The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) developed a packet of materials for cigarette retailers
to help them comply with tobacco regulations aimed at decreasing illegal
sales of tobacco products to kids. Sales clerks couldn't easily understand
the complex regulations themselves, so FDA partnered with Arnold Communications
to develop the retailer kit filled with eye-catching, Plain Language
posters, signs, simple fact sheets, counter mats, and other materials
they need to back them up when they say, "No sale!"
The Social Security Administration (SSA) wants American workers to understand and use their SSA benefit information when making long-term and short-term financial decisions. But, many citizens found the numbers, calculations, and explanations intimidating and confounding. Not any more! The SSA's new four-page "Your Social Security Statement" is a simple, easy-to-read, personalized brochure filled with critical information for each individual worker. For the 125 millions workers who will receive the statement every year (the Federal government's largest customized mailing ever) this is good news.
Plain Language doesn't mean just plain English. Laurel Eu of the San Francisco
office of FDA wanted to be sure that more women in Asian Pacific communities
have understandable information on the importance of mammograms. So, not
only did she create a colorful, non-technical, educational brochure in
English, but she had it produced in seven Asian Pacific languages. Now,
that's Plain Language at its best!
For more information on Vice President Gore's Plain Language Initiative, visit the Plain Language Internet site.
To complain about a Federal Government document that is difficult to understand, send us an email.
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