more inclusive.  READ MORE ➤➤

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 13

Reading Level: difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 18-19 yrs. old

(college level entry)

How Learning To Read At 54 Transformed My Life ▬ BBC

Lockdown Win: How Learning To Read At 54 Transformed My Life

@ReadEasyUK

BBC: 1.24.2021

Tim Davies was one of millions of adults in England who struggled to read and write. For a long time he tried to hide this fact, but a brush with cancer caused him to re-evaluate his life and not even lockdown could stop his progress.

Previously shopping or dealing with bills was a daunting task, he said.

Now Tim, 54, is learning to drive and hopes to start his own business as a tree surgeon.

"It's changed my life," he said.

About seven million adults in England have very poor literacy skills, the Literacy Trust charity estimates.

Tim said his problems began as a nine-year-old when he was left at a boys' home.

"From that point I thought nobody cared about me so why should I care?

"So I never concentrated at school."

Tim, who lives in Bristol, said he managed to cope with life by hiding his skills gap and took a job as a tree surgeon and landscape gardener because it did not require him to read.

"I was scared to tell people. I kept it quiet."

If you know someone who needs help

John Corcoran set up a foundation in his name to help adults and children with literacy skills - in California and online

In the UK, the National Literacy Trust website lists organisations that promote adult literacy

These include Read Easy and the Reading Agency

READ MORE ➤➤

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 8

Reading Level: fairly easy to read.

Reader's Age: 12-14 yrs. old

(Seventh and Eighth graders)

The Write Offs: Eight Adults Take A Crash Course In Literacy ▬ iNews

The Write Offs: What Happened When Eight Adults Who Struggled With Reading & Writing Took A Crash Course In Literacy

iNews: 9.18.2020 by Rachael Pells

One of the most embarrassing moments of Tommy Dawkins’ life happened as he arrived at US immigration in Florida ahead of a family holiday. “We were given the arrival forms to fill in on the plane and my wife was helping me,” he recalls. “But when I got to the desk at the airport they said, ‘You’ve done it wrong – go and stand over there and fill it in properly’.  

“I was with my kids and my grandchildren and I felt humiliated. It took me right back to my schooldays, having to stand in the corner like a naughty child.”

At 66, Dawkins is one of the estimated 8.5 million adults in the UK who struggle with basic reading and writing skills. This makes seemingly straightforward tasks such as writing down an address or reading instructions a huge and stressful ordeal.

The shame of adult illiteracy

═════════►

Since then, Dawkins has become heavily involved with public speaking on the subject of adult illiteracy, even earning an MBE in the process. He is also one of eight volunteers to appear in the Channel 4 documentary The Write Offs, which starts tomorrow.

Making The Write Offs

The two-part series, presented by Sandi Toksvig, follows a group of participants aged 22 to 66 as they are given a crash course in basic literacy skills and challenged to take part in some daunting everyday tasks, such as following directions in an unknown town, grocery shopping or following a recipe. In doing so, they highlight how impenetrable the world must feel to those who can’t interpret it.  READ MORE ➤➤

Episode 1  Tue 22 Sep, 9.30pm  Channel 4

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 10

Reading Level: standard / average.

Reader's Age: 14-15 yrs. old

(Ninth to Tenth graders)

 

 

Discovering Children's Books ▬ British Library

Discovering Children's Books

British Library: 2020

Explore centuries of stories, poems and illustrations with Discovering Children’s Books, a free online resource for children, teachers and book-lovers of all ages. The site explores the history and rich variety of children’s literature, drawing on inspiring material from medieval fables to contemporary picture books. 

Over 150 treasures are waiting to be found, from one-of-a-kind manuscripts to original illustrations. Collection highlights include original drafts, artworks, poems and notebooks by beloved authors and illustrators including Lewis Carroll, Edward Lear, Kenneth Grahame, Judith Kerr, John Agard, Quentin Blake, Axel Scheffler, Lauren Child, Zanib Mian and Liz Pichon.

The website also provides access to some of the earliest printed works created for a young readership and an array of movable, miniature, noisy and toy books, propaganda stories, comics, poems and fairy tales.

For the writers and artists of the future, there’s a gallery of activities to spark children’s creativity and inspire their own stories, poems, illustrations and more.

The site also includes films showing illustrators at work in their studios, including Axel Scheffler’s masterclass on how to draw a Gruffalo. Plus you'll find interviews with authors and illustrators such as Quentin Blake, Julia Donaldson, Michael Rosen, Lauren Child, Andy Stanton, Zanib Mian, Joseph Coelho, Jacqueline Wilson, Viviane Schwarz and SF Said, revealing their creative processes, memories of childhood reading and tips for budding writers and artists.

