For too long, people with learning disabilities, neurodivergence, or limited English have been expected to make sense of overly complex documents. From hospital appointment letters and housing forms to school updates and bin collection schedules, the information many of us take for granted has remained inaccessible to millions.
askVERA changes that.
askVERA is a smart, purpose-built platform that transforms complicated documents into Easy Read and plain language formats. It helps organisations comply with accessibility laws, save time and money, and most importantly, include people who have been excluded from vital information for decades.
Why This Should Have Happened Years Ago
The need for accessible communication is not new. The legal and moral case has existed for decades. In the UK, the Equality Act 2010 requires organisations to make reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities, including adjustments in communication. But in practice, many public bodies and private companies have failed to meet that obligation.
Easy Read formats take time, specialist knowledge, and often outsourced support. With limited budgets, the result is that documents go out in inaccessible formats, and people are left confused or excluded.
askVERA eliminates this barrier. It lets any organisation upload a document and instantly convert it into a version that is easier to understand, using clear language and supportive imagery. It removes the manual bottleneck and makes accessibility the default, not the exception.
What Is Easy Read and Why Does It Matter?
Easy Read is not just simplified text. It is a communication format designed to help people who have difficulty with standard written content. It combines short sentences, clear language, and images that explain the meaning of the words.
For someone with learning disabilities, it can be the difference between understanding and missing a hospital appointment. For someone new to English, it can be the key to accessing benefits or housing. For a support worker, it can make their job faster, more efficient, and more empowering for the person they support.
askVERA delivers this instantly. It does what used to take hours or even days, and it does it with consistency, clarity, and care.
William’s Story: Everyday Barriers Made Invisible
William is an adult with learning disabilities who wants to live independently. But like many, he gets confused by letters from the local council about bin collection. His household waste is collected every week, but recycling and garden waste alternate. The letters are packed with dates, codes, and changes that make no sense to him.
With askVERA, he or his support worker can upload the letter and get a version he can understand. It uses simple language and clear icons to tell him exactly what bin goes out and when. No more phone calls. No more stress. Just clarity.
Now imagine that applied across every document from councils, schools, GP surgeries, housing providers, and utility companies.
Helping Organisations Get It Right
askVERA is not just for individuals. It gives companies and public services the tools to finally meet their legal and ethical responsibilities.
It allows organisations to:
- Instantly create Easy Read versions of complex documents
- Provide clear, accurate responses to public-facing queries
- Reduce the cost and time spent manually rewriting content
- Update documents quickly when information changes
- Embed inclusion directly into day-to-day processes
In sectors like healthcare, government, education, and social care, this is a breakthrough. askVERA turns a slow, expensive task into something automatic, scalable, and affordable.
Why the Excuse of “We Don’t Have the Resources” No Longer Stands
For years, many organisations have pointed to cost and time as reasons why they haven’t provided Easy Read versions. With askVERA, that argument no longer holds.
Accessibility is now quicker, cheaper, and easier than ever. Every organisation has the power to do better. They just need the will.
A Missed Opportunity That We Can Finally Correct
Let’s be honest. This should have been solved long ago.
We have had AI, cloud platforms, and automation for years. But few applied them with the purpose of improving accessibility. askVERA fills that gap. It was built with the people who need it in mind, and it solves a real, systemic problem.
There is no technical barrier now. What remains is awareness, commitment, and leadership.
A Global Opportunity for Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to Lead
This is not just a UK issue. Worldwide, governments are pledging to improve accessibility but still struggle to meet the needs of people with learning difficulties, language barriers, or cognitive impairments.
Countries like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are in strong positions to lead the way. Their accessibility laws and inclusion strategies are already moving in the right direction. By adopting askVERA, they can go further – setting a global benchmark for inclusive communication.
With platforms like askVERA, there is a real opportunity to establish shared international standards. Governments can communicate clearly with all citizens, regardless of their background, literacy level, or support needs.
This Is About More Than Compliance. It’s About Justice.
askVERA does not just tick a legal box. It gives people access to the information they need to live independently, make informed decisions, and participate fully in society.
It helps organisations do the right thing in a way that is fast, effective, and sustainable.
It turns exclusion into empowerment. And it does it with speed and precision.
askVERA is here. The technology is ready. The need is clear. All that remains is action.
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