24 April 2023
A2i Easy Read User Group – what we learnt about pictures at our latest session
A2i’s partnership with Mencap
Through our relationship with our local branch of Mencap, the UK’s leading learning disability charity, A2i’s in-house Easy Read experts regularly meet with an Easy Read User Group, also called a Focus Group.
This is an invaluable way to collect feedback and suggestions from the people most likely to use our transcribed documents. It helps us produce the best, customer-focused, Easy Read documents possible to help people with learning disabilities to access information.
To learn more about Easy Read visit our Easy Read webpage.
Best picture and worst picture activity at our most recent User Group meeting – the rundown
At our latest User Group meeting we completed some pictures activities. In the morning session we asked the group to pick the best and worst pictures, out of 4 options, for some commonly used words.
They were also encouraged to express their feelings and personal thoughts on why the pictures were the best or the worst.
Genuine feedback is without a doubt an incredibly valuable resource for our Easy Read experts. Direct input from people who use our documents allows for further insight into understanding people’s needs. It also ensures we use the most appropriate images in the Easy Read booklets we produce.
80% of the User Group said they liked doing this picture activity.
The best picture and worst picture for the word ‘good’
Watch our video on A2i’s YouTube channel to see the options and some handwritten responses from our Easy Read User Group.
A clear image of a hand doing a thumbs up was voted the best picture for the word ‘good.’ Just over 80% of the users chose this image with one sharing, “A thumbs up is comfortingly casual and a friendly imagery.”
In terms of the worst picture, 67% of users chose the woman doing a thumbs up with a tick sticker. This image was said to be, “not so clear” and that the woman “doesn’t look happy.”
The best picture and worst picture for the word ‘bad’
Watch our video on A2i’s YouTube channel to see the options and some handwritten responses from our Easy Read User Group.
Similarly, a clear image of a hand doing a thumbs down was voted the best picture to illustrate the word ‘bad.’ Nearly 70% of users chose this image with one specifically saying that “symbols are better than people.”
For the worst picture for the word ‘bad’, 83% of users chose the image of a man sitting in a wheelchair with his thumb down and a clipboard showing a cross symbol. Some users have said that they “can’t see it very well” and it is “not so obvious.”
Read more about A2i’s Easy Read User Group – the benefits.
Look out for more blogs and videos from A2i on our website and YouTube channel, about the other words and pictures our User Group votes on.
For more information about A2i’s Easy Read services, or a quote, just get in touch with A2i’s friendly team at
Email: info@a2i.co.uk
Web: a2i.co.uk
Telephone: 01179 44 00 44
Or use our quick quote form
