Center for Plain Language 2008 Symposium

Date: November 7, 2008
Times: 1:00 - 5:00 PM; Reception 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Place: National Press Club, Washington, DC

Over the past several years, plain language has been gaining recognition as a tool for effective communication. We have seen a significant increase in the number of plain language projects. Data shows us that plain language saves both the reader and the organization responsible for the communication time and money. In this symposium, the Center for Plain Language focused on just a few examples of the progress made in recent years and the bottom-line benefits they’ve produced. We hope these examples will encourage others to commit themselves to bringing clear communications to customers.

• Dr. Susan Kleimann, President, Kleimann Communication. Lending documents: bottom-line benefits of plain language (PPT, 7.40MB)
• Josiah Fisk, President, Firehouse Financial. Plain Funny: Using Simple Language and Sophisticated Humor to Change How Employees Think (PDF, 2.2MB)

• Dr. Arthur Culbert, Senior Advisor, Missouri Foundation for Health, A Vision for a Health Literate Missouri: Building a Statewide Health Literacy Center (PPT, 2.36MB)
• Dr. William Smith, Executive Vice President, Academy for Educational Development, Health Literacy and Social Marketing: A unique partnership:
  • Part 1 (PPT, 8MB)
  • Part 2 (PPT, 6MB)
• Barb McLaughlin, Vice President, Smart Source Healthcare, and John C. Lowery, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Cure Patients and Profits with Clear Communications (PPT, 3.76MB)

• Irene Etzkorn, Group Director of Simplification, Siegel+Gale, Amazingly Simple Stuff (PPT, 32MB)
• Dr. Deborah Bosley, Principal, The Plain Language Group, Unexpected Results: Usability and Redesign in TIAA-CREF's Minimum Distribution Letter to Participants (PPT, 784KB)