Easy Read and Videos
Welcome to this page
This page is a place to find links to other organisations and websites that have accessible information on certain topics.
Some of the links are to information that is written in an easy read way.
Some of the links are to videos.
We have grouped information under different headings to try to make it easier to find.
The headings are written alphabetically so it starts at 'A' and follows through the alphabet.
Some information could have been listed under different headings.
For example we have a heading called work but some people might have thought that information should be under a topic heading called jobs.
If you cannot see what you were looking for under the topic heading you expected try looking under different headings as it might be there.
Just to let you know the website links written below are not DAD websites or information they have made.
The information is from outside the organisation and is not regulated by DAD
A
Abuse
Here is a video about abuse. It explains what abuse can be. There are also some workbooks - Abuse is bad | Speakup Main Website
Also, look under the heading online safety for information on keeping safe when using the Internet
Accessible Information - Accessible information is information that you can
understand
Accessible Information Standard - YouTube (Video has subtitles and British Sign Language)
Why is accessible information important? - YouTube (Video is subtitled)
This is easy read written information - access-info-stndrd-er-upd-jul16.pdf (england.nhs.uk)
Also look under the heading How to make Information Accessible
Access to Work
Look under the heading called work for information about the government Access to Work scheme.
Advance Care Planning
Thinking about your health and care if you are very ill or dying - www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/universal-principles-for-advance-care-planning-easy-read.pdf
Advocacy
Alcohol
Here is a video about drinking alcohol. There is a workbook too - Alcohol | Speakup Main Website
Anaesthetic (Getting put to Sleep at Hospital or Dentist)
Annual Health Checks
Video from people who have had an annual health check Don't Miss Out - our stories
What is an Annual Health Check and What happens when you have one - Annual Health Checks | Mencap | Easy Read
Anxiety
www.cntw.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Anxiety-ER-final.-2022.-docx.pdf
B
Having a Baby - look under the heading of Pregnancy
Banking
Look under the heading called money for information about banks and banking.
Benefits and Entitlements
Employments and Support Allowance (ESA)
An introduction to New Style Employment and Support Allowance An introduction to New Style Employment and Support Allowance
After you apply for New Style Employment and Support Allowance After you apply for New Style Employment and Support Allowance (Easy Read)
Keeping up-to-date with New Style Employment and Support Allowance Keeping up-to-date with New Style Employment and Support Allowance
Personal Independent Payment (PIP)
Get help from Personal Independence Payment Get help from Personal Independence Payment (Easy Read)
How to claim Personal Independence Payment How to claim Personal Independence Payment (Easy Read)
Supporting information for Personal Independence Payment Supporting information for Personal Independence Payment (Easy Read)
What to expect at your Personal Independence Payment assessment What to expect at your Personal Independence Payment assessment (Easy Read)
Important things to know about our Personal Independence Payment decision Important things to know about our Personal Independence Payment decision (Easy Read)
Books Beyond Words
Word free picture stories that help people understand and communicate their feelings, learn about new experiences and tell their own stories. Here is a link to the website.- Beyond Words (booksbeyondwords.co.uk)
Here is a link to a video about Books Beyond Words - Why Books Beyond Words Are in Pictures (youtube.com)
Bullying
A leaflet about what bullying is and what can be done about it - https://s33156.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/bullying-easy-read-leaflet.pdf
C
Cancer Support
Audio books by MacMillian Cancer Support about cancer, managing pain, financial help and much more www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/stories-and-media/audiobooks
Easy read information about lots of things to do with cancer. It has information about tests to check if a person has cancer or not. These tests can also be called screening. All resources | Macmillan Cancer Support
Free downloadable books on getting cancer tests (screening) www.booksbeyondwords.co.uk/resources-dl These are books with drawings and no words.
Book to buy www.booksbeyondwords.co.uk/bookshop/p/getting-on-with-cancer-1 This book has drawings and no words. It shows information from visiting the doctor to ways cancer can be treated.
Citizenship
Video - 7 Keys of Citizenship Wendy Perez and Simon Duffy www.youtube.com/watch?v=avnKfGJm81k&t=4s
Book - 7 Keys of Citizenship Wendy Perez and Simon Duffy www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31747115823 or Everyday Citizenship: Seven Keys to a Life Well Lived by Duffy, Simon | eBay
Complaints
Easy read guidance and a form to make a complaint, raise a concern or give feedback about health, education or social care - www.speakup.org.uk/_files/ugd/7b2ad3_a57138a79b614b04961dccefbfcb1e58.pdf
Easy read complaints, concern or feedback form to use for health, education and social care - www.speakup.org.uk/_files/ugd/7b2ad3_691966068ffb4499b41a00196dbdd155.pdf
Guidance and a form to make a complaint, raise a concern or give feedback about health, education or social care written particularly for Autistic people www.speakup.org.uk/_files/ugd/7b2ad3_486c5d675e1b4ba7b52d3b6d261a5846.pdf
Complaints, concern or feedback form to use for health, education and social care written particularly for Autistic people www.speakup.org.uk/_files/ugd/7b2ad3_f005d01093154179a3a5d12369f76d41.pdf
Easy read complaints procedure for DAD click here
Computers
Look under the heading Online Safety
Coronavirus or Covid
COVID-19 Vaccination Easy-Read Leaflets (GOV.UK)
How Coronavirus has affected people with learning impairments and autism
Self Isolation for people living alone (NHS Oxford Health, March 2020)
Constipation
Look under the heading Poo
Cooking
CookABILITY - Accessible tasty recipes and videos
Cost of Living
Darlington Connect, in Darlington town centre can give Cost of Living advice: Darlington Connect Cost of Living Leaflet
Climate Change
Easy Read Guide to Climate Change
Crime
Also, look under the heading Prison
D
Damp and Mould in the home
ISL218 14 ER Damp & Mould (cse.org.uk)
Dentist
A video for people with learning impairments showing a visit to the dentist (NHS England)
Katrina goes to the Dentist - www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/easy-read-katrinas-dentist-story.pdf?fbclid=IwAR11eTxm1t4HLQQD3ZLBB3z7Xa7_4qkCgG7UM7y0BsurPWbK1pjmYpaEBJ0
Diabetes
This is about diabetes Type 2 Layout 1
Direct Payment Information
Becoming an Employer using Direct Payments (plymouthonlinedirectory.com)
Dying
How you might feel if you are dying - How-you-might-feel-if-you-are-dying.pdf
Thinking about your health and care if you are very ill or dying - www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/universal-principles-for-advance-care-planning-easy-read.pdf
What might happen in the last few days of life and what might help you feel more comfortable - The-last-few-days.pdf
A video about talking about dying. How to think about your rights and what you would want - www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rv-8Sdbye6A
Stages of grief - how you might feel when something sad or difficult happens like losing someone who is important or a pet - PowerPoint Presentation
What words about death and dying mean - PowerPoint Presentation
This is a book to buy called When someone dies - www.booksbeyondwords.co.uk/bookshop/p/when-somebody-dies This book has drawings and no words.
Also look under the headings of Funeral and Wills
E
Emergency Alert on Mobile Phones
How emergency alerts works - YouTube Video
Emergency Health Care Plan
Video about an emergency health care plan. It explains what it is and when you might want or need one www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbnZJO2AmT4
Energy Saving Tips
ISL218 14 ER Energy Tips (cse.org.uk)
Employment and Support Allowance
Look under the heading Benefits and Entitlements
Eyes
What is a cataract www.seeability.org/sites/default/files/2021-04/What_is_a_cataract_-_April_2019.pdf
Glaucoma www.seeability.org/sites/default/files/2021-05/Glaucoma_-_April_2019.pdf
Having an eye test www.seeability.org/sites/default/files/2022-05/Having%20an%20eye%20test%20-%20April%2022.pdf
How to use eye drops www.seeability.org/sites/default/files/2022-03/Eye%20Drops%20-%20Oct%2021.pdf
Equality and Disability Action Plans 2019-2014
Action Plan 2019-2014 Easy Read Guide (Department of Health)
F
Friendships and Relationships
www.mencap.org.uk/advice-and-support/relationships-and-sex
Funeral
An easy read booklet about what a funeral is, what might happen and other ways of remembering someone who has died - mac16311-er-e04-going-to-funeral-pdf (macmillan.org.uk)
Thinking about your funeral mac16344-thinking-about-your-funeral-e04 (macmillan.org.uk)
G
Gas and Electric
How to read your meters - ISL218 14 ER Reading your meter (cse.org.uk)
General Election - 4th July 2024
What is a General Election | Mencap
Grief
Stages of grief - how you might feel when something sad or difficult happens like losing someone who is important or a pet PowerPoint Presentation
Also, look under the heading of Dying
H
Health Information
Annual Health Checks Annual Health Checks (Video) or 9. Gold Standard Health Check (Norfolk + Waveney).indd (knowledgeanglia.nhs.uk)
How to look after my balls - How+to+look+After+My+Balls.pdf (squarespace.com)
Breast (Boobs) Screening - This is a leaflet about getting your breasts or boobs checked - An+Easy+Guide+to+Breast+Screening+-+2021.pdf (squarespace.com)
Constipation - look under the heading called poo.
Cancer - look under the heading called cancer.
Diabetes - look under the heading called diabetes
Emergency Health Care Plan - look under the heading called emergency health care plan
Easy Health Easy read information about lots of different health topics
Eye information - see under the heading of eyes
Flu Flu - How does the flu jab work (NHS poster) Seasonal Flu (NHS poster)
Flu is caused by different sorts of germs. Seasonal flu happens each winter and spreads very easily from person to person.
Heart Here is a booklet called Keep your Heart Healthy. It has some information about cholesterol too - http://www.bhf.org.uk/-/media/images/information-support/how-a-healthy-heart-works/keep-your-heart-healthy-in-easy-read.pdf?rev=6f19e4805f6544e885ea1b9c673d06e6
NHS England Easy Read Newsletters
In this newsletter you can find out about:
- Lung cancer – signs of lung cancer and what to do if you see them
- Smoking and e-cigarettes (vaping) – tips to help you, your friends or family stop smoking
- Healthy eating – what healthy eating is, and why it is important to eat well
- NHS App – what the NHS App is and how you get it
Hepatitis - 002-what-is-hepatitis.pdf
Hot Weather:
/_library/files/Misc/Beat_the_heat_staying_safe_in_hot_weather_EASY_RE.pdf
002-coping-in-the-heatwave.pdf
Macmillian Cancer Support easy read information All resources | Macmillan Cancer Support
Pain Let me tell you about my pain - Learning Disability Service
Poo - Look under the heading called Poo
Planning for your health and care if you are very ill or dying look under the heading Dying
Smear Test Smear Test (Video) also known as cervical screening
Stroke - What are the signs of a stroke www.bild.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Stroke-PHE-leaflet.pdf
What happens when you ring 111? - This is a link to a video about what happens when you ring 111 - What happens when you call NHS 24 on 111? - YouTube
Lots of easy read written information about going into hospital and health conditions Patient resources - Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Housing
An organisation called Together Matters have made a booklet called How to be part of the world of work.
You will need to register your details on the website to be able read the booklet. Here is the link to the booklet www.togethermatters.org.uk/how-to-get-the-right-housing-and-support-pdf/
Moving on and planning ahead booklet which talks about independent living, money and support - https://s33156.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/MME_moving-on-and-planning-ahead.pdf
What is rent? - www.mencap.org.uk/easyread/what-rent
What is a tenancy agreement? - www.mencap.org.uk/easyread/what-tenancy-agreement
What are the rules of a tenancy agreement? - www.mencap.org.uk/easyread/what-are-rules-my-tenancy-agreement
KeyRing is an organisation. It supports some people with housing. Here is a video from someone using their services - Amy talks about living in her own home through Key Ring - YouTube
Hepatitis
What is Hepatitis - 002-what-is-hepatitis.pdf
How to make Information Accessible
How to make information accessible (CHANGE, 2021)
Image Bank - Learning Disability Service (learningdisabilityservice-leeds.nhs.uk)
Hospital Passport or Health and Care Passport
There are difference hospital passports available. Choose 1 that works well for you. Here is a link to 1 you can download and print out:
Health-Care-Passport-Apr-2023.pdf (necldnetwork.co.uk)
What is a Health and Care Passport? - www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/PRN00983iii-health-and-care-passport-easy-read.pdf
Hospital Passport Template example from South West London Access to Acute Group.doc
Video - Victoria's story of using a hospital passport - www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhN-EyMJWg4&t=5s
Going into Hospital
Going into hospital - FINAL-What-to-do-when-your-coming-in-to-Hospital.pdf (necldnetwork.co.uk)
Leaving hospital or getting discharged after a stay in hospital when getting support for your mental health sometimes called inpatients 003-discharge-toolkit.pdf
I
Insurance
Information about what is insurance 003-what-is-insurance.pdf
Internet
look under the heading Online Safety
J
Jail - look under the heading Prison
Jobs - look under Work
K
L
Learning Disability Register - This is something you can ask to be put on at your doctors if you want to. It will help you get an annual health check. Doctors use the learning disability register it to make sure that people with a learning disability get the right support in the right ways. Click the link for more information - http://www.mencap.org.uk/easyread/join-the-learning-disability-register
Click here for this information in other languages - https://www.mencap.org.uk/press-release/mencap-launches-new-gp-resources-black-asian-and-minority-ethnic-people-learning
LeDeR report - Learning from Lives and Deaths of people with Learning Disability and Autistic people 2022
Easy Read Report 2022 - www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/assets/fans-dept/leder-2022-easy-read-report-final.pdf
Video of report - www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW31o2jOEP8
Foreword of report www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ao_etBdtMw
What is LeDeR - video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dwg6hl41dR8
LGBTQI+
LGBTQI+ stands for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer or Questioning Intersex.
The + is to be inclusive to everyone that feels part of the LGBTQ+ community, but don’t feel like they fit into the groups listed in LGBTQ.
LGBTQ+ An Easy Read Guide (CHANGE, 2020)
LGBTQIA+ What do all the letters mean? - www.easy-read-online.co.uk/_files/ugd/7e469a_f744864f46ce4f6c9bee86b4ace484bb.pdf?index=true
002-outspoken-identity-booklet.pdf
Wellbeing booklet - 002-outspoken-wellbeing-activity-booklet.pdf
Also look under the heading Transgender
Learning Disability Network North East and North Cumbria
Learning Disability Network (necldnetwork.co.uk)
M
Makaton
With Makaton, signs are used, with speech. This helps provide extra clues about what someone is saying. Using signs can help people who have no speech or whose speech is unclear. Using symbols can help people who have limited speech and people who cannot sign or prefer not to sign. Here is a website with lots of information about Makaton and how to learn some Makaton https://makaton.org/
Here is a video to explain what Makaton is - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb09WlrBwds&t=2s
Mental Capacity Act
A video about the Mental Capacity Act - Using the Mental Capacity Act: Self-advocates from Taking Part - YouTube
The Mental Capacity Act - Mental Capacity Act 2005: An easy read guide (local.gov.uk)
A video saying what is mental capacity. It also explains the Mental Capacity Act - The Mental Capacity Act: an animated guide by Infodeo. - YouTube
Mental ill health
www.cntw.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Anxiety-ER-final.-2022.-docx.pdf
Money
Choosing and opening a bank account booklet - https://s33156.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/MME_Choosing_and_opening_a_bank_account_1.pdf
Using a bank account booklet - https://s33156.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/MME_using_a_bank_account.pdf
Your money - Your home booklet - https://s33156.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/MME_your-money-your-home.pdf
Your money - Your insurance booklet - https://s33156.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/MME_your_money_your_insurance.pdf
Explaining the words used in banking - https://s33156.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/MME_explaining-words-used-in-banking.pdf
Moving on and planning ahead booklet - https://s33156.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/MME_moving-on-and-planning-ahead.pdf
Why is money important video - http://www.youtube.com/shorts/e2jmUkK99MI
Look under the heading Benefits and Entitlements
N
Easy News - An accessible round up of some of the big news stories. This is by an organisation called United Response.
O
Online Safety
003-keeping-safe-online---easy-read-guide.pdf
Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training
Here is a link to a video about what happened to Oliver. It explains about Oliver's Campaign to give more training to health and social care staff about how to better support Autistic people and people who have a learning disability The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism (youtube.com)
Organ Donation
Organ Donation - An Easy Read Guide (2019)
P
Pain
Let me tell you about my pain - Learning Disability Service
Personal Health Budgets
Leaflet - 7b2ad3_cbf5e7f3ffb34f96b7bc0c1dd5de8f32.pdf (speakup.org.uk)
Workbook about Personal Health Budgets - 7b2ad3_57ee5e4424df45c798d2acb789992083.pdf (speakup.org.uk)
Police
The support you should get if you are the victim of a crime - easyread-victims-code.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Politics
You and your Member of Parliament (MP) Easy-read-MPs.pdf (mencap.org.uk)
Poo
Are you worried about your poo? - Video - What are the signs of constipation?
Are you worried about your poo? - Poster - www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/People-with-a-learning-disability-A4-leaflet-high-resolution.pdf
What should poo look like? - Poster - www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Bristol-stool-chart-for-carers-print-version.pdf
Pornography
Information about what is pornography, what is legal and illegal pornography and how to keep yourself safe using the Internet - 003-pornography-guide.pdf
Pregnancy - Having a baby
Lots of information about being pregnant and having a baby - Accessible Maternity Resources « Learning Disability Network (necldnetwork.co.uk)
A guide to pregnancy LN004580.pdf
Prison
Information book for disabled prisoners - Layout 1 (prisonreformtrust.org.uk)
Q
R
Reasonable Adjustments
This is a video about reasonable adjustments. It shows some things people might find helpful if they were going to hospital www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMV06K1oanA
Rights
Your rights when you are in hospital - www.mencap.org.uk/sites/default/files/2018-02/Know%20Your%20Rights%20-%20Your%20rights%20in%20hospital%20FINAL.pdf
S
Self-Advocacy
This film tells the story of how self-advocacy has influenced and changed the lives of many people with a learning disability, helping them to become empowered to speak up for their rights and needs. Not only does the film show the impact self-advocacy has had on the lives of people with a learning disability, but also the impact that people with a learning disability have been able to have on the wider world. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRQsJCxIbEQ
Sex
Information about what is pornography, what is legal and illegal pornography and how to keep yourself safe using the Internet - 003-pornography-guide.pdf
Also look under heading Friendships and Relationships
Sexual Consent
Information about agreeing or not agreeing to have sex or sexual relationships What-is-sexual-consent.pdf (suffolkordinarylives.co.uk)
Smear Tests
Easy Read information about smear tests. Smear tests are also known as cervical screening mac16302-er-e05-cervical-screening-easy-read (macmillan.org.uk)
Social Model of Disability
A model is a way of thinking about things or an idea. Many Disabled people came together and thought about the idea of the social model of disability. The social model explains that it is barriers in the world around us that disable people. This was a different way of understanding disability.
Here is a long booklet in easy read about the Social Model of Disability. You could maybe read little bits of it at a time if that is better for you - http://www.inclusionlondon.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/FactSheets_TheSocialModel_Easy-Read.pdf
STOMP: Stop the over medication of medication of people with learning disabilities
STOMP: Stop the over medication of people with learning disabilities (Video)
Stopping Smoking
Some easy read information about smoking and stopping smoking mac16339-stop-smoking-e04 (macmillan.org.uk)
Stroke
What are the signs of a stroke www.bild.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Stroke-PHE-leaflet.pdf
Poster about the signs of a stroke www.bild.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Stroke-PHE-poster.pdf
Support
7 steps to being in control of my support (InControl, 2017)
Sun Safety
This booklet is about being safe in the sun - mac16335-er-e06-be-safe-in-the-sun (macmillan.org.uk)
Storage Heaters
How to use a storage night heater - ISL200 14 Storage Heaters EasyRead (cse.org.uk)
Swallowing Difficulties
T
Transgender
003-transgender-easy-read-guide.pdf
U
V
Voting
My Voice My Vote Website - lots of useful easy read information about voting and politics - www.myvotemyvoice.org.uk
Photo ID needed when you go to vote from May 2023 - www.easy-read-online.co.uk/_files/ugd/7e469a_a70fcb3a69a749d89c52aae188504916.pdf?index=true
What is the General Election? - www.mencap.org.uk/easyread/what-general-election?
What is Voting - What is voting? | Mencap
Voting Passport. This is to think about any reasonable adjustments you might need to be able to vote -https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XQB6vBisVKLk_oNQE9lRbBDBbcAmJ0Ic/view?usp=drivesdk
Here is a video about what is it like at a polling station when you vote. It is an old video so remember we need to take some photo ID with us to be able to vote now. Photo ID means identification like a passport. - https://youtu.be/34hu5Ba4_Jc?si=4CduQWNJ15jDHkNj
W
Wellbeing Information
Inclusion North Easy-Read
Here is the weekly News and tips for staying well from Inclusion North
Will
This is thinking about what you want to happen with your belongings (things) and money when you die.
Winter
Stay well this winter: Things you need to do to stay well - /_library/files/reports/Stay%20Well%20this%20Winter%20-%20Easy%20Read.pdf
Winterborne View
Department of Health's Report on Winterborne View
Work
An organisation called Together Matters have made a booklet called How to be part of the world of work.
You will need to register your details on the website to be able read the booklet. Here is the link to the booklet - www.togethermatters.org.uk/how-to-be-part-of-the-world-of-work-editable/
Guidance for Autistic people - Employment
Access to Work Video - Access to Work is a way for some disabled people to get support for them to be able to do their job. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gsFq7u2wsY
Access to Work - Easy read information - Get help from Access to Work (Easy Read) (publishing.service.gov.uk)
www.mencap.org.uk/easyread/how-apply-access-work-help
Access to Work - Easy read information - Access to Work Communication support at a job interview (publishing.service.gov.uk)
X
Y
Z
How you can support us
As a local organisation we very much rely on the support of our local community. We support over 2,000 people every year to have greater choice and control and remove the barriers that disabled adults and children experience in their everyday lives. But we need YOUR help.