www.raisingdeafkids.org

Reaching Out to Reaching Out to Underserved Parents on Underserved Parents on the Internetthe Internet

Lisa Bain, M.A.Lisa Bain, M.A.

Annie Steinberg, M.D.Annie Steinberg, M.D.

Yuelin Li, Ph.D.Yuelin Li, Ph.D.

Olivia ThetgyiOlivia Thetgyi

The Deafness & Family Communication CenterThe Deafness & Family Communication CenterThe Children’s Hospital of PhiladelphiaThe Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Supported by:Supported by:

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication DisordersDisorders

Who are “the underserved”?Who are “the underserved”?

Parents in inner citiesParents in inner cities Parents in rural areasParents in rural areas Parents with low literacyParents with low literacy Hispanic parentsHispanic parents

Literacy in the United StatesLiteracy in the United States

Almost half of all adults in the U.S. have low or Almost half of all adults in the U.S. have low or very low reading skillsvery low reading skills That means they have trouble reading and understanding That means they have trouble reading and understanding

instructions on medicine bottlesinstructions on medicine bottles

Almost one quarter of adults in the U.S. are Almost one quarter of adults in the U.S. are functionally illiteratefunctionally illiterate That means they read below the fifth-grade level. That means they read below the fifth-grade level. That means they can’t read most newspapers, or the directions on That means they can’t read most newspapers, or the directions on

a box of cake mix.a box of cake mix.

Among inner city minorities, almost 40% read Among inner city minorities, almost 40% read below the 5below the 5thth-grade level.-grade level.

Source: National Adult Literacy Survey, 1992

Readability of Information Readability of Information on the Interneton the Internet

70% of parents have used the internet.*70% of parents have used the internet.*

Most English-based web sites are written at a 10Most English-based web sites are written at a 10thth grade reading level or above.grade reading level or above. Half are written at a college level or aboveHalf are written at a college level or above..

Most Spanish-language web sites are written at a Most Spanish-language web sites are written at a 9th grade reading level or above.9th grade reading level or above.

*Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project

The Purpose of this The Purpose of this WebsiteWebsite

To create a reader-friendly, practical To create a reader-friendly, practical and informative resource that can be and informative resource that can be used by parents and those who counsel used by parents and those who counsel parents.parents.

To engage professionals from diverse To engage professionals from diverse disciplines in the development of disciplines in the development of relevant and accessible materials for relevant and accessible materials for parents of diverse backgrounds.parents of diverse backgrounds.

Plain LanguagePlain Language

Uses clear language that everyone can Uses clear language that everyone can understandunderstand

Formats text to make it less intimidating and Formats text to make it less intimidating and easy to scaneasy to scan

Reaches people who can’t read well or who Reaches people who can’t read well or who don’t have time to read carefullydon’t have time to read carefully

Avoids misunderstandings and mistakesAvoids misunderstandings and mistakes

PuttingPutting Plain Language into Plain Language into PracticePractice

Put directives at the tops of pages.Put directives at the tops of pages.

Keep things short – pages, paragraphs and Keep things short – pages, paragraphs and sentences.sentences.

Break up text with headers.Break up text with headers.

Use words that are familiar to our readers.Use words that are familiar to our readers.

Use bullets for lists.Use bullets for lists.

Use numerals instead of spelling out words.Use numerals instead of spelling out words.

Editing to Plain Language: Editing to Plain Language: 11stst draft – Communication Choices draft – Communication Choices

Once your child is a bit older, there are five main Once your child is a bit older, there are five main communication choices:communication choices:

The The auditory oral methodauditory oral method teaches children to read lips and speak. teaches children to read lips and speak. Auditory-verbalAuditory-verbal therapy helps children use whatever hearing they therapy helps children use whatever hearing they

have left.have left. In In bilingualism-biculturalismbilingualism-biculturalism children learn American Sign children learn American Sign

Language and become a part of Deaf Culture.Language and become a part of Deaf Culture. Cued speechCued speech is a way for people to “see” English. It uses is a way for people to “see” English. It uses

handshapes to “show” the sounds a person makes.handshapes to “show” the sounds a person makes. Total communicationTotal communication uses all different kinds of communicating, uses all different kinds of communicating,

like signing, talking, or writing.like signing, talking, or writing.

ConcernsConcerns With Plain With Plain LanguageLanguage

Does plain language alienate more educated or Does plain language alienate more educated or sophisticated readers?sophisticated readers?

Is it possible to convey complex ideas when Is it possible to convey complex ideas when using plain language? (e.g., genetics)using plain language? (e.g., genetics)

Do we lose depth in this “translation?”Do we lose depth in this “translation?”

Does this approach reduce the credibility and the Does this approach reduce the credibility and the utility of the content?utility of the content?

Can decision-making tools ever be written in Can decision-making tools ever be written in plain language?plain language?

What (if anything) gets lost What (if anything) gets lost with plain language? with plain language?

Original text:Original text:

““Babies start by learning that they are people, separate Babies start by learning that they are people, separate but related to their parents. They start by finding out but related to their parents. They start by finding out that they can get your attention by screaming; get that they can get your attention by screaming; get you to smile by making faces; and that you will ‘coo’ you to smile by making faces; and that you will ‘coo’ and ‘ooh,’ and ‘aah’ with them, just because they are and ‘ooh,’ and ‘aah’ with them, just because they are babies! babies!

Babies who are deaf can communicate their needs, use Babies who are deaf can communicate their needs, use the same facial expressions, smile at the usual the same facial expressions, smile at the usual moments, but they probably won’t hear all of the nice moments, but they probably won’t hear all of the nice things you are saying to them.things you are saying to them.

What gets lost? What gets lost? (continued)(continued)

Babies who are deaf show connection to the Babies who are deaf show connection to the people who love them and are taking care of people who love them and are taking care of them. They are definitely not aloof or far away them. They are definitely not aloof or far away in their gaze. Once your baby knows you are in their gaze. Once your baby knows you are there with him, he will lock in on you and study there with him, he will lock in on you and study you, trying to sort out what is going on and you, trying to sort out what is going on and joining in play. This is his first experience with joining in play. This is his first experience with a relationship, and he is an equal partner in it! a relationship, and he is an equal partner in it!

Text edited into plain Text edited into plain languagelanguage

Babies start by learning they are people.Babies start by learning they are people. They learn that they are separate but related They learn that they are separate but related

to their parentsto their parents They learn that they can get your attention by They learn that they can get your attention by

screamingscreaming The learn that they can get you to smile by The learn that they can get you to smile by

making facesmaking faces They learn that you will ‘coo’ and ‘ooh’ and They learn that you will ‘coo’ and ‘ooh’ and

‘aahhh’ with them.‘aahhh’ with them. You do it just because they are babies!You do it just because they are babies! Even if babies don’t hear the sounds completely, ‘cooing’ Even if babies don’t hear the sounds completely, ‘cooing’

involves your face and body.involves your face and body. Your deaf baby will enjoy all of this interaction a lot.Your deaf baby will enjoy all of this interaction a lot.

MeasuringMeasuring SuccessSuccess

Are we reaching the underserved parents we Are we reaching the underserved parents we had targeted?had targeted?

Is the material useful to these parents?Is the material useful to these parents?

What is the best way of measuring our What is the best way of measuring our success? success?

Making the website more Making the website more usableusable

Find out what parents want and need from a Find out what parents want and need from a website about hearing losswebsite about hearing loss

Setting up kiosks for qualitative study of computer-naïve Setting up kiosks for qualitative study of computer-naïve users users

Page guidesPage guides Parent ForumsParent Forums

Make printable pages availableMake printable pages available

Build relationships with providers who work Build relationships with providers who work with parentswith parents

SummarySummary

Almost half of all adults in the United Almost half of all adults in the United States have low or very low reading skills.States have low or very low reading skills.

Most of the information on the Internet is Most of the information on the Internet is written at a level too high for the desired written at a level too high for the desired readers.readers.

Our website, Our website, www.raisingdeafkids.orgwww.raisingdeafkids.org, , bridges this literacy gap by writing in bridges this literacy gap by writing in plain language.plain language.

www.raisingdeafkids.org