Telephone regulator Ofcom has published an easy read guide for people with learning disabilities offering advice on how to get the most out of their mobile phone.
Ofcom is the first UK regulatory body to publish consumer advice in easy read format, which makes information more accessible to people with learning disabilities. The guide was produced in partnership with specialist easy read agency, Inspired Services.
The guide offers advice on:
Ofcom has printed 5,000 copies of the guide and is sending them to every social services director in the UK. The regulator is being supported by organisations including Mencap and the National Autistic Society for help with distributing the guide to those who will benefit most.
Claudio Pollack, Ofcom’s consumer group director, said: “Our new easy read guide will help ensure that people with learning disabilities are able to better understand how to get the most out of their mobile phone, the associated costs and what they can do if things go wrong.
“Ofcom takes its duty to have regard to the needs of disabled people very seriously. We expect this guide to be the first in a series to ensure Ofcom’s consumer advice and information about communications services is accessible for all.”
Ismail Kaji, parliamentary assistant at Mencap, who has a learning disability, said: “Ofcom’s easy read guide to using a mobile phone is really useful to people with learning disabilities.
“It explains all about choosing and using a mobile phone and helps us to understand clearly. Information from phone companies can be very hard to understand because they use difficult words. It is good that Ofcom is setting an example.”
Ofcom’s Easy Read guide to using your mobile phone is now available to download from the Ofcom website.
