Winner of the NALA Plain English Award, best use of plain English by an organisation.

The “Customer Communications Toolkit for the Public Service — A Universal Design Approach” won top prize at the NALA Plain English Awards on Monday 11th February 2019 , in the category, Best use of plain English by an organisation.

Co-developed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (CEUD), at the National Disability Authority (NDA), the Toolkit won, as stated by the jury; “… because it shows workers in the Public Service how to produce communications that can be easily understood by members of the public. It provides a set of very clear, easy-to-follow guidelines about how to improve written, verbal and digital communications. The document is based on a Universal Design approach and includes useful examples of communications before and after plain English has been used.”

The Plain English Awards were sponsored by Declan Black, on behalf of Mason Hayes & Curran. Two trophies were presented for this award, one each was accepted by; Grace O’Regan on behalf of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and James Hubbard on behalf of the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design at the National Disability Authority.

The Toolkit can be viewed at Customer Communications Toolkit for the Public Service - A Universal Design Approach

From L to R: Declan Black, on behalf of Mason Hayes & Curran (Award Sponsor) Grace O’Regan on behalf of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and James Hubbard on behalf of the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design at the National Disability Authority.