ACQ Vol 11 no 2 2009

41 / 68

Literacy
ACQ Volume 11, Number 2 2009 103
Cathy
Basterfield
Keywords
accessible
Convention
on the Rights
of People
with Disability
(2006)
functional
literacy
health
literacy
participation
Historically, accessibility has focused on physical
access, hearing access and visual access. The
Australian laws are well known by individuals and
organisations regarding compliance to these particular
accessibility needs. “Accessibility is a general term used to
describe the degree to which a product (e.g., device, service,
environment) is accessible by as many people as possible.
Several definitions of accessibility refer directly to access-
based individual rights laws and regulations”, (Wikipedia
2009). The concept of “communication accessibility” is
new, and is not the same as access to communications
technology or use of computers and computer software to
improve access to information. More recently, information
access has also been included to describe improved access
to written information. This concept can be further extended
to include way-finding access related to appropriate signage
within buildings or social spaces.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics released the Australian
Literacy and Life Skills Survey in 2007 (ABS, 2006).This
survey highlighted the significant needs of people with limited
reading skills. The report highlighted that up to 46% of the
Australian adult population (15 to 74 years) do not have
the functional literacy skills to meet the demands of today’s
literate society.
So how do people who do not have functional literacy
skills access written information in their environment? What
rights and responsibilities do organisations have to provide
written information in a way that is accessible to most
people?
What are functional
literacy skills?
Have you read your phone bill, your Neighbourhood Watch
newsletter, or a public transport timetable? Do you need to
read a medicine bottle to check the dosage? Perhaps you
need to read your diary to check the time and place to meet
a friend? These are all functional literacy tasks.
Functional literacy skills can be considered in a variety
of domains, including prose, document, numeracy, and
problem-solving. English as a second language often
compounds these issues and affects functional literacy
abilities. Evidence also suggests that recent school leavers
and the aged population have reduced functional literacy
skills compared with the general adult population. The
amount of time available, stress and new situations also
have an impact on someone’s functional literacy. There
are specific skills and abilities we all need in order to be
Functional literacy refers to how a person
uses the information they read, regardless of
their level of schooling, or their scores on a
test. The Australian Literacy and Life Skills
Survey 2007 identified that up to 46% of the
Australian adult population (15–74 years) do
not have the functional literacy skills required
to meet the demands of today’s literate
society.
The Accessible Information Service at the
Communication Resource Centre – Scope has
been working with different organisations for
a number of years to develop accessible
written information for consumers. There have
been many positive outcomes in ensuring
written information is accessible to all
consumers.
Challenges will continue, as awareness of
the need for – and personal right to –
accessible written information is limited. It is
anticipated that with increasing understanding
of this need, resources for the development of
accessible written information will be
enhanced.
Raising awareness of the
importance of functional
literacy skills
The Communication Resource Centre – Scope
Cathy Basterfield
Scope is a not-for-profit organisation providing disability
services throughout Victoria to thousands of children
and adults with physical and multiple disabilities. Scope
is committed to overcoming the personal, structural and
attitudinal barriers that prevent those with disability from
participating in community life and works to make our
community more inclusive, more accessible and more
welcoming (Scope, 2009).
The service provides:
• training
• partnerships with organisations
• consultation to develop your accessible documents
• some writing/translation services
• resource development, e.g., Easy English Writing
Style Guide
easyenglishstyleguide.html