Themes

Creative activities

Articles

Collection items

Videos

READ MORE ➤➤

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 16

Reading Level: difficult to read.

Reader's Age: College graduate

D

Easy News Special Issue Black Lives Matter

Easy News 

June Issue

Easy News: Black Lives Matter

United Response: June 2020

Our latest issue is all about Black Lives Matter.

Murder of George Floyd

Black Lives Matter protests

Historical statues and Black Lives Matter

Struggle for equality in history

More information

Easy News is the first news magazine designed to be accessible for people with learning disabilities.  READ MORE ➤➤

Coronavirus Special Edition :: Easy News

Coronavirus 

Special Edition

Coronavirus Special Edition

Easy News: May 2020

Covid-19 starts in China

A very contagious new disease called Covid-19 started making people very sick in China in December 2019. Something is contagious when it can be easily spread from one person to another.

Covid-19 is part of a group of viruses called coronavirus. This group includes viruses such as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which killed 774 people between 2002 and 2004.

The new Covid-19 virus is quickly spread by infected droplets in the air caused by people coughing and sneezing. This means people can easily breathe in or swallow the virus.

The main symptoms of the virus are a fever, a continuous dry cough and difficulty breathing. A fever is when a person’s temperature is above 38 degrees celcius.

Impact on society

Impact on social care

Impact on the economy

Impact around the world

Impact on sport

How to keep safe from coronavirus

Public support for key workers

   READ MORE ➤➤

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on (7) readability formulas:

Grade Level: 9

Reading Level: fairly difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 13-15 yrs. old

Eighth and Ninth graders)

Easy News :: Winter 2020 via United Response

@unitedresponse

Easy News - Winter 2020 out now!

United Response: Feb 2020

The Winter 2020 issue of Easy News features

2019 UK General Election

Bushfires in Australia

Greta Thunberg, Time magazine’s ‘Person of the Year’

Prince Andrew scandal

Tensions between Iran and the USA

New Zealand volcano eruption, and more.

Previous issues

You can read every issue of Easy News, plus our Special Editions, in our archive:

2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013

More resources

We have a number of easy read resources available for free download.

We have support guides for professionals, families and individuals on a variety of topics such as autism and person centred support.  READ MORE >>

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on (7) readability formulas:

Grade Level: 8

Reading Level: standard / average.

Reader's Age: 12-14 yrs. Old

(Seventh and Eighth graders)

The Economic Case For Supporting Libraries via Book Riot

Case For Support

The Economic Case For Supporting Libraries

Book Riot: 11.06.2019 by Christine Ro

Here at Book Riot, we’re well aware of the many benefits of libraries. We’ve written, for instance, about how libraries:

Of course promote literacy, including by sharing tips with parents

Provide a sanctuary

Improve educational outcomes

Create community spaces

Provide a wealth of digital materials . . .

Preserve local history and culture

Champion diversity . . .

Open gateways to possible careers and lifestyles, including for future authors

═════════►

Overall, the Public Libraries report claims that each £1 invested in a local library service has an economic return of £5–7. The similar return on investment is £3.89–5.48 in the U.S. and over £4 in New Zealand.

It will be impossible to quantify every advantage libraries offer to their communities. But Public Libraries: The Case for Support and similar research shows that these advantages are evidence-backed and undeniable. This is especially useful when calling on policymakers to commit funding in order to maintain and develop libraries.  READ MORE >>

Library / Literacy Funding

2018: From Awareness to Funding: Voter Perceptions & Support . . ., OCLC

2017: Library & Literacy Funding Chart: FY 2017 -by President, House, and

Senate, ALA (excel file)

2011: Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study, ALA
2008: From Awareness to Funding: A Study of Library Support in America, OCLC
2007: Worth Their Weight: Assessment . . . Library Valuation, Americans for Libraries Council

Return On Investment - ROI

2019
Library Funding Map, EveryLibrary
Economic Impact of Public Libraries (various ROIs), WI Dept Public Instruction
Libraries Matter: Impact Research: Bibliography, ALA
Public Libraries – A Wise Investment - Library Research Service

National Literacy Trust & Penguin Random House Researching Link Between Games & Literacy via Games Industry Biz

@Literacy_Trust

National Literacy Trust and Penguin Random House Researching Link Between Games And Literacy

Games Industry Biz: 10.17.2019 by James Batchelor

A new study will explore the relationship between video games and literacy engagement among school children, thanks to a partnership between the two worlds.

