Our Program

Themes
Oct 13
Oct 14
Oct 15

Access for All: Plain Language is a Civil Right, is a virtual conference dedicated to using plain language to break down barriers in society. Join us as we explore five themes where plain language continues to improve people's access to information and services. You'll learn from international practitioners how using plain language increases access, justice, and transparency for others. We hope their stories will inspire you to make a difference using plain language as well.

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Story 1

PLAIN LANGUAGE AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY  TO ENSURE ACCESS FOR ALL

COVID-19 and BLM dominate the headlines of 2020. But the deeper story is one of access. Who has it? Who needs it? How do we get it to everyone? As practitioners, we have a responsibility to increase access: to information, to justice, and to health care.

 

October 13th

 
08:00 EDT
Welcome from the three hosting organizations

  • Julie Clement, Clarity, President

  • Barbra Kingsley, Center for Plain Language, Chair and Host of Access for All

  • Margrethe Kvarenes, PLAIN, President

08:10  - 09:15  EDT
Plain Language and our responsibility to ensure Access for All 
Live Conversation

  • Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack, Michigan Supreme Court, USA

  • Dana Chisnell, Senior Fellow, National Conference on Citizenship and Partner-Founder, Project Redesign, USA

  • Julie Clement, Clarity, USA

 
09:15 - 09:40  EDT
Review of related speaker videos

  • Lynda Harris, New Zealand

  • Whitney Quesenbery, Brenda Wright, Sally Marsh, United States

 

Break

09:40 - 10:00 EDT
Plain Language Musical Interlude
10:00 -11:05  EDT
Using Plain Language to improve the criminal justice system
Live Conversation

  • Amreeta Mathai, Racial Justice Program, American Civil Liberties Union, USA

  • Andrew Torrez, co-host, Opening Arguments, Founding Partner, The Law Offices of P. Andrew Torrez, LLC, USA

 
11:05 -11:30  EDT
Review of related speakers videos

  • Vera Gergely, Hungary

  • Florence Cols, Belgium

  • Margaret van Naerssen, USA

  • Frances Gordon, Candice Burt, South Africa

 

Break

11:30 - 11:45 EDT
Plain Language Musical Interlude
11:45 -12:30  EDT
Celebrating 10th Anniversary of U.S. Plain Writing Act
Live Conversation

  • Annetta Cheek, USA

With video appearances from 

  • Former U.S. Representative Bruce Braley

  • Kathryn Catania, Center for Plain Language

  • David Lipscomb, Lead Federal Report Card, Center for Plain Language

 
12:30 - 12:45  EDT
Wrap-up and preview of day two

  • Barbra Kingsley, Host

October 14th

 
08:00 EDT
Welcome

  • Barbra Kingsley, Host

08:10 - 09:10  EDT
Using Plain Language to protect the rights of vulnerable populations 
Live Conversation

  • Robert de Rooy, Attorney, Creative Contracts, South Africa

  • Logan Myles Stacer, Founder, HE[ART]LAND, USA

 
09:10 - 09:30  EDT
Review of related speaker videos

  • Catherine Buckie, Denise Smith, Canada

  • Chantale Audet, Canada

  • Mark Biss, Australia

  • Hugo Sousa, Jose Luis Diaz, Portugal

 

Break

09:30 - 10:00 EDT
Plain Language Musical Interlude
10:00 -10:45  EDT
The International Plain Language Standards 
Live Conversation

  • Laurent Romary, Senior Researcher, Inria; ISO Committee Chair, TC37, France

  • Christopher Balmford, Convenor, Plain Language Standards TC37, WG 11, Australia

  • Vera Gergely, WG 11, Hungary​

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10:45 - 11:00  EDT
Review of related speaker videos

  • Machiko Asai, Japan

  • Andreas Baumert, Germany

  • Vera Gergely, Hungary

  • David Lipscomb, USA

  • Susan Kleimann, USA

  • Torunn Reksten, Norway

  • Angelika Vaasa, Luxembourg

 

Break

11:00 - 11:15 EDT
Plain Language Musical Interlude
11:15 -11:50  EDT
An International Panel: A Country’s Plain Language Story
Live Conversation

  • Katrin Hallik, Estonia

  • Margrethe Kvarenes, Norway

  • Ingrid Olsson, Sweden

 
11:50 -12:00  EDT
Review of related speaker videos

  • Katrin Hallik, Estonia

  • Margrethe Kvarenes, Torunn Reksten, Norway

  • Ingrid Olsson, Gabriella Sandström, Karin Hansson, Sweden

 
12:00 - 12:15  EDT
Wrap-up and preview of day three

  • Barbra Kingsley, Host

October 15th

 
08:00 EDT
Welcome

  • Barbra Kingsley, Host

08:10 - 09:30 EDT
An International Case Study: Using Plain Language to affect the outcome of the health crisis COVID-19 
Live Conversation

  • Diane Levin-Zamir, National Director, Department of Health Promotion, Israel

  • Shelly Davies, Rock-star, business writer, trainer, New Zealand

  • Russell Willerton, Professor, Georgia Southern University, USA

 
09:30  - 09:45  EDT
Review of related speaker videos

  • Kate Murphy, Netherlands

  • Nadja Green, Sarah Slabbert, Iske van den Berg, South Africa 

  • Tim Fendley, Louise Carlsen, Sean Fulton, Great Britain

 
09:45 am - 10:30 am EDT
COVID-19 ClearMark Awards
Live Conversation

  • Stacy Robison, CEO, CommunicateHealth, USA

  • Barbra Kingsley, Host

 
10:30  - 10:45  EDT
Closing Ceremony

  • Susan Kleimann, USA, Chair, Planning Committee

  • Ingrid Slembek, Switzerland, Clarity, Planning Committee

  • Kathryn Catania, USA, Center, Planning Committee

  • Irene Stotko, South Africa, PLAIN, Planning Committee

Live Conversation
11:15 -12:30  EDT
ClearMark Awards
Live Conversation

  • Casey Mank, USA

  • Barbra Kingsley, Host

  • Stacy Robison, USA

 
12:30 - 12:45  EDT
Farewell, final announcements, and thank yous

  • Barbra Kingsley, Host