How to make easy read documents accessible

Images in easy read documents usually go to the left of the words they support - so the user "reads" the image before the text.

Don't use tables to layout blocks of images and text. You can find advice on layout in:

• Change People's guide to creating easy read documents
• GOV.UK guidance on easy read

How to create an easy read layout in Word

Adding images in Word documents can cause the text to move around to fit the image.

To avoid this issue, move the Left Indent towards the centre of the page in your Word document. This is around 7.5cm on a standard A4 portrait page layout. You can do this by:

• Opening the Layout menu and typing 7.5cm in the Left field under Indent, or
• Selecting the Left Indent marker on the ruler at the top of the page and dragging it across to the 7.5cm mark

You will now be able to:

• Add left-aligned text down the right-hand side of the page
• Add your easy read images to the left of your text without affecting the layout of the text

Text boxes

Avoid using text boxes in Word. This is because software that reads text aloud to people, like screen readers, can't usually access the text in text boxes. Instead: 

• If you want to position text in your document in a particular place on the page, trying using the indents and spacing tools 
• If you want to add a coloured background or outline to your text, add a shape behind the text. Then mark the shape as decorative. Microsoft Office explain how to mark images as decorative in a Word document