This week, on one of those rare and perfect English summer days, I had the pleasure of meeting representatives from So So Easy Word, a pioneering group from South Korea working to make information more accessible.
We met in Bath, our usual spot for welcoming international visitors. It’s not just convenient - it also gives people a bit of history, beauty, and a decent coffee. Bath does all three rather well.
So So Easy Word were in the UK visiting several Easy Read organisations. From our conversations, it was clear that we had more than a few things in common. I’d like to think they’ll remember our meeting as a highlight of their trip. Steve, our Photosymbols photographer, came along to capture the day in pictures.
They spoke about their strong focus on avoiding tokenism, which is something we care about deeply too. We talked about the risk of creating Easy Read materials that never actually get used. It was refreshing to meet a team that understands accessibility is not just a box to tick. It should work. It should be tested. It should matter.
The organisation has 22 staff and was set up in 2017. Their funding includes a strand for research and technology. One of their current projects is an AI tool for sign language.
They are also exploring partnerships with large industries, helping companies make their instructions easier to understand. That felt very much aligned with our own thinking about expanding Easy Read into new spaces beyond the public sector.
We gave them a live demo of EasyMaker and they were clearly impressed. They liked how it brings together text, symbols, and layout choices into something polished and useful. They also saw how easy it is to share the finished result. To demonstrate that, Pete converted a document into Easy Read and sent the information straight to Steve’s phone in multiple formats, including spoken word audio. It showed just how quickly and seamlessly information can be passed on.
They were also really taken with EveryVoice, our AI built around the voices and experiences of people with learning disabilities. Their curiosity and enthusiasm left us feeling energised and proud of the direction we’re heading.
We’re looking forward to staying in touch, learning from each other, and seeing where things go next. If nothing else, we’ve found new friends on the other side of the world who speak our language - even if it isn’t English.
Just before they left, they mentioned something that really stuck with me. Back in Korea, there’s an Easy Read museum. It opened in 2017.
We don’t have one of those in the UK.
Yet.
Pete
