Learning Objectives: at the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to Recognize when low-literacy writing and designing is needed. Demonstrate increased awareness of the need for low-literacy writing and designing skills in the tobacco control commmunity Apply basic low-literacy writing and designing skills to printed tobacco control materials.
Abstract: Audience—All tobacco control professionals who are charged with creating messages for a diverse public will benefit from this training, which includes discussion, examples, and a number of individual consultations, on the techniques essential to writing and designing printed materials for audiences with limited reading skills.
Key Points—Literacy authorities tell us that 27 million adults may not be able to read a pamphlet and approximately 40-44 million adults read at the lowest level, understanding only the simplest written instructions. Using the principles and findings of Drs. Leonard and Cecelia Doak and Dr. Jane Root, the presenter will provide an overview of these principles. The need to tailor tobacco control messages to fit the audiences for which they are intended also will be discussed, along with best ways to achieve the desired outcome. Information on readability tests and measures to test reading and comprehension skills of the target audience will also be provided.
Educational Experience--An expert presenter will discuss the overarching principles of reaching people with limited reading skills. A selection of tobacco control messages will then be used to demonstrate how to implement these techniques, and finally audience participants will have an opportunity to receive individual assessment of materials brought by them to the session.
Benefits---Audience participants will achieve an understanding of the value of tailoring messages for specific populations. They will gain knowledge of tools and techniques that will allow them to create tobacco control materials that people with limited reading skills will comprehend.
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