Games trade body UKIE has teamed up with major book publisher Penguin Random House Children's and the National Literacy Trust, a charity dedicated to boosting these skills, for this research.

Core to the project will be a survey of secondary school children across the UK. The questions will be composed by the National Literacy Trust, drawing on advice from both games and book publishing industry figures.

The venture originates from the Trust's observation that a significant part of children's reading habits when interacting through screens centres around video games, whether it's text in the titles themselves or content around the hobby such as forum discussions.

The survey will be carried out over the next few months, and will looking into how kids' experience with video games relates to their reading and writing abilities. The results are expected to be presented in Spring 2020.  READ MORE >>

How One Brave Man Turned A Page :: Learned To Read At 41 via Devon Live

How one brave man turned a page in his life and learned to read at 41

''Life is too short to give up, you're never too old to learn.''

Devon Live: 8.18.2019 by Charlotte Vowles

Imagine not being able to read a road sign, not being able to understand cooking instructions, or the warning on your box of paracetamol.

For around 2.4 million adults in the UK who struggle to read, or can't read at all, these problems are a reality.

Read Easy Exeter was set up in February 2018 to help tackle this issue. The group is run by community-based volunteers and helps adults who are completely new to reading and those wanting to improve their skills.

41 year old Jason, is one of Read Easy Exeter's success stories. He lives in Exeter and joined the group after a suggestion from his mother-in-law.

After taking the brave and life-changing decision to get in touch with Read Easy Exeter, Jason has never looked back.

═════════►

Paul Fisher is the Team Leader at Read Easy Exeter. He said: ''We take for granted how literacy allows us to participate in ordinary life. Over two years, people can get to a good basic standard of reading, which will enable them to participate.''

All the readers have coaching twice a week for half an hour at a time. Sessions take place on a 1:1 basis in a public, but quiet space, such as a library, café or pub.

Paul said the readers are carefully matched with their coaches to ensure that it's a totally comfortable process. He said: ''The course is so brilliant and done so well. It's all about a 1:1 relationship.''

The readers follow a reading programme called Turning Pages, which has been specially designed by The Shannon Trust, a national charity that works with prisoners.  READ MORE >>

Easy News – June 2019 :: United Response (UK)

Easy News June

Easy News – June 2019

United Response

Easy News (UK) is the first news magazine designed to be accessible for people with learning disabilities.

Features

Tragic fire at Notre-Dame cathedral

Deadly church bombs in Sri Lanka

Theresa May's resignation as Prime Minister

Wikileaks’ Julian Assange arrested

Quick news

New Royal baby

Climate change protests in London

First ever black hole picture taken

Previous issues

You can read every issue of Easy News, plus our Special Editions, in our archive

READ MORE >>

Dangerous Places, Libraries :: Val McDermid via BBC

@valmcdermid

Dangerous Places, Libraries

BBC: 6.02.2019

Val McDermid argues that - at a time when public discourse is so polarised - it's vital to keep our public libraries open.

"A library card is a powerful weapon to change lives", Val writes. "With it, we learn how to value what we have, to mourn what we have lost and to dream of what we might become".

She says that whatever we may hear about the death of libraries, we must ensure their future because they are "one of the few remaining places where a genuine diversity of voices can still be encountered".  LISTEN 09:48

'Reading Bedtime Stories Helped Me Survive Prison' via BBC

@Storybookdads

'Reading Bedtime Stories Helped Me Survive Prison'

BBC: 3.23.2019 by Dougal Shaw

Lewis Hardy was struggling in prison, feeling isolated from his young family and increasingly "cold". Then he was shown a way of doing something that many parents take for granted - reading to his children - and everything began to change.

Lewis Hardy had just been released from prison and was getting a taxi home to see his two sons for the first time in nine months, when he got the call he dreaded.

"What are you up to?" a familiar voice enquired.

"I'm just in a taxi to see my boys."

"Don't worry about that," said his old friend. "See them tomorrow. Come to the pub with us lot."

But Lewis knew exactly what to say.

"I ain't ever going to the pub with 'you lot' ever again. My kids are more important."

Prisoners get a lot of time to think, Lewis says, and he'd figured out what was the right decision for him.

═════════►

So while going to prison is "never lucky", he says, he considers himself fortunate to have been signed up for a programme called Storybook Dads.

This gives prisoners with young children a chance to spend time in a studio recording bedtime stories, which are then sent to their families at home on CD or DVD.

"As soon as you walked in through the doors, it was just complete relaxation, you felt safe," remembers Lewis.  READ MORE >>