Project 'breaks down barriers' to council services

People with learning disabilities and autism are helping "break down barriers" by making it easier to access council information.

North Northamptonshire Council has asked people with lived experience of disability to help develop easy-read documents with short jargon-free sentences and simple images.

The authority said the documents would also help people who speak English as a second language.

Eddie McDonald, the council's deputy leader, said it would "help people make more informed choices, which can lead to life-changing opportunities".

McDonald, a Reform UK councillor who is executive member for adults and health partnerships, said: "We're delighted to be working with people in north Northamptonshire who have genuine insight into creating information that is fully accessible to all our residents.

"If people find leaflets, documents or other council information difficult to understand, it can lead to a lack of engagement which means people can miss payments or benefits they're entitled to, or get into debt.

"It can really limit opportunities, including the chance to find employment."

The council said about 50 people with learning disabilities and autism are supported by the council's Learning Independence Volunteering Employment (LIVE) team, which helps them build independence, learn skills, volunteer, find paid work, and achieve personal goals.

The project will invite these individuals, known as "experts by experience", to help convert council documents into easy read formats.

The LIVE team is working with colleagues across the council to identify documents which would benefit from an easy read format.

The council hopes the team may offer the service to other organisations and businesses.

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