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This video is a part of Unit 4- The profession.

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Element 2- Interpersonal skills.

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Working with diverse users

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This is an interview with Saša Lesjak.

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She is an expert in Easy Slovene at Zavod RISA.

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She cooperates with professionals,

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who work with diverse end-users

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of Easy-to-understand information.

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She shares their experience and views.

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Working with the target group,

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facilitators or coordinators
are coming across

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different challenges.

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Some of these challenges

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are similar or universal for 
the target groups of Easy language.

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Some of the professional challenges

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of Easy language authors

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are different, though.

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For example, 

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everyone must be very careful 

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that the adapted texts

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do not lose important information.

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Most professional says their end-users

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are not motivated for standard texts.

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For reading texts
and listening to audio information

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are motivated only 

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when the texts
are already in Easy language.

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The authors of Easy language texts 
for different target groups

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are anonymous in this.

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It is very important to provide

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to provide adequately prepared content

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with adequate layout and design.

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Only then, the professionals say,

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they can start reading the texts
with the end-users.

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The drafts in Easy language need to be

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properly prepared and edited.

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How else to make an information 
that is Easy-to-understand for all?

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That is an important aspect, too.

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Professionals or coordinators
who make information with the end-users 

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say the target groups are very diverse.

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There are big differences among people

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from the same target group, also.

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This posts a challenge as regards

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Easy language information stage. 

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What else do all target groups
have in common?

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Easy language must be always 

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validated on the spot.

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We need to make sure

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that the end-users understand the text.

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We ask them questions. 

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Professionals working
with some target groups 

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emphasized that people often 
say they understand,

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but in reality, they do not.

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Especially if people are institutionalized,

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meaning living in different care homes, 

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they are dependent on the workers.

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These end-users often say the workers

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deliver information in a hurry

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and do not check
if the users understand them

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or the text.

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What else is common
and what is different?

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Some information can depend
on the target group. 

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For example,
an invitation to a trip

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could be very different among the groups.

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On the other hand, 

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some general information or literature

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could be useful for the wider population.

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This information might also be important.

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Professional working with 
people living in institutions

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heavily emphasize 

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that people lack skills 

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to use Easy language information

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for inclusion.

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They lack self-advocacy skills,

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say the professionals.

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Their abilities do not develop.

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They stay on the same level. 

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This is not the case when we speak
about people who need Easy language 

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just for a short period of time,

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like immigrants, for example.

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Professionals working with immigrants 

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say the process of creation of
Easy language information 

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is different  

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as they progress in their language skills.

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One more thing that divides the target groups...

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People who live in institutions 

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do not get enough incentive 
to express themselves

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and communicate. 

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Professionals say they know
their level of communication well

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but do not give enough encouragement. 

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These groups, living in care homes,

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are often the most dependent

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on the workers, their input,
knowledge and interest. 

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A lot depends on how much 
the end-users can do,

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how good they are with words,

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what kind of themes they like, 

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and what structures they can operate with. 

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Some groups make progress,

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other do not. 

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For example, cognitive abilities 
of people with intellectual disabilities

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influence the creation process
of Easy language information

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and understanding.

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This is different for immigrants,

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for example.

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One more thing that the groups 
have in common...

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Professionals always seek balance

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in creating Easy language information. 

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They have to make sure
things are not too easy, 

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yet not too complicated.

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Information solutions have stages. 

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Heterogenous groups of end-users make
the process of finding the right stage harder. 

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The end-users in those groups 
are very diverse regards their abilities. 

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The common challenges are
the adaptation itself, 

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knowledge and time that has to be put in...

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the making of the Easy language text.

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All the target groups of Easy language 

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have to be supported in the process

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the process of gaining information.

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There are different levels of knowledge,

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thus different stages of Easy language.

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People just have different 
language knowledge and skills.

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This video was produced by Zavod RISA.

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in 2021.