Department of Communities and Justice Digital Design
System
DCJ Digital Design System

Easy Read

About

The Easy Read content page is designed to be easily understood by a wide range of readers, including those with learning, intellectual or cognitive disabilities, people who speak English as a second language, and those who are in a hurry. It includes simplified language, clear formatting, and uses visual aids such as images or icons to enhance comprehension.

Purpose

  • Present information in plain, easily comprehensible language. 
  • Incorporate visual aids to help understand the content. 
  • Provide a structured format that enhances readability for individuals with learning disabilities. 
  • Offer a concise overview and summary of the information for general users who might not have time to read through the full details. 

Guidelines

  • Avoid using pixelated, irrelevant or visually complex images. 
  • Avoid more than three lines of content per paragraph. 
  • Limit the inclusion of links that direct users to other pages or resources, as this could cause confusion and disrupt the reading flow. Individuals with low cognitive abilities may face difficulties in navigating back to their previous path. Either remove the external resource or use simple language to explain the content.

Zones

A screenshot of the easy read content page template with labels
Zones: 1 header and main navigation, 2 main content, 3 interactive tools, 4 footer.
Zone 1 and 2: header and main navigation

Zone 1 includes the fixed elements such as the masthead, logo, descriptor, third-party tools, breadcrumbs and mega menu. 

Zone 1 functions as a navigation panel while also offering a distinct visual representation of the NSW Government website that the user has visited. 

Zone 3: page title

Use clear and simple language in the page title to make it easily understandable for all users. Incorporate relevant keywords in the title to improve SEO performance. 

Test the page title with users to ensure the meaning is accurately reflects the content of the page to set appropriate user expectations. 

Component list:

Zone 4: image

Includes visual aids such as images or infographics that can enhance understanding. 

Zone 5: text and button

Use zone 5 to create a clear and simple structure for the content. Short sentences and paragraphs can be used to improve readability. Incorporating bullet points and numbered lists will make it easier for readers to scan information quickly. Use headings and subheadings will help break up the text into manageable sections. 

Component list: 

Zone 6: add new row

Use zone 6 to add more rows and keep the content within the same page, allowing users to continue reading without disrupting their experience. This feature is useful when additional rows are needed to break down large content or when it makes more sense to maintain a seamless reading flow without requiring users to navigate between pages.

Component list:

Zone 7: footer

Zone 7 contains the following components: Thumbs up thumbs down, quick links, social media, footer, footer links, last updated (Fixed structure). 

Zone 7 incorporates thumbs up thumbs down tool to capture user feedback and measure page performance over time. The footer includes acknowledgements, as well as any relevant policies and disclaimers. Social media and the footer message can be modified to suit business needs. 

Last updated:

18 Jun 